LOS ANGELES LAKERS 1987 : WHEN SHOWTIME REACHED PERFECTION

Published on December 12, 2025 4 min. reading

A number, a dynasty, Showtime, the most watched final of all time without Jordan. The greatest rivalry of all time, both in terms of franchises and players. Welcome to the era when fast-paced play reached perfection. The 1986-87 season not only delivered an NBA title, it cemented Magic Johnson’s legacy as the undisputed leader and greatest point guard in history.

CONTEXT : THE RACE FOR REDEMPTION

After the 1985 title, the frustrating defeat to the Houston Rockets in 1986 was a wake-up call. Pat Riley demanded the ring. The team approached the season with a thirst for absolute redemption.

The core of the team remained unchanged. Magic Johnson (27) was at the peak of his maturity. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remained the historic centre, capable of delivering his famous Sky Hook. Around them, the Showtime offence was led by James Worthy, Byron Scott and defender Michael Cooper. The message was clear: the Lakers had to regain their maximum speed.

Magic was the driving force, the conductor of one of the best attacks in history.

Regular season : Total attack

Dominant. Absolutely dominant. The 1986-87 regular season was an offensive recital. The result: 65 wins and 17 losses. The best record in the league, the best record for Magic’s Lakers. The Lakers averaged 117.7 points per game, crushing the competition with their unstoppable transition and well-oiled teamwork.

Magic Johnson was the main instigator, with the Lakers’ point guard having the best season of his career: 23.9 points, 12.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds. This exceptional performance earned him his first regular season MVP trophy. After four seasons of finishing third or second.

Despite Kareem’s advanced age (39), Pat Riley managed his minutes perfectly. KAJ finished the season with just over 17 points per game. The West was warned: the Lakers were entering the playoffs as the undisputed favourites.

The playoff campaign : The march to the ring

The road to the title was a demonstration of strength and efficiency. The Lakers swept the Western Conference, displaying unwavering determination.

First Round : vs Denver Nuggets

Result : Sweep 3-0

A formality. The Lakers were too fast, too powerful. The average margin ? +18 points. Showtime was in full swing.

Conference Semi-Finals : vs Golden State Warriors

Result : 4-1

The Warriors, led by Sleepy Floyd and Purvis Short, put up limited resistance. Golden State was overwhelmed by the speed of the Californian forwards. Only the defeat in Game 4 (129-121) slowed their momentum.

Conference Finals : vs Seattle SuperSonics

Result : Sweep 4-0

The steamroller got going. The Sonics were never a match for them. Los Angeles averaged 123.5 points over the series. The Lakers’ record at the end of the Conference Finals: 11 wins and 1 loss. Just one step away from the legendary duel: Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics.

NBA Finals : vs Boston Celtics

Result : 4-2 (Lakers)

The classic. Magic versus Bird. Game 1 sent a message: a 126-113 victory. The Lakers took the lead (3-1). The turning point came in Game 4 in Boston. Magic Johnson sealed the victory (107-106) with his famous ‘baby hook’ from the baseline, shooting over Kevin McHale and Robert Parish with two seconds left. It was a wildly audacious shot.

Boston pushed back the deadline to Game 5, but the Lakers finished the job at home at the Forum. Victory 106-93 in Game 6. The fourth ring of the decade was secured. Magic Johnson was named Finals MVP.

LEGACY: The prime of Showtime and the beginning of a golden age of American basketball

There is a lot behind the Lakers’ 1986-1987 season. The 1986-87 season marked the prime of Showtime, the tactical culmination of Pat Riley’s work.

It was the year Magic was crowned MVP, the year they won the Finals against Boston and Bird, the year the Lakers had their second-best record ever, and the year they had an ultra-dominant campaign with only three losses. It was the most-watched Finals until Jordan came along, with 24 million viewers; today’s Finals only draw 16 million in comparison. These Lakers propelled basketball into a new era.

The 1986-87 Lakers are legendary because they perfectly combined individual brilliance (Magic MVP, Worthy All-Star) and collective power. They were a team that never took their foot off the gas. An offensive masterpiece forever etched in NBA history.