Everyone talks about the 1987 Lakers. They were the "Greatest Team Ever," right? But if you really want to understand the DNA of Showtime, you have to look at the la lakers 1986 roster. It was a group that, honestly, should have won it all. They won 62 games. They were the defending champs. They had Magic, Kareem, and Big Game James in their absolute primes.
Then Ralph Sampson happened.
Most people forget how dominant this specific squad was before that miracle shot in the Western Conference Finals. It wasn't just a star-studded lineup; it was a transition point for the franchise. We saw the arrival of the "Iron Man" and the last real hurrah for some legendary enforcers.
The Core That Defined Showtime
The starting five was a nightmare for the rest of the league. You had Magic Johnson running the point at 6'9", basically reinventing how basketball was played every single night. He averaged 18.8 points and a staggering 12.6 assists that season. Think about that. Nearly 13 assists a game while the league was still playing a much more physical, slow-down style.
Down low, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 38 years old but still played like a god. He led the team in scoring with 23.4 points per game. His skyhook was still the most unguardable weapon in sports history.
Then there was James Worthy.
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Worthy was the blur. If Magic was the pilot, Worthy was the jet engine. He averaged 20 points on 57.9% shooting. That’s an absurd efficiency for a wing player. Rounding out the starters were Byron Scott, a deadeye shooter who thrived on the break, and Maurice Lucas, the "Enforcer" brought in to add some muscle.
The LA Lakers 1986 Roster: A Deeper Look
While the stars got the headlines, the bench and role players were what made Pat Riley’s system go. Riley was notoriously demanding. He pushed these guys to the brink of exhaustion with his "Career Best" program.
The Rotation Players:
- Michael Cooper: The ultimate defensive specialist. Larry Bird famously called him the toughest defender he ever faced. Cooper wasn't just a stopper; he was a transition threat and a reliable three-point shooter before that was even a "thing."
- A.C. Green: This was his rookie year. The Lakers took him 23rd overall out of Oregon State. He didn't start much yet, but you could see the motor. He played 82 games—the start of a legendary streak—and brought a level of rebounding energy they desperately needed.
- Kurt Rambis: The man with the glasses. Rambis was the blue-collar heart of the Forum. He did the dirty work so the stars could shine.
- Mitch Kupchak: Before he was the GM, he was a gritty power forward. This was his final season as a player, providing veteran savvy off the bench.
The roster also featured names like Mike McGee, a microwave scorer who could jump out of the gym, and Larry Spriggs. Even the deep bench had characters like Chuck Nevitt, the 7'5" center who mostly came in for lopsided victories, much to the delight of the L.A. crowd.
The Statistical Reality
If you look at the numbers, the Lakers were the best offensive team in the NBA. They scored 117.3 points per game. That’s #1 in the league. Their Offensive Rating was a massive 113.3.
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They weren't just fast; they were smart.
They finished first in the Pacific Division, 10 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. In the playoffs, they breezed through the first two rounds. They swept San Antonio. They handled Dallas in six. Everything was pointing toward a collision with the Boston Celtics in the Finals.
What Went Wrong?
The Houston Rockets happened. Specifically, the "Twin Towers"—Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.
The 1986 Western Conference Finals is still a sore spot for Laker fans. Houston had a frontline that Kareem couldn't handle alone. Olajuwon was a second-year sensation, averaging 31 points and 11 rebounds in the series. He outplayed the aging Captain.
The series ended in Game 5 at the Forum. Tie game. 112-112. One second left. Ralph Sampson caught an inbound pass mid-air, twisted, and flicked a shot that bounced on the rim and fell in. The image of Michael Cooper collapsing to the floor in disbelief is one of the most iconic (and painful) moments in Lakers history.
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Lessons for Modern Fans
Why does this roster matter now? It proves that talent isn't a guarantee. The la lakers 1986 roster was arguably more talented than the '85 or '87 championship teams. They had more depth in the frontcourt with Maurice Lucas and a young A.C. Green.
But they got complacent.
Pat Riley used this failure to fuel the "three-peat" talk the following year. He realized the team needed to get even faster and more disciplined. This loss forced the trade for Mychal Thompson midway through the next season, which was the final piece of the puzzle.
If you’re looking to study the 1986 Lakers further, start by watching Game 4 of the Houston series. It shows exactly how a dominant team can be disrupted by a younger, hungrier opponent with a size advantage. You should also look up Michael Cooper’s defensive highlights from that year; his ability to switch and stay in front of guards at 6'7" was decades ahead of its time.
Check out the 1985-86 season archives on Basketball-Reference to see the game-by-game splits. You’ll see a team that looked invincible until the exact moment they weren't.