1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers season


The 1997–98 NBA season was the Lakers' 50th season in the National Basketball Association, and 38th in the city of Los Angeles. During the offseason, the Lakers signed free agents Rick Fox and Jon Barry. Kobe Bryant emerged as a star in his second season averaging 15.4 points per game off the bench, while being selected to play in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game at the age of 19. Joining him on the Western Conference All-Star roster were Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. The Lakers got off to a fast start to the season winning their first eleven games, before losing O'Neal to a strained stomach muscle that forced him to sit out 20 games. In his absence, the Lakers went 13–7. They won 22 of their final 25 games to tie the Pacific Division title with the Seattle SuperSonics with a 61–21 record. It was the Lakers' best record since the 1989–90 season.
In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 3–1 in the first round for the second consecutive year, then defeated the SuperSonics 4–1 in the semifinals after losing Game 1. However, in the Western Conference Finals, they were swept by the Utah Jazz in four straight games. Following the season, Van Exel was traded to the Denver Nuggets, and Barry signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
252DeJuan WheatPGUnited StatesLouisville
254Paul RogersCAustraliaGonzaga

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

West first round

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Last playoff meeting: 1997 Western Conference First Round

West Conference Semifinals

Seattle SuperSonics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Last playoff meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round

West Conference Finals

Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Last playoff meeting: 1997 Western Conference Semifinals

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards