| 1978–79 Los Angeles Lakers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jerry West |
| General manager | Bill Sharman |
| Owner(s) | Jack Kent Cooke |
| Arena | The Forum |
| Results | |
| Record | 47–35 (.573) |
| Place | Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 5th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Conference semifinals (lost to SuperSonics 1–4) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KHJ-TV |
| Radio | KLAC |
The 1978–79 NBA season was the Lakers' 31st season in the NBA and 19th season in Los Angeles. [1] It was the final season for the team under the ownership of Jack Kent Cooke, who sold the team to Jerry Buss the following summer.
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 26 | Ron Carter |  United States | Virginia Military |
| 2 | 38 | Lew Massey | United States | North Carolina |
| 3 | 60 | Michael Cooper | United States | New Mexico |
| 4 | 82 | Harold Robertson | United States | Lincoln University |
| 5 | 104 | Carlos Terry | United States | Winston-Salem |
| 6 | 126 | Kim Stewart | United States | Washington |
| 7 | 147 | Larry Paige | United States | Colorado |
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach Assistant(s) Legend
Roster |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 31–10 | 21–20 | 11–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 | 32–9 | 18–23 | 11–9 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 11–9 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 | 33–8 | 12–29 | 8–12 |
| San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–9 |
| Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 | 23–18 | 15–26 | 8–12 |
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – |
| 2 | y-Kansas City Kings | 48 | 34 | .585 | 4 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 |
| 7 | San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 9 | Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 |
