1999–2000 Los Angeles Lakers season

1999–2000 Los Angeles Lakers season
NBA Champions
Conference Champions
Division Champions
Twelfth NBA Championship
Phil Jackson's first season coaching the Lakers
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's first NBA Championship
Head coach Phil Jackson
General manager Jerry West
Owner(s) Jerry Buss
Arena Staples Center
Results
Record 67–15 (.817)
Place Division: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finish NBA Champions
(Defeated Pacers 4-2)

Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com

Local media
Television Fox Sports Net West, KCAL
Radio AM 570 KLAC

The 1999–2000 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 52nd season of the franchise, 52nd in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 40th in Los Angeles.[1] It was also the Lakers first season playing in their new arena, the Staples Center. They finished the regular season with 67 wins, the most wins since the 1971–72 team won a franchise-record 69 games. The Lakers clinched the top seed in the playoffs for the 25th time in franchise history and the first in nine years. Center Shaquille O'Neal was almost unanimously named the Most Valuable Player of the regular season.[2]

The Lakers were then pushed to the limit by the Sacramento Kings whom they defeated in a deciding fifth game, before going on to defeat the Phoenix Suns in five games in the semifinals. In the Western Conference Finals, they defeated a Portland Trail Blazers team featuring Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen and Steve Smith in seven games before going on to win the NBA Finals 4–2 against the Indiana Pacers, earning the franchise its 12th NBA championship. It was the Lakers' first championship since 1988.

The season is memorable, 21-year-old Kobe Bryant being named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team while emerging as one of the NBA's young superstars, Glen Rice finishing first on the Lakers with 84 three-pointers, the Lakers signing Ron Harper and Brian Shaw to give the team a veteran presence and hiring former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson to give the team a championship experience. Bryant, O'Neal and coach Jackson represented the Western Conference in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game. Following the season, Rice was traded to the New York Knicks, A.C. Green (who returned to play for his former team) was released and later signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, and John Salley retired after making a comeback.

For the season the Lakers sported new uniforms, which still remain in use as of 2016.

Draft picks

Main article: 1999 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 23 Devean George SF  United States Augsburg
2 30 John Celestand PG  United States Villanova

[3]

Roster

Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G/F 8 United States Bryant, Kobe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Lower Merion HS (PA)
G 11 United States Celestand, John 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 178 lb (81 kg) Villanova
G 2 United States Fisher, Derek 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Arkansas-Little Rock
F 17 Canada Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina
F 3 United States George, Devean 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Augsburg
F 45 United States Green, A.C. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Oregon State
G 4 United States Harper, Ron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Miami (OH)
F 5 United States Horry, Robert 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Alabama
C 40 United States Knight, Travis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Connecticut
G 10 United States Lue, Tyronn  6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Nebraska
C 34 United States O'Neal, Shaquille 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 325 lb (147 kg) LSU
F 41 United States Rice, Glen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan
F/C 16 United States Salley, John 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Georgia Tech
G 20 United States Shaw, Brian 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) UC Santa Barbara
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 67 15 .817 – 36–5 31–10 20–4
x-Portland Trail Blazers 59 23 .720 8 30–11 29–12 21–3
x-Phoenix Suns 53 29 .646 14 32–9 21–20 15–9
x-Seattle SuperSonics 45 37 .549 22 24–17 21–20 12–12
x-Sacramento Kings 44 38 .537 23 30–11 14–27 9–15
Golden State Warriors 19 63 .232 48 12–29 7–34 2–22
Los Angeles Clippers 15 67 .183 52 10–31 5–36 5–19
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 67 15 .817 –
2 y-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 12
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 59 23 .720 8
4 x-San Antonio Spurs 53 29 .646 14
5 x-Phoenix Suns 53 29 .646 14
6 x-Minnesota Timberwolves 50 32 .610 17
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 45 37 .549 22
8 x-Sacramento Kings 44 38 .537 23
9 Dallas Mavericks 40 42 .488 27
10 Denver Nuggets 35 47 .427 32
11 Houston Rockets 34 48 .415 33
12 Vancouver Grizzlies 22 60 .268 45
13 Golden State Warriors 19 63 .232 48
14 Los Angeles Clippers 15 67 .183 52

Record vs. opponents

1999-2000 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 — 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 3–1 2–1 0–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
Boston 3–1 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
Charlotte 3–1 3–1 — 4–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–0
Chicago 1–3 2–2 0–4 — 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–1 0–3 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2
Cleveland 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 — 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 2–2 3–1 2–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–2 2–0 3–1
Dallas 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 — 3–1 2–0 4–0 1–3 1–1 4–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–1 1–3 3–1 1–1
Denver 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 — 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1
Detroit 3–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 2–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
Golden State 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–2 — 1–3 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–4 3–1 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 — 0–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1
Indiana 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–1
L.A. Clippers 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 3–1 0–4 1–1 — 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 — 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1
Miami 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 — 2–2 2–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 4–0
Milwaukee 4–0 2–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–2 — 0–2 1–3 0–4 4–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 3–1 0–4 0–2 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 0–2
New Jersey 1–3 1–3 1–2 1–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 — 1–3 3–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3
New York 1–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 4–0 1–1 3–1 — 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–2 2–0 2–2
Orlando 3–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 2–3 1–3 — 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 4–0
Philadelphia 4–0 3–1 1–3 4–0 4–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 3–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 — 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–0 1–1 2–0 3–1
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 — 1–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 0–4 4–0 2–0
Portland 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 — 4–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0
Sacramento 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 0–4 — 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 3–1 2–0
San Antonio 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 — 2–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1
Seattle 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 0–2 4–0 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 — 0–2 2–2 4–0 2–0
Toronto 2–2 2–2 1–3 4–0 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 2–2
Utah 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 4–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 — 3–1 2–0
Vancouver 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 3–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–3 — 1–1
Washington 3–1 1–3 0–3 2–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 —

Pre-season

Regular season

Game log

Playoffs

Western Conference First Round

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Sacramento Kings Last Playoff Meeting: 1984 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-0; Kings were in Kansas City, Missouri)

May 5
Sacramento Kings 86, Los Angeles Lakers 113
Los Angeles wins series, 3-2

Western Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Phoenix Suns Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference First Round (Phoenix won 3-2)

May 16
Phoenix Suns 65, Los Angeles Lakers 87
Los Angeles wins series, 4-1

Western Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1)

June 4
Portland Trail Blazers 84, Los Angeles Lakers 89
Los Angeles wins series, 4-3

NBA Finals

Summary

The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.

Team Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4* Game 5 Game 6 Wins
Los Angeles (West) 10411191120871164
Indiana (East) 871041001181201112

[4]

Aspects

Although the Lakers were one of the more talented teams in the NBA the previous year, they failed to win a single game against the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA playoffs. Twenty-four days after being swept by the eventual league champion, the Lakers signed Phil Jackson as head coach. Jackson, famous for coaching Michael Jordan and the six-time champion Chicago Bulls, would build his triangle offense around Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. General Manager Jerry West surrounded O'Neal and Bryant with effective role players such as Glen Rice, Ron Harper (who had experience with Jackson's triangle offense as part of the '96–'98 Bulls),[5] and A. C. Green (member of the last two Lakers championship teams).[6]

Along with these starters, the Lakers also possessed a strong bench. Robert Horry not only had championship experience with the Houston Rockets but also was a threat on the perimeter and a defensive star.[7] Derek Fisher was a defensively minded point-guard with the ability to shoot well from long range. Rick Fox, acquired after being released by the Boston Celtics,[8] was the Lakers' sixth man. With a healthy O'Neal, the Lakers dominated the regular season, with winning streaks of 11, 16, and 19 en route to a 67–15 record, tying the 1992 Chicago Bulls and 1986 Boston Celtics as the fifth best record in NBA regular season history.

