1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the Lakers' 51st season in the National Basketball Association, and 39th in the city of Los Angeles.[1] It was also the Lakers' final season at the Great Western Forum. During the off-season, the Lakers signed free agent Derek Harper.[2] After a lockout had cut the season to just 50 games,[3][4] the Lakers played around .500 with a 6–6 start as head coach Del Harris was fired. After one game under interim Bill Bertka, the team hired former Laker Kurt Rambis as their new coach.[5] The Lakers had signed free agent and rebounding specialist Dennis Rodman, who was well known for winning championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls.[6] However, after 23 games, Rodman was released by the team, averaging 11.2 rebounds per game.[7] At midseason, Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell were both traded to the Charlotte Hornets for All-Star forward Glen Rice, J.R. Reid and B. J. Armstrong, who was released to free agency and signed with the Orlando Magic.[8] The Lakers won ten straight games between February and March, and finished second in the Pacific Division with a 31–19 record.[9] Their attendance for the season was 430,007 (12th in the league).

1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers season
Head coach
General managerJerry West
Owner(s)Jerry Buss
ArenaGreat Western Forum
Results
Record31–19 (.620)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Spurs 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCAL-TV
Fox Sports West
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
RadioKLAC
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)

Kobe Bryant averaged 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in his first season as a starter, and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team, while Shaquille O'Neal finished second in the league in scoring with 26.3 points, and averaged 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, made the All-NBA Second Team, and finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting.[10] In addition, Rice played in 27 games due to an elbow injury he sustained in Charlotte, and provided the team with 17.5 points per game, while Rick Fox contributed 9.0 points per game off the bench, and Harper provided with 6.9 points and 4.2 assists per game.[11] In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 3–1 in the Western Conference First Round,[12] but were swept in four straight games by the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference Semi-finals.[13]

Following the season, Rambis was fired as head coach,[14] while Reid signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sean Rooks was traded back to his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, rookie forward Ruben Patterson signed with the Seattle SuperSonics, and Harper was dealt to the Detroit Pistons, but was released and then retired.

Draft picks
Main article: 1998 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 26 Sam Jacobson Guard  United States Minnesota

[15]

Roster
1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G/F 8 Bryant, Kobe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1978–08–23 Lower Merion HS
G 2 Fisher, Derek 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1974–08–09 Little Rock
F 17 Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
G 12 Harper, Derek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–10–13 Illinois
F 5 Horry, Robert 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama
G 7 Jacobson, Sam  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1975–07–22 Minnesota
F/C 40 Knight, Travis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1974–09–13 Connecticut
G 10 Lue, Tyronn 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1977–05–03 Nebraska
C 34 O'Neal, Shaquille (C) 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 340 lb (154 kg) 1972–03–06 LSU
G/F 21 Patterson, Ruben 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1975–07–31 Cincinnati
F/C 11 Reid, J. R. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1968–03–31 North Carolina
G/F 41 Rice, Glen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–05–28 Michigan
F/C 45 Rooks, Sean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1969–09–09 Arizona
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 16, 1999

Roster Notes

Regular season

The Lakers went through three coaches during the season: Del Harris (6–6), Bill Bertka (1–0) and Kurt Rambis (24–13). Fourteen different Lakers started at least one game during the season.[16] From February 25 to March 12, the Lakers won ten consecutive games. Outside of the streak, the Lakers were 21-19 in all other games. During the season, over half of the Lakers' games were televised nationally.[16]

At season's end, the Lakers ranked second in the league in scoring at 99.0 points per game (only Sacramento averaged more points: 100.2 ppg). Despite the high scoring, the Lakers were the fourth worst Free Throw shooting team in the league with a percentage of .683. Shaquille O'Neal had a percentage of .540. Following the season, Rambis was fired as coach.

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers 3515.700–22–313–1215–7
x-Los Angeles Lakers 3119.620418–713–1214–8
x-Sacramento Kings 2723.540816–911–1411–9
x-Phoenix Suns 2723.540815–1012–139–10
Seattle SuperSonics 2525.5001017–88–1711–10
Golden State Warriors 2129.4201413–128–178–11
Los Angeles Clippers 941.180266–193–223–16
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs3713.740–
2 y-Portland Trail Blazers3515.7002
3 x-Utah Jazz3713.740–
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers3119.6206
5 x-Houston Rockets3119.6206
6 x-Sacramento Kings2723.54010
7 x-Phoenix Suns2723.54010
8 x-Minnesota Timberwolves2525.50012
9 Seattle SuperSonics2525.50012
10 Golden State Warriors2129.42016
11 Dallas Mavericks1931.38018
12 Denver Nuggets1436.28023
13 Los Angeles Clippers941.18028
14 Vancouver Grizzlies842.16029
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

[17]

