2009–10 Los Angeles Lakers season
Lakers repeat as champions, beating Celtics in seven games.
The 2009–10 Los Angeles Lakers season was the franchise's 62nd season overall, 61st in the NBA, and 50th in Los Angeles. The team successfully defended its 2009 championship, winning its 16th NBA title by defeating the Boston Celtics in a seven-game Finals rematch. The Lakers spent the most on player salaries that season, totaling $112.7 million, and sold out all 41 home games at Staples Center.
Quick Facts
- Team
- Los Angeles Lakers
- End year
- 2010
- Wins
- 57
- Losses
- 25
- Division
- Pacific
- Division place
- 1
- Coach
- Phil Jackson
- President
- Jim Buss (vice)
Facts from the source article.
Offseason
The Lakers entered training camp with no serious injuries, though Andrew Bynum was told he had ligamentous laxity in his knee and would need to wear a brace all season. D. J. Mbenga could not fully participate in practice due to a malalignment of his hips and hip flexors, but he recovered in time for opening night. Pau Gasol injured his hamstring during a preseason game and missed the first 12 games of the regular season. Ron Artest suffered a shoulder injury in the Lakers' opening exhibition game but kept it quiet from the media and coaches. Trevor Ariza declined the Lakers' mid-level exception offer of about $6 million per year and signed with the Houston Rockets for slightly more. The Lakers released Sun Yue instead of picking up his team option, and he later signed with the New York Knicks. Assistant coach Kurt Rambis left to become head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers exercised team options on Josh Powell and D. J. Mbenga, paying each $959,000. Kobe Bryant chose not to opt out of his contract and signed a three-year extension.
Season summary
The Lakers opened the season at home against the Los Angeles Clippers, receiving their 2009 championship rings before the game. The team started 7–1 before losing two straight. Luke Walton missed about six weeks with a pinched nerve in his back. After Gasol returned, the Lakers went 10–0, including a December 4 game where Bryant hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Miami Heat 108–107. Their 11-game winning streak ended on December 12 against the Utah Jazz. Bryant fractured his right index finger on December 11 but did not miss any games. He made another game-winning shot on December 16 against the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime. The Lakers lost their Christmas Day game to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That night, Artest suffered a concussion from tripping over a box and falling down stairs, missing five games; the Lakers gave up 100 or more points in four straight games without him. Bryant hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer on January 1 to beat the Sacramento Kings, his third such winner of the season. Gasol mildly strained his left hamstring on January 3 against the Dallas Mavericks. After Christmas, the Lakers went 6–5.
Post-season summary
In the first round, the Lakers faced the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bryant and Bynum returned from injury for game one, which the Lakers won after outscoring the Thunder 27–13 in the first quarter. Gasol recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. The Thunder won both games in Oklahoma City, including a 21-point victory in game four, with Kevin Durant averaging 30.5 points in those two games. In game five, Gasol and Bynum combined for 46 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists in a 111–87 win. In game six, the Lakers' bench outscored the Thunder's 30–16. With the Thunder leading by one point with 3:04 left, Gasol grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed Bryant jump shot and scored a layup with 0.5 seconds remaining to win the series.
Awards and records
Kobe Bryant was named to the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Pau Gasol was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Bryant was voted to his 12th consecutive NBA All-Star Game as a starter, and Gasol was selected to his third All-Star Game. Bryant was named Western Conference Player of the Week for November 16–22, December 14–20, and December 21–27, and Western Conference Player of the Month for December. Gasol was named Western Conference Player of the Week for March 15–21. On November 6, Bryant moved past Allen Iverson into 16th place on the NBA's career scoring list and became the youngest player (31 years, 75 days) to score 24,000 points. On November 19, he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24,276) for second place on the Lakers' career scoring list. On December 1, the Lakers tied the NBA record for most consecutive games (7) scoring at least 100 points and holding opponents below 100. On January 5, Bryant moved past Patrick Ewing into 15th place on the career scoring list. On January 13, the Lakers became the first franchise to win 3,000 games. On January 21, Bryant became the youngest player to score 25,000 points. On February 1, he moved past Jerry West into 14th place and became the Lakers' franchise scoring leader. On February 23, he became the youngest player (31 years, 184 days) to play 1,000 games. On February 24, he moved past Reggie Miller into 13th place. On March 25, he moved past Alex English into 12th place. Phil Jackson won his 103rd playoff game with the Lakers on May 2, passing Pat Riley for the franchise lead. On May 29, Bryant recorded his 10th 30-point performance in 11 postseason games, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second-most 30-point playoff games at 75.
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