Although many expected the Lakers to reach the Finals, the road would be a rocky one. In the first round, the Lakers won the first two games against the Sacramento Kings, only to drop the next two games in Sacramento.[9] The Lakers then defeated Sacramento in Game 5, 113–86, to face the Phoenix Suns in the conference semifinals.[10] The Lakers clobbered the Suns, winning the series 4–1 (with their only loss coming in Game 4).[11][12] In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, Rasheed Wallace earned two technical fouls and was ejected; the Lakers took advantage of Wallace's absence and secured victory.[13] The Trail Blazers stormed back in the next game, giving the Lakers their worst home loss of the season in a 106–77 shellacking.[14] This setback did not affect Los Angeles, as they assembled a 3–1 series lead by winning the next two games in Portland.[15] The Lakers underestimated the Trail Blazers, however. Led by former Jackson linchpin Scottie Pippen, Portland won back-to-back elimination games and forced a series-deciding Game 7.[16][17] Amid several controversial foul calls by referee Dick Bavetta against members of the Trail Blazers,[18] Portland relinquished a 75–60 fourth quarter lead.[19] Rallying back with a 25–4 run, the Lakers won the game and secured a berth in the NBA Finals.[20][21]

In the 1997–1998 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls narrowly defeated the Pacers, 4 games to 3, in the Eastern Conference Finals.[22] The 1998–1999 NBA season began with a lockout but saw Indiana return to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to the New York Knicks.[23] The 1999–2000 NBA season brought several major changes to the Pacers. It was their first season at Conseco Fieldhouse,[24] as well as their first since 1993 without center Antonio Davis, who was traded for the rights to the No. 5 overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.[25] Jalen Rose replaced Chris Mullin in the starting line up, winning the NBA Most Improved Player award,[26] while Austin Croshere replaced him as the sixth man.[27]

The Pacers started the season 7–7 but eventually finished with an Eastern Conference best 56–26 record, including a franchise-best 25 game win streak at home.[28] The Pacers, like the Lakers, struggled in the playoffs. They needed a clutch Travis Best three-pointer to dispatch the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.[29] Indiana faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round and took the series in six games, earning a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.[30] The Pacers would face their rival Knicks,[31] winning a memorable six game series in a reversal of fortunes from years past.[32] With the victory, Indiana advanced to the first NBA Finals in franchise history, becoming the second former ABA team to do so.

Game 1

Sunday, June 7, 2000, 9:00 at the Staples Center.

The Lakers dominated from the start. The Lakers shot 15-for-20 (75%) in the first period while the Pacers shot only 7-for-20 (35%). Miller would miss all of his shots in the first quarter to give the Lakers a 15-point lead. Croshere came off the bench to keep the Pacers alive in the 2nd quarter, scoring 9 points and grabbing 4 rebounds in the quarter. Although the Pacers attempted a comeback in the 2nd quarter, they were still down by 12. In the 3rd quarter, it would be Jackson who led the Pacers to a comeback, cutting the Lakers lead by 2. Miller also hit his first field goal in the 3rd quarter, though it would be his last. The Lakers handled the Pacers in the final quarter, with a 13–2 run winning by 17 points. O'Neal scored 43 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Indiana 182222 1687
Los Angeles 332528 27104

Game 2

Tuesday, June 9, 2000, 9:00 at the Staples Center.

Los Angeles and Indiana were evenly matched for the first quarter, both scoring 28. However, Los Angeles suffered a major setback when Kobe Bryant left the game in the 2nd quarter due to a sprained ankle and did not return. Jalen Rose later admitted that he intentionally stuck out his foot when Kobe shot a jumpshot in order to trip him when he landed.[33][34][35] Ron Harper went in for Bryant and scored 21 points for the game. Desperate to try to gain the lead, Larry Bird resorted to the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy. Shaq shot 39 free throws, making only 18, an NBA record for most free throws attempted. Despite this low percentage, Shaq made 9 of 16 in the 4th quarter to keep a Lakers lead. The Pacers cut the lead to 99–96 and were looking to foul Shaq, but when Shaq got the ball he passed to Robert Horry who converted not only the layup, but the foul shot as well giving them a 102–96 lead en route to a 111–104 Lakers victory.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Indiana 282120 35104
Los Angeles 282421 38111

Game 3

Thursday, June 11, 2000, 7:30 at the Conseco Fieldhouse.

