<< 2007-08 Los Angeles Lakers | 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers >>

The 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers, after a tough Finals loss and a full season with Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, were not going to let anything stop them. They blazed through the regular season, going 65-17 and getting the best record in the Western Conference.

The west had a few decent challengers for the Lakers, including the Houston Rockets. The Rockets pushed L.A. to seven games in the second round, but it didn’t matter as they had an incredible Game 7 performance. The Lakers got to the Finals and awaited their opponent.

The Eastern Conference had three main championship contenders in the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic. The Magic beat the Celtics in the second round and faced LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals.

This was James’ best chance to go toe to toe with Bryant in the NBA Finals. However, he was unable to get past Dwight Howard and the Magic.

In the Finals, the Magic put up very little resistance against L.A. Bryant was spectacular and Gasol finally found his strength as the Lakers won in five games. This was their 15th title overall (two behind the Celtics) and Bryant’s fourth. Here, he won his first Finals MVP award after winning his only regular season MVP the year before.

Roster

NBA regular season statistics

NBA regular season schedule and results

NBA playoffs statistics

NBA playoffs schedule and results