Record vs. opponents
1998-99 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta –3–03–03–12–10–10–01–20–01–03–11–00–00–31–20–01–22–12–22–11–00–00–00–00–02–10–01–02–1
Boston 0–3–1–22–12–20–01–00–30–00–00–31–00–03–00–30–11–21–21–21–20–00–10–10–00–01–20–01–03–1
Charlotte 0–32–1–2–12–10–00–03–00–10–01–20–00–11–22–20–03–01–31–21–21–01–00–00–00–02–11–00–02–1
Chicago 1–31–21–2–0–30–10–00–30–00–00–31–00–01–21–30–02–11–20–31–20–00–00–00–10–11–20–11–01–2
Cleveland 1–22–21–23–0–0–00–01–21–00–10–30–01–00–31–20–03–01–21–21–21–00–00–01–00–02–20–10–01–2
Dallas 1–00–00–01–00–0–2–10–12–22–20–03–00–30–10–01–20–10–01–00–01–30–32–21–30–30–00–32–10–0
Denver 0–00–10–00–00–01–2–0–01–30–40–13–01–20–11–00–31–00–00–00–00–30–30–30–42–20–01–23–10–1
Detroit 2–13–00–33–02–11–00–0–0–00–02–10–00–02–12–10–12–12–10–41–31–00–00–00–11–02–11–00–02–1
Golden State 0–00–01–00–00–12–23–10–0–0–31–02–11–20–00–12–20–00–00–10–01–22–21–20–31–20–00–44–00–0
Houston 0–10–00–00–01–02–24–00–03–0–0–03–11–20–10–02–11–00–00–10–02–22–13–00–32–11–00–34–00–0
Indiana 1–23–02–13–03–00–01–01–20–10–0–0–01–02–23–00–03–12–11–21–20–00–10–00–00–02–10–01–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–10–10–00–10–00–30–30–01–21–30–0–0–40–00–02–21–00–10–00–00–31–21–20–30–30–11–31–30–0
L.A. Lakers 0–00–01–00–00–13–02–10–02–12–10–14–0–0–00–02–10–01–01–00–13–12–21–22–12–20–01–32–10–0
Miami 3–00–32–12–13–01–01–01–20–01–02–20–00–0–2–10–13–12–22–12–10–00–00–00–00–03–00–10–03–0
Milwaukee 2–13–02–23–12–10–00–11–21–00–00–30–00–01–2–1–02–12–11–21–20–10–00–00–01–03–10–00–02–1
Minnesota 0–01–00–00–00–02–13–01–02–21–20–02–21–21–00–1–0–00–10–00–01–20–33–12–22–10–10–33–10–0
New Jersey 2–12–10–31–20–31–00–11–20–00–11–30–10–01–31–20–0–0–30–31–20–00–10–00–01–02–10–00–02–1
New York 1–22–13–12–12–10–00–01–20–00–01–21–00–12–21–21–03–0–0–33–11–00–00–10–00–01–20–00–02–1
Orlando 2–22–12–13–02–10–10–04–01–01–02–10–00–11–22–10–03–03–0–1–20–00–01–00–10–01–20–00–02–1
Philadelphia 1–22–12–12–12–10–00–03–10–00–02–10–01–01–22–10–02–11–32–1–0–00–11–00–10–12–10–01–01–2
Phoenix 0–10–00–10–00–13–13–00–12–12–20–03–01–30–01–02–10–00–10–00–0–0–30–32–23–00–02–23–00–0
Portland 0–01–00–10–00–03–03–00–02–21–21–02–12–20–00–03–01–00–00–01–03–0–4–01–32–20–01–24–00–0
Sacramento 0–01–01–00–00–02–23–00–02–10–30–02–12–10–00–01–30–01–00–10–13–00–4–1–22–20–01–24–01–0
San Antonio 0–00–00–01–00–13–14–01–03–03–00–03–01–20–00–02–20–00–01–01–02–23–12–1–2–10–12–13–00–0
Seattle 0–00–00–01–00–03–02–20–12–11–20–03–02–20–00–11–20–10–00–01–00–32–22–21–2–0–02–22–10–1
Toronto 1–22–11–22–12–20–00–01–20–00–11–21–00–00–31–31–01–22–12–11–20–00–00–01–00–0–0–01–02–2
Utah 0–00–00–11–01–03–02–10–14–03–00–03–13–11–00–03–00–00–00–00–02–22–12–11–22–20–0–3–01–0
Vancouver 0–10–10–00–10–01–21–30–00–30–40–13–11–20–00–01–30–00–00–00–10–30–30–40–31–20–10–3–0–0
Washington 1–21–31–22–12–10–01–01–20–10–00–30–00–00–31–20–01–21–21–22–10–00–10–10–01–02–20–10–0—