Taking advantage of Kobe Bryant's ankle injury, Indiana restored a semblance of parity to the proceedings. Kobe's absence was felt as the Pacers had an 11–2 run in the first quarter to take an 8-point lead. Austin Croshere once again had another huge 2nd quarter, scoring 8 points as the Pacers shot 61% from the field. The Lakers tried to make a run to get back into the game, but upon doings so, Indiana answered with 12 straight points and led by 17. The Lakers were desperate and attempted another run to get within 3 points, but Reggie Miller nailed all his free throws at the end of the game to give Indiana a 9-point win.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Los Angeles 152722 2591
Indiana 233026 21100

Game 4

Wednesday, June 14, 2000, 9:00 at the Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Pacers took a quick 9–2 lead due to Rik Smits hitting his first four shots. Kobe Bryant attempted to play with his sore ankle but only managed to score 6 points in the first half. Even though Bryant and O'Neal were in foul trouble in the first half (each picking up his third with 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter), Indiana could not take advantage and did not extend their lead. This would be a problem as Kobe Bryant scored 10 points and the Lakers took a 62–60 lead due to a Glen Rice three-pointer. The game remained close going into the fourth quarter, when O'Neal and Reggie Miller scored 14 and 13 points respectively, sending the game into overtime. Midway through overtime, O'Neal committed his sixth foul but 21-year-old Bryant delivered three clutch shots, as the Lakers were able to overcome back-up center John Salley's inability to effectively defend Smits. Smits and Miller scored all 14 of Indiana's OT points, but it was not enough to overcome as Miller missed a last-second three-pointer, and L.A. was able to pull one out in Indianapolis.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. OT Total
Los Angeles 232829 2416120
Indiana 332123 2714118

Game 5

Sunday, June 16, 2000, 9:00 at the Conseco Fieldhouse.

Reggie Miller and the Pacers dominated the game from the start in what would be Larry Bird's last game as a coach in the state of Indiana. Reggie Miller came out and made 5 straight shots including a 4-point play. The Pacers hit their first 6 three point shots in the game. The Pacers would have a 20-point lead in the 2nd quarter, and eventually won by 33 – it was the worst Lakers NBA Finals loss since the 148–114 loss to Boston in the 1985 NBA Finals, known as the "Memorial Day Massacre."

With their loss in Game 5, the Lakers record in close-out games dropped to 3–6 in the 2000 NBA Playoffs (the other losses coming in Games 3 and 4 in the first round against Sacramento, Game 4 in the series against Phoenix, and Games 5 and 6 versus Portland). As a result, the series returned to California.

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Los Angeles 281722 2087
Indiana 392522 34120

Game 6

Monday, June 19, 2000, 9:00 at the Staples Center.

After the two teams traded blows in the first quarter, Mark Jackson concluded the period with a turn-around half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Pacers a 26–24 advantage. They would not relinquish their lead until the fourth quarter. In the first half, the Pacers would lead by as many as twelve points. However, the Lakers chipped away and entered intermission trailing 56–53. Indiana, however, added two more points to their lead, and entered the final period in a position to force a decisive seventh game.

In the fourth quarter, the momentum shifted. The Lakers got four timely three-pointers from Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, and Rick Fox. The turning point occurred on a play where Brian Shaw stole the ball from Jalen Rose, leading to a fast break where Shaquille O'Neal hit an off-balance shot to give the Lakers the lead. The Pacers never led after that point.

