The 2014–15 Los Angeles Lakers season was the franchise's 67th season, its 66th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 55th in Los Angeles. Coming off from one of the worst seasons in franchise history and missing the playoffs, the team looked to rebound. Mike D'Antoni resigned in late April following two miserable seasons, leaving the team without a head coach. In the offseason, Pau Gasol and Jodie Meeks left for Chicago and Detroit , respectively, leaving big shoes to fill. After failing to land the biggest names in the offseason like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James , the Lakers brought back numerous key role players from last season including Nick Young, Jordan Hill, and Ryan Kelly. The Lakers later acquired point guard Jeremy Lin in a trade with Houston and won the bidding rights to power forward Carlos Boozer after being amnestied by Chicago in the offseason. The Lakers also drafted Kentucky's star power forward Julius Randle and shooting guard Jordan Clarkson in the 2014 NBA Draft. The team then hired Lakers Showtime player and former Coach of the Year, Byron Scott as head coach in late July. On December 14, 2014, Kobe Bryant scored 26 points to pass Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's all-time scoring list in a 100–94 win over Minnesota.
The Lakers started the season a franchise-worst 1–9. Rookie Julius Randle was injured opening night and missed the remainder of the season. On January 28, 2015, Kobe Bryant underwent season-ending surgery for a rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder.[ 1] On March 21, 2015, Steve Nash announced his retirement. The Lakers finished with a 21–61 record, placing them last in the Pacific division for the second straight season and fourteenth in the Western conference. This was the first 60 loss season in franchise history.
On October 23, 2014, point guard Steve Nash was ruled out for the season due to a recurring back injury.[ 2]
2014 pre-season game log Total: 3–5 (Home: 3–5; Road: 0–0)
Pre-season: 3–5 (home: 3–5; road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
October 6
Denver
W 98–95
Jordan Clarkson (14)
Jordan Hill (11)
Jeremy Lin (10)
Valley View Casino Center 10,108
1–0
2
October 9
Golden State
L 105–120
Carlos Boozer (16)
Randle , Davis (7)
Lin , Price (4)
Staples Center 13,128
1–1
3
October 12
Golden State
L 75–116
Sacre , Ellington (12)
Jordan Hill (7)
Kobe Bryant (5)
Citizens Business Bank Arena 7,842
1–2
4
October 16
Utah
L 86–119
Kobe Bryant (27)
Jordan Hill (14)
Kobe Bryant (4)
Honda Center 8,931
1–3
5
October 19
Utah
W 98–91
Kobe Bryant (26)
Carlos Boozer (9)
Ronnie Price (10)
Staples Center 17,733
2–3
6
October 21
Phoenix
L 108–114 (OT)
Kobe Bryant (27)
Wesley Johnson (8)
Ronnie Price (10)
Honda Center 8,037
2–4
7
October 22
Portland
W 94–86
Julius Randle (17)
Randle , Sacre (8)
Jeremy Lin (5)
Citizens Business Bank Arena 7,174
3–4
8
October 24
Sacramento
L 92–93
Jeremy Lin (19)
Ed Davis (13)
Jeremy Lin (7)
MGM Grand Garden Arena 10,890
3–5
2014–15 season schedule
On October 28, 2014, rookie Julius Randle broke his right tibia during the Lakers' season opener against the Houston Rockets , and was expected to miss the remainder of the season.[ 3] Through the season's first 10 games, the Lakers were 1–9, the worst start in the 66-year history of the franchise.[ 4]
2014–15 game log Total: 21–61 (Home: 12–29; Road: 9–32)
October: 0–3 (home: 0–2; road: 0–1)
November
: 4–10 (home: 2–6; road: 2–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
4
November 1
@ Golden State
L 104–127
Kobe Bryant (28)
Bryant & Davis (6)
Lin & Price (6)
Oracle Arena 19,596
0–4
5
November 4
Phoenix
L 106–112
Kobe Bryant (39)
Jordan Hill (15)