Playoffs
1999 playoff game log
First round: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 9 Houston W 101–100 Glen Rice (29) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Derek Fisher (6) Great Western Forum
17,505		 1–0
2 May 11 Houston W 110–98 Shaquille O'Neal (28) Robert Horry (10) Shaquille O'Neal (7) Great Western Forum
17,505		 2–0
3 May 13 @ Houston L 88–102 Shaquille O'Neal (26) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Derek Fisher (6) Compaq Center
16,285		 2–1
4 May 15 @ Houston W 98–88 Shaquille O'Neal (37) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Kobe Bryant (8) Compaq Center
16,285		 3–1
Conference Semi-finals: 0–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 17 @ San Antonio L 81–87 three players tied (21) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Kobe Bryant (6) Alamodome
25,297		 0–1
2 May 19 @ San Antonio L 76–79 Kobe Bryant (28) three players tied (8) Kobe Bryant (4) Alamodome
33,293		 0–2
3 May 22 San Antonio L 91–103 Glen Rice (24) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Derek Fisher (9) Great Western Forum
17,505		 0–3
4 May 23 San Antonio L 107–118 Shaquille O'Neal (36) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Fisher, Lue (6) Great Western Forum
17,505		 0–4
1999 schedule

Player stats
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Corie Blount 14311.6.394.000.5003.3.1.1.32.3
Kobe Bryant 505037.9.465.267.8395.33.81.41.019.9
Elden Campbell 17119.1.436..6135.6.5.1.97.4
Derek Fisher 502122.6.376.392.7561.83.91.2.05.9
Rick Fox 44121.5.448.337.7422.02.0.6.29.0
Derek Harper 452924.9.412.368.8131.54.21.0.16.9
Robert Horry 38519.6.459.444.7394.01.5.91.04.9
Sam Jacobson 206.0.600.0001.0001.5.0.0.04.0
Eddie Jones 202036.2.423.313.7383.83.11.81.213.6
Travis Knight 372314.2.515.000.7593.5.8.6.74.2
Tyronn Lue 15012.5.431.438.571.41.7.3.05.0
Shaquille O'Neal 494934.8.576.000.54010.72.3.71.726.3
Ruben Patterson 2426.0.412.167.7101.3.1.2.12.7
J. R. Reid 251018.9.407.000.7174.0.9.6.05.0
Glen Rice 272536.5.432.393.8563.72.6.6.217.5
Dennis Rodman 231128.6.348.000.43611.21.3.4.52.1
Sean Rooks 3608.8.405.000.7082.0.3.1.32.7
  • Shaquille O'Neal averaged 26.3 ppg (2nd), 10.7 rpg (8th), and shot 57.6% (1st). For his efforts, he was named to the All-NBA second-team.
  • Kobe Bryant had a career high 19.9 ppg and added 3.8 apg. He was recognized as an All-NBA third-team.
  • Dennis Rodman played 23 games with the Lakers in 1999. He averaged 11.2 rebounds per game and the Lakers went 17-6 with Rodman in the lineup.
  • Glen Rice played in 27 games with the club and averaged 17.5 points per game. With Rice in the lineup, the Lakers went 16-11

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kobe Bryant 8839.4.430.348.8006.94.61.91.319.8
Derek Fisher 8829.8.418.345.8003.64.91.0.09.8
Rick Fox 8122.6.400.1901.0002.81.5.5.66.6
Derek Harper 7016.1.419.100.5001.42.1.3.14.3
Robert Horry 8022.1.462.417.7864.51.4.8.85.0
Travis Knight 303.3.333..5001.7.3.0.01.0
Tyronn Lue 3011.0.412.000..72.0.7.04.7
Shaquille O'Neal 8839.4.510..46611.62.3.92.926.6
Ruben Patterson 301.7.000...0.0.0.0.0
J. R. Reid 8822.3.357..7505.3.4.5.63.3
Glen Rice 7743.9.446.357.9663.91.6.7.118.3
Sean Rooks 706.9.333..833.3.4.0.11.3

Awards and honors
  • Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Third Team
  • Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA Second Team

References
  1. 1998-99 Los Angeles Lakers
  2. "N.B.A. TRANSACTIONS". New York Times. January 22, 1999. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  3. "BASKETBALL; It's Their Ball, and N.B.A. Owners Call for Lockout". New York Times. June 30, 1998. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  4. "With Lockout Over, Players Work Out". New York Times. January 24, 1999. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  5. "PRO BASKETBALL; Rambis Hired To Lead Lakers". New York Times. February 27, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  6. "Rodman Signs Lakers Contract". Chicago Tribune. February 23, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  7. "N.B.A. : ROUNDUP -- LAKERS; Rodman's Act Finally Wears Too Thin". New York Times. April 16, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  8. "Lakers Swap Rumors for a Victory". Los Angeles Times. February 17, 1999. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  9. "1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  10. "1998–99 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  11. "1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  12. "Lakers End Rockets Flight". CBS News. May 15, 1999. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. "Spurs Upend L.A. To Advance". CBS News. May 23, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  14. "Not So Fast There, Rambis Might Stay". Los Angeles Times. May 27, 1999. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  15. "1998 NBA Draft History - Round 1". Mynbadraft.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  16. "CNN/SI - 1999 NBA Draft - - Tuesday June 29, 1999 02:59 am". Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  17. "1998-99 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
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