1993–94 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1993–94 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 46th season for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, and their 34th season in Los Angeles, California.^[1] The Lakers had the twelfth overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected small forward George Lynch from the University of North Carolina,^[2][3][4] and also selected point guard Nick Van Exel from the University of Cincinnati with the 37th overall pick.^[5][6][4] During the off-season, the team acquired Sam Bowie from the New Jersey Nets,^[7][8][9] and re-signed free agent and former Lakers forward Kurt Rambis.^[10][11]

Despite the addition of Van Exel, Lynch and Bowie, and with the return of Rambis, the Lakers struggled losing nine of their first twelve games of the regular season, then lost 10 of their 14 games in December, and later on held a 18–29 record at the All-Star break.^[12] Head coach Randy Pfund was fired after a 27–37 start to the season, and was replaced with interim Bill Bertka for the next two games.^[13][14] With the team out of playoff position and struggling in March, the Lakers decided to bring back retired All-Star guard, and legend Magic Johnson as their new coach.^[15][16][17] At mid-season, the team acquired Danny Schayes from the Milwaukee Bucks.^[18][19] Under Johnson, the Lakers won five of their next six games; however, the team struggled and lost their final ten games of the season, and finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a disappointing 33–49 record.^[20] The Lakers failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1975–76 season, ending a 17-year playoff streak.^[1]

Vlade Divac averaged 14.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 blocks per game, while second-year guard Anthony Peeler averaged 14.1 points and 1.4 steals per game, but only played just 30 games due to a stress fracture in his left leg, and tendonitis in his right leg,^[21][22][23] and Van Exel provided the team with 13.6 points and 5.8 assists per game, led them with 123 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, Sedale Threatt contributed 11.9 points, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while Elden Campbell averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, second-year guard Doug Christie provided with 10.3 points and 1.4 steals per game, and James Worthy averaged 10.2 points per game off the bench. Meanwhile, Lynch averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, Bowie provided with 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and Tony Smith contributed 8.8 points per game.^[24]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Van Exel was selected for the inaugural NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Sensations team.^[25][26] Meanwhile, Christie was selected to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but withdrew due to injury, and was replaced with Antonio Davis of the Indiana Pacers.^[25][27]

The Lakers finished 21st in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 545,915 at the Great Western Forum during the regular season.^[24][28] Following the season, Johnson resigned as head coach,^[29][30][31] while Worthy retired after twelve seasons in the NBA with the Lakers,^[32][33][34] Christie was traded to the New York Knicks,^[35][36][37] and Schayes signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns.^[38]