Carlos Boozer (4)
Staples Center 18,997
0–5
6
November 9
Charlotte
W 107–92
Bryant & Lin (21)
Hill & Bryant (6)
Ronnie Price (8)
Staples Center 18,997
1–5
7
November 11
@ Memphis
L 102–107
Kobe Bryant (28)
Jordan Hill (14)
Kobe Bryant (6)
FedEx Forum 17,618
1–6
8
November 12
@ New Orleans
L 102–109
Kobe Bryant (33)
Ed Davis (11)
Kobe Bryant (5)
Smoothie King Center 17,359
1–7
9
November 14
San Antonio
L 80–93
Carlos Boozer (19)
Jordan Hill (11)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Staples Center 18,997
1–8
10
November 16
Golden State
L 115–136
Kobe Bryant (44)
Jordan Hill (11)
Ronnie Price (5)
Staples Center 18,997
1–9
11
November 18
@ Atlanta
W 114–109
Kobe Bryant (28)
Hill & Boozer (10)
Jeremy Lin (10)
Philips Arena 17,848
2–9
12
November 19
@ Houston
W 98–92
Kobe Bryant (29)
Carlos Boozer (13)
Kobe Bryant (7)
Toyota Center 18,245
3–9
13
November 21
@ Dallas
L 106–140
Jeremy Lin (18)
Jordan Hill (10)
Kobe Bryant (7)
American Airlines Center 20,353
3–10
14
November 23
Denver
L 94–101 (OT)
Kobe Bryant (27)
Jordan Hill (14)
Jeremy Lin (5)
Staples Center 18,997
3–11
15
November 26
Memphis
L 93–99
Kobe Bryant (22)
Ed Davis (8)
Lin & Price (5)
Staples Center 18,997
3–12
16
November 28
Minnesota
L 119–120
Kobe Bryant (26)
Ed Davis (10)
Jeremy Lin (11)
Staples Center 18,997
3–13
17
November 30
Toronto
W 129–122 (OT)
Kobe Bryant (31)
Jordan Hill (12)
Kobe Bryant (12)
Staples Center 18,997
4–13
December
: 6–9 (home: 2–3; road: 4–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
18
December 2
@ Detroit
W 106–96
Jordan Hill (22)
Jordan Hill (13)
Kobe Bryant (13)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,083
5–13
19
December 3
@ Washington
L 95–111
Kobe Bryant (29)
Davis & Boozer (8)
Jeremy Lin (5)
Verizon Center 18,490
5–14
20
December 5
@ Boston
L 96–113
Kobe Bryant (22)
Ed Davis (9)
Bryant , Price & Ellington (3)
TD Garden 18,624
5–15
21
December 7
New Orleans
L 87–104
Kobe Bryant (14)
Davis & Hill (7)
Lin & Bryant (4)
Staples Center 18,997
5–16
22
December 9
Sacramento
W 98–95
Kobe Bryant (32)
Carlos Boozer (9)
Bryant & Price (6)
Staples Center 18,267
6–16
23
December 12
@ San Antonio
W 112–110 (OT)
Nick Young (29)
Carlos Boozer (13)
Kobe Bryant (9)
AT&T Center 18,581
7–16
24
December 14
@ Minnesota
W 100–94
Kobe Bryant (26)
Carlos Boozer (13)
Johnson & Lin (6)
Target Center 15,008
8–16
25
December 15
@ Indiana
L 91–110
Kobe Bryant (21)
Carlos Boozer (10)
Kobe Bryant (3)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 15,261
8–17
26
December 19
Oklahoma City
L 103–104
Ed Davis (18)
Ed Davis (9)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Staples Center 18,997
8–18
27
December 21
@ Sacramento
L 101–108
Nick Young (26)
Jordan Hill (9)
Jeremy Lin (5)
Sleep Train Arena 17,317
8–19
28
December 23
Golden State
W 115–105
Carlos Boozer (18)
Carlos Boozer (9)
Ronnie Price (8)
Staples Center 18,997
9–19
29
December 25
@ Chicago
L 93–113
Wesley Johnson (18)
Ed Davis (14)
Ronnie Price (8)
United Center 22,865
9–20
30
December 26
@ Dallas
L 98–102
Carlos Boozer (18)
Ed Davis (11)
Jeremy Lin (7)
American Airlines Center 20,424
9–21
31
December 28
Phoenix
L 107–116
Nick Young (21)
Bryant & Davis (9)
Kobe Bryant (7)
Staples Center 18,997
9–22
32
December 30
@ Denver
W 111–103
Kobe Bryant (23)
Kobe Bryant (11)
Kobe Bryant (11)
Pepsi Center 17,248
10–22
January
: 3–12 (home: 3–6; road: 0–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
33
January 2
Memphis
L 106–109
Lin & Davis (20)
Kobe Bryant (9)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Staples Center 18,997
10–23
34
January 4
Indiana
W 88–87
Nick Young (22)
Bryant & Davis (6)
Kobe Bryant (6)
Staples Center 1 8,997
11–23
35
January 5
@ Portland
L 94–98
Jordan Hill (23)
