The NBA Belt · reign 957
Los Angeles Lakers
Took the belt from Philadelphia 76ers, 131–116, on December 3, 1971. Lost it to Milwaukee Bucks, 120–104, on January 9, 1972.
17Defenses
37Days
112thReign for the franchise
+5Closest call · Dec 8, 1971
16.8Average winning margin
83rdLongest of 3,250 reigns, by days
2ndMost defenses of 3,250 reigns
Defended against
Trail Blazers ×2Rockets ×2Warriors ×2Suns ×2Hawks ×2Buffalo Braves ×276ersBaltimore BulletsSeattle SuperSonicsCelticsCavaliers
The season
- 1971–72: they had the best record (69–13–0); they won the NBA title while holding the belt; 19 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 37 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Los Angeles Lakers across the 19 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gail Goodrich | 513 | 19 |
| 2 | Jerry West | 504 | 19 |
| 3 | Jim McMillian | 403 | 19 |
| 4 | Wilt Chamberlain | 268 | 19 |
| 5 | Happy Hairston | 253 | 19 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Los Angeles Lakers’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,155 | Dec 3, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers 131–116 Game → | +15 | Title change |
| 2,156 | Dec 5, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland Trail Blazers 123–107 | +16 | Defense |
| 2,157 | Dec 8, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Houston Rockets 125–120 | +5 | Defense |
| 2,158 | Dec 9, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Golden State Warriors 124–111 | +13 | Defense |
| 2,159 | Dec 10, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Phoenix Suns 126–117 | +9 | Defense |
| 2,160 | Dec 12, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Atlanta Hawks 104–95 | +9 | Defense |
| 2,161 | Dec 14, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland Trail Blazers 129–114 | +15 | Defense |
| 2,162 | Dec 17, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Golden State Warriors 129–99 | +30 | Defense |
| 2,163 | Dec 18, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Phoenix Suns 132–106 | +26 | Defense |
| 2,164 | Dec 19, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers 154–132 | +22 | Defense |
| 2,165 | Dec 21, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Buffalo Braves 117–103 | +14 | Defense |
| 2,166 | Dec 22, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Baltimore Bullets 127–120 | +7 | Defense |
| 2,167 | Dec 26, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Houston Rockets 137–115 | +22 | Defense |
| 2,168 | Dec 28, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Buffalo Braves 105–87 | +18 | Defense |
| 2,169 | Dec 30, 1971 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle SuperSonics 122–106 | +16 | Defense |
| 2,170 | Jan 2, 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics 122–113 | +9 | Defense |
| 2,171 | Jan 5, 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Cleveland Cavaliers 113–103 | +10 | Defense |
| 2,172 | Jan 7, 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Atlanta Hawks 134–90 | +44 | Defense |
| 2,173 | Jan 9, 1972 | Milwaukee Bucks beat Los Angeles Lakers 120–104 Game → | −16 | Title change |