The Lakers would build a seven-point lead, but the Pacers fought back to tie the score at 103. After a timeout, the Lakers scored six unanswered points to regain control. The Pacers made one final valiant effort, but it fell short and the Lakers clinched their first championship in twelve years. Shaquille O'Neal led all scorers with 41 points and also pulled down 12 rebounds. He was awarded the Finals MVP.[36]

Team 1st Qt. 2nd Qt. 3rd Qt. 4th Qt. Total
Indiana 263028 27111
Los Angeles 242926 37116

Player statistics

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

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kobe Bryant 66 62 38.2 .468 .319 .821 6.3 4.9 1.61 .94 22.5
John Celestand 16 0 11.6 .333 .222 .833 .7 1.2 .44 .00 2.3
Derek Fisher 78 22 23.1 .346 .313 .724 1.8 2.8 1.03 .04 6.3
Rick Fox 82 1 18.0 .414 .326 .808 2.4 1.7 .63 .32 6.5
Devean George 49 1 7.0 .389 .340 .659 1.5 .2 .20 .08 3.2
A. C. Green 82 82 23.5 .447 .250 .695 5.9 1.0 .65 .22 5.0
Ron Harper 80 78 25.5 .399 .311 .680 4.2 3.4 1.06 .49 7.0
Robert Horry 76 0 22.2 .438 .309 .788 4.8 1.6 1.11 1.05 5.7
Sam Jacobson 3 0 6.0 .556 .000 .000 .3 .7 .33 .00 3.3
Travis Knight 63 0 6.5 .390 .000 .607 2.0 .4 .10 .37 1.7
Tyronn Lue 8 0 18.2 .487 .500 .750 1.5 2.1 .38 .00 6.0
Shaquille O'Neal 79 79 40.0 .574 .000 .524 13.6 3.8 .46 3.03 29.7
Glen Rice 80 80 31.6 .430 .367 .874 4.1 2.2 .59 .15 15.9
John Salley 45 3 6.7 .362 .000 .750 1.4 .6 .18 .31 1.6
Brian Shaw 74 2 16.9 .382 .310 .759 2.9 2.7 .47 .19 4.1

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kobe Bryant 22 22 39.0 .442 .344 .754 4.5 4.4 1.45 1.45 21.1
Derek Fisher 21 0 15.3 .430 .414 .760 1.0 2.0 .52 .05 4.7
Rick Fox 23 0 14.4 .452 .462 .762 1.7 1.2 .39 .00 4.3
Devean George 9 0 5.0 .368 .200 .545 1.1 .2 .11 .00 2.4
A. C. Green 23 23 18.7 .411 .000 .696 4.2 .6 .61 .13 3.9
Ron Harper 23 23 28.0 .431 .231 .702 3.7 3.2 1.00 .57 8.6
Robert Horry 23 0 26.9 .407 .288 .702 5.3 2.5 .87 .83 7.6
Travis Knight 14 0 3.4 .533 .000 .333 .4 .0 .07 .21 1.3
Shaquille O'Neal 23 23 43.5 .566 .000 .456 15.4 3.1 .57 2.39 30.7
Glen Rice 23 23 33.3 .408 .418 .798 4.0 2.1 .65 .17 12.4
John Salley 18 0 4.3 .385 .000 .700 1.2 .2 .06 .33 .9
Brian Shaw 22 1 18.5 .421 .333 .813 2.3 3.0 .50 .18 5.4

Award winners

Transactions

The Lakers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1999–2000 season.

Trades

September 1, 1999
 To Los Angeles Lakers
A. C. Green		 To Dallas Mavericks
Sean Rooks
2000 2nd round draft pick
September 21, 2000
 To Los Angeles Lakers
Melvin Levett		 To Detroit Pistons
Derek Harper

Briefly, the Lakers considered to trade Kobe Bryant for Grant Hill, but it never came close to consummation.[37]

Additions

Player Signed Former Team
Ron Harper Signed 2-year contract for $4.2 Million[38] Chicago Bulls
Brian Shaw Signed 1-year contract for $? Million[39] Portland Trail Blazers
John Salley Signed ? year contract for $? Million[40] N/A

Subtractions

Player Reason Left New Team
Ruben Patterson Free agent Seattle SuperSonics
J.R. Reid Free agent Milwaukee Bucks

