[1] This was the first season since 1981–82 that All-Star forward James Worthy was not on the team, as he announced his retirement in November.
After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Lakers had the tenth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected Eddie Jones out of Temple University.
[2][3][4][5][6] With new head coach Del Harris,[7][8][9] along with the off-season acquisition of Cedric Ceballos from the Phoenix Suns,[10][11][12] the Lakers struggled with a 3–5 start, but then won ten of their next twelve games, and held a 29–16 record at the All-Star break.
[13] Despite losing seven of their final eight games, the Lakers finished in third place in the Pacific Division with a 48–34 record, and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
[34][35][36][37] However, they would lose in the Western Conference Semi-finals to the San Antonio Spurs in six games.