Jordan Hill (11)
Ronnie Price (8)
Rose Garden 19,827
11–24
36
January 7
@ LA Clippers
L 84–101
Jordan Clarkson (14)
Kobe Bryant (8)
Kobe Bryant (7)
Staples Center 19,487
11–25
37
January 9
Orlando
W 101–84
Jeremy Lin (18)
Carlos Boozer (14)
Jeremy Lin (6)
Staples Center 18,997
12–25
38
January 11
Portland
L 94–106
Wesley Johnson (17)
Carlos Boozer (9)
Ronnie Price (12)
Staples Center 18,997
12–26
39
January 13
Miami
L 75–78
Bryant , Hill & Davis (12)
Tarik Black (9)
Kobe Bryant (7)
Staples Center 18,997
12–27
40
January 15
Cleveland
L 102–109
Jordan Hill (20)
Bryant & Hill (6)
Kobe Bryant (17)
Staples Center 18,997
12–28
41
January 16
@ Utah
L 85–94
Nick Young (23)
Jordan Hill (11)
Jeremy Lin (3)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
12–29
42
January 19
@ Phoenix
L 100–115
Nick Young (24)
Ed Davis (11)
Jeremy Lin (10)
US Airways Center 17,435
12–30
43
January 21
@ New Orleans
L 80–96
Jordan Hill (15)
Jordan Hill (13)
Wesley Johnson (4)
Smoothie King Center 16,268
12–31
44
January 23
@ San Antonio
L 85–99
Nick Young (17)
Sacre & Boozer (7)
Ronnie Price (6)
AT&T Center 18,581
12–32
45
January 25
Houston
L 87–99
Carlos Boozer (18)
Ed Davis (13)
Jeremy Lin (6)
Staples Center 18,997
12–33
46
January 27
Washington
L 92–98
Wayne Ellington (28)
Jordan Hill (11)
Jeremy Lin (8)
Staples Center 18,997
12–34
47
January 29
Chicago
W 123–118 (2OT)
Jordan Hill (26)
Jordan Hill (12)
Jeremy Lin (5)
Staples Center 18,997
13–34
February
: 3–7 (home: 2–2; road: 1–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
48
February 1
@ New York
L 80–92
Boozer & Clarkson (19)
Carlos Boozer (10)
Jeremy Lin (7)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
13–35
49
February 4
@ Milwaukee
L 105–113 (OT)
Carlos Boozer (28)
Ed Davis (20)
Jeremy Lin (6)
BMO Harris Bradley Center 19,812
13–36
50
February 6
@ Orlando
L 97–103 (OT)
Ryan Kelly (20)
Wesley Johnson (9)
Jordan Clarkson (6)
Amway Center 16,206
13–37
51
February 8
@ Cleveland
L 105–120
Jordan Clarkson (20)
Ed Davis (9)
Jordan Clarkson (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
13–38
52
February 10
Denver
L 96–106
Carlos Boozer (21)
Carlos Boozer (10)
Jordan Clarkson (7)
Staples Center 18,466
13–39
53
February 11
@ Portland
L 86–102
Jordan Clarkson (17)
Ed Davis (9)
Jordan Clarkson (4)
Rose Garden 19,585
13–40
All-Star Break
54
February 20
Brooklyn
L 105–114
Jeremy Lin (18)
Ed Davis (14)
Ronnie Price (8)
Staples Center 19,585
13–41
55
February 22
Boston
W 118–111 (OT)
Jeremy Lin (25)
Carlos Boozer (8)
Jeremy Lin (6)
Staples Center 18,997
14–41
56
February 25
@ Utah
W 100–97
Jordan Clarkson (22)
Wayne Ellington (10)
Clarkson & Lin & Davis (3)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
15–41
57
February 27
Milwaukee
W 101–93
Jordan Clarkson (16)
Ed Davis (9)
Jeremy Lin (6)
Staples Center 18,997
16–41
March
: 4–12 (home: 2–5; road: 2–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
58
March 1
Oklahoma City
L 101–108
Jeremy Lin (20)
Jordan Hill (12)
Jeremy Lin (8)
Staples Center 18,997
16–42
59
March 3
@ Charlotte
L 103–104
Jeremy Lin (23)
Carlos Boozer (11)
Jeremy Lin (8)
Time Warner Cable Arena 18,997
16–43
60
March 4
@ Miami
L 94–100
Ellington & Davis (14)
Ed Davis (12)
Jeremy Lin (9)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
16–44
61
March 6
@ Memphis
L 90–97
Jordan Clarkson (25)
Carlos Boozer (9)
Jordan Clarkson (6)
FedEx Forum 19,600
16–45
62
March 8
Dallas
L 93–100
Carlos Boozer (17)
Boozer & Davis (8)
Lin & Clarkson (5)
Staples Center 18,997
16–46
63
March 10
Detroit
W 93–85
Jordan Hill (26)
Carlos Boozer (16)
Jordan Clarkson (8)
Staples Center 17,771
17–46
64
March 12
New York
L 94–101
Jordan Hill (19)
Tarik Black (11)
Jeremy Lin (7)
Staples Center 18,997
17–47
65
March 15
