The 1973–74 NBA season was the Lakers' 26th season in the NBA and 14th season in Los Angeles.
[1] Having lost to the New York Knicks in the previous season's NBA Finals, the Lakers would make it to the NBA Playoffs, posting a 47–35 record, only to lose to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
Following the season, Jerry West retired after 14 seasons with the Lakers.
He would later return to the Lakers as the head coach from 1976 to 1979, then served as general manager from 1982 to 2000.