[2][3][4][5] Despite the retirement of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and an NBA Finals defeat in which they were swept in four games by the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers got off to a fast start winning ten of their first eleven games,[6] and holding a 35–11 record at the All-Star break,[7] on their way finishing the regular season with a league-best 63–19 record.
[8] Magic Johnson averaged 22.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while James Worthy averaged 21.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
[9] Three members of the team, Johnson, Worthy and Green were all selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game in Miami, Florida, with head coach Pat Riley coaching the Western Conference.
[26][27][28][29] It was the first time in nine years that the Lakers did not reach the Western Conference finals, ending a run that started in 1982,[30] the longest series of consecutive NBA Conference finals appearances since Bill Russell's Boston Celtics in 1969.
[35][36][37] Also following the season, Orlando Woolridge was traded to the Denver Nuggets,[38][39] and Michael Cooper was released to free agency, and left to play overseas in Italy.