References

  1. ↑ "1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2014-12-13.
  2. ↑ "Near-Unanimous Vote Elects O'Neal M.V.P.". New York Times. May 10, 2000.
  3. ↑ "CNN Sports provided by Bleacher Report – CNN.com". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-12-13.
  4. ↑ "2000 NBA Playoffs Summary | Basketball-Reference.com". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2014-12-13.
  5. ↑ Dawidoff, Nicholas (2015-06-23). "The Obtuse Triangle". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  6. ↑ "NBA Ironman Proud to Be a Virgin Until 38". ABC News. 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  7. ↑ "Robert Horry is a Hall of Famer. This should not even be a debate.". The Dream Shake. 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  8. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (1997-08-27). "Fox Hunt Finally Over for Lakers". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  9. ↑ Abrams, Jonathan (2014-05-07). "All the Kings' Men". Grantland. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  10. ↑ "2000 NBA Western Conference First Round | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  11. ↑ "Suns torch Lakers' broom". The Baltimore Sun. 2000-05-15. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  12. ↑ "2000 NBA Western Conference Semifinals | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  13. ↑ Spousta, Tom (2000-05-23). "Blazers Turn the Tables in Game 2". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  14. ↑ "Blazers tied in West". St. Petersburg Times. 2000-05-23. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  15. ↑ "Lakers have Blazers singing a different tune". The Baltimore Sun. 2000-05-31. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  16. ↑ Smith, Sam (2000-06-01). "Phil Vs. Scottie As Entertaining As Blazers Vs. Lakers". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  17. ↑ "2000 NBA Western Conference Finals | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  18. ↑ Craggs, Tommy (2009-10-28). "Excerpts From The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read". Deadspin. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  19. ↑ "Lakers Rally Past Blazers". CBS News. 2000-06-05. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  20. ↑ "Top 10 Lakers playoffs moments: Kobe-to-Shaq cements Game 7 comeback against Portland". ESPN.com. 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  21. ↑ "All Things Lakers - 1999-2000 Season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  22. ↑ "Bulls' run not done Chicago rebounds to knock out Pacers in Game 7, 88-83". The Baltimore Sun. 1998-06-01. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  23. ↑ "1998–99 Indiana Pacers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  24. ↑ Benbow, Dana (2014-11-06). "15 years ago: Pacers' first game in Conseco Fieldhouse". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  25. ↑ "Pacers, Raptors Finalize Trade". CBS News. 1999-08-01. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  26. ↑ "'Most Improved' Rose Could Improve Bulls". The Chicago Tribune. 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  27. ↑ Morwick, Rick (2011-01-06). "Former Pacers player becoming at ease in front of camera". Daily Journal. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  28. ↑ "1999-00 Indiana Pacers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  29. ↑ Smith, Sam (2000-05-05). "Best's 3, Miller's 41 Rescue Pacers". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  30. ↑ "2000 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  31. ↑ Bolch, Ben (2013-05-04). "NBA playoffs preview: Knicks vs. Pacers". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  32. ↑ "2000 NBA Eastern Conference Finals | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  33. ↑ Bresnahan, Mike (March 14, 2013). "Kobe Bryant sprains left ankle in Lakers loss, out indefinitely". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013.
  34. ↑ Ryan, Chris (March 14, 2013). "Jalen Rose on That Time He Intentionally Tried to Injure Kobe Bryant". grantland.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013.
  35. ↑ Grantland, Channel. "Jalen Rose on Kobe Bryant and Karma". Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  36. ↑ Babb, Kent (2015-06-13). "That time when Shaquille O'Neal turned in the most dominant NBA Finals performance ever". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  37. ↑ "Phil Jackson recalls proposed trade to deal young Kobe for Grant Hill". ESPN. September 2, 2016.
  38. ↑ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. p. 48. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 2014-12-13.
  39. ↑ "Basketball Transactions Search Results". prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved 2014-12-13.
  40. ↑ "Lakers sign veteran forward John Salley". Boca Raton News. Retrieved 2014-12-13 – via Google News.
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