Atlanta
L 86–91
Boozer & Kelly (13)
Ed Davis (13)
Jordan Clarkson (6)
Staples Center 17,422
17–48
66
March 16
@ Golden State
L 105–108
Clarkson & Ellington (17)
Jordan Hill (12)
Jordan Hill (5)
Oracle Arena 19,596
17–49
67
March 19
Utah
L 73–80
Tarik Black (13)
Black & Hill (10)
Jordan Clarkson (6)
Staples Center 17,407
17–50
68
March 22
Philadelphia
W 101–87
Jeremy Lin (29)
Ed Davis (11)
Jeremy Lin (5)
Staples Center 17,891
18–50
69
March 24
@ Oklahoma City
L 117–127
Jordan Clarkson (30)
Tarik Black (6)
Lin & Clarkson (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
18–51
70
March 25
@ Minnesota
W 101–99 (OT)
Jordan Clarkson (20)
Ed Davis (9)
Lin & Clarkson (5)
Target Center 13,438
19–51
71
March 27
@ Toronto
L 83–94
Jeremy Lin (18)
Tarik Black (10)
Jeremy Lin (5)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
19–52
72
March 29
@ Brooklyn
L 99–107
Jordan Hill (22)
Jordan Hill (16)
Jordan Clarkson (7)
Barclays Center 17,732
19–53
73
March 30
@ Philadelphia
W 113–111 (OT)
Jordan Clarkson (26)
Wesley Johnson (11)
Jordan Clarkson (11)
Wells Fargo Center 13,501
20–53
April
: 1–8 (home: 1–5; road: 0–3)
2014–15 season schedule
Statistics (Summer League, preseason, and regular season)
Player
Duration
Injury type
Games missed
Start
End
2014–15 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
C
28
Black, Tarik
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
257 lb (117 kg)
1991-11-22
Kansas
SG
12
Blue, Vander
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1992-07-22
Marquette
PF
5
Boozer, Carlos
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
266 lb (121 kg)
1981-11-20
Duke
SG
15
Brown, Jabari
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
214 lb (97 kg)
1992-12-18
Missouri
SG
24
Bryant, Kobe
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1978-08-23
Lower Merion HS (PA)
PG
6
Clarkson, Jordan
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1992-06-07
Missouri
PF
21
Davis, Ed
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1989-06-05
North Carolina
SG
2
Ellington, Wayne
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1987-11-29
North Carolina
C
27
Hill, Jordan
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1987-07-27
Arizona
SF
11
Johnson, Wesley
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1987-07-11
Syracuse
PF
4
Kelly, Ryan
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1991-04-09
Duke
PG
17
Lin, Jeremy
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1988-08-23
Harvard
PG
9
Price, Ronnie
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1983-06-21
Utah Valley
PF
30
Randle, Julius
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1994-11-29
Kentucky
C
50
Sacre, Robert
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1989-06-06
Gonzaga
SF
0
Young, Nick
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1985-06-01
USC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate Injured
Roster Last transaction: April 13, 2015
Player
Signed
Contract
Ref.
Nick Young
Jordan Hill
Xavier Henry
Wesley Johnson
Ryan Kelly
Player
Signed
Former team
Ref.
Player
Reason left
Date
New team
Ref.
Player
Award
Date awarded
Ref.
^ Bresnahan, Mike (January 26, 2015). "Kobe Bryant to undergo season-ending surgery for torn rotator cuff" . Deseret News . Archived from the original on December 8, 2015.
^ "Steve Nash Out For The Season" . NBA.com . October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014 .
^ Holmes, Baxter (October 29, 2014). "Julius Randle likely out for season" . ESPN.com . Retrieved October 29, 2014 .
^ Bresnahan, Mike (November 16, 2014). "Kobe Bryant sticks to his guns, but Lakers stick to their losing ways" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 19, 2014.