[1] It was also the Lakers first season playing in their new arena, the Staples Center, becoming co-tenants with their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Clippers.
[2][3] During the off-season, the team re-acquired former Lakers forward A.C. Green from the Dallas Mavericks,[4][5][6] and signed free agents Ron Harper,[7][8][9] Brian Shaw and John Salley.
More significantly, the Lakers hired former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, who would go on to help the team win five NBA championships over the course of the next 12 years.
[60] [61] Roster Last transaction: November 12, 1999 The Lakers went 31-19 during the shortened lockout season of 1998–99, good enough to claim the fourth spot of the Western Conference.
[63] The very next day, the Lakers got their first win at home after defeating the visiting Vancouver Grizzlies, 103–88, behind Shaquille O'Neal's double-double performance of 28 points and 10 rebounds.
[64] Their first loss of the season came on November 6 when the Lakers were defeated by the home team, Portland Trail Blazers, led by Scottie Pippen.
[65] The next two games, the Lakers were pitted against the Dallas Mavericks led by rising stars Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki.
[68] They match-up against each other again two days after, but without O'Neal who was suspended, they bowed to the visiting Rockets, 81–97, who was led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Steve Francis.
However, Vince Carter scored 34 points to go along with 13 rebounds as the Raptors take the win in STAPLES Center, 111–102, to give the Lakers their fourth loss of the season.
On December 1, 1999, Kobe Bryant was back from almost a month of not playing due to injury, and this time, they were up against the 2-11 Golden State Warriors.
[75] Six days later, the Lakers won their 15th game of the season, led by Shaquille O'Neal who recorded 30 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks, in a 91–80 win over the visiting Washington Wizards.
[80] The next game, the Lakers were visited by the defending champions, the San Antonio Spurs who were led by the "Twin Towers" of Tim Duncan and David Robinson for a Christmas showdown.
[95] Three days after, Bryant and O'Neal combined for 59 points as they defeated the home team, Golden State Warriors, 109–92, to extend their winning streak to 17 in a row.
[97] The very next day, O'Neal, Bryant and Rice combined for 82 points as they extend their winning streak to 19 games as they defeat the home team, the Denver Nuggets, 118–108.
Twenty-four days after being swept by the eventual league champion, the Lakers signed Phil Jackson as head coach.
Jackson, famous for coaching Michael Jordan and the six-time champion Chicago Bulls, would build his triangle offense around Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
General Manager Jerry West surrounded O'Neal and Bryant with effective role players such as Glen Rice, Ron Harper (who had experience with Jackson's triangle offense as part of the '96–'98 Bulls),[117] and A.C. Green (member of the last two Lakers championship teams).
[125] The Trail Blazers stormed back in the next game, giving the Lakers their worst home loss of the season in a 106–77 shellacking.
[128][129] Amid several controversial foul calls by referee Dick Bavetta against members of the Trail Blazers,[130] Portland relinquished a 75–60 fourth quarter lead.
[134] The 1998–1999 NBA season began with a lockout but saw Indiana return to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to the New York Knicks.
[139] The Pacers started the season 7–7 but eventually finished with an Eastern Conference best 56–26 record, including a franchise-best 25 game win streak at home.
[142] The Pacers would face their rival Knicks,[143] winning a memorable six-game series in a reversal of fortunes from years past.
However, Los Angeles suffered a major setback when Kobe Bryant left the game in the 2nd quarter due to a sprained ankle and did not return.
Jalen Rose later admitted that he intentionally stuck out his foot when Kobe shot a jumpshot in order to trip him when he landed.
The Lakers were desperate and attempted another run to get within 3 points, but Reggie Miller nailed all his free throws at the end of the game to give Indiana a 9-point win.
Even though Bryant and O'Neal were in foul trouble in the first half (each picking up his third with 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter), Indiana could not take advantage and did not extend their lead.
Midway through overtime, O'Neal committed his sixth foul but 21-year-old Bryant delivered three clutch shots, as the Lakers were able to overcome back-up center John Salley's inability to effectively defend Smits.
After the two teams traded blows in the first quarter, Mark Jackson concluded the period with a turn-around half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Pacers a 26–24 advantage.
Indiana, however, added two more points to their lead, and entered the final period in a position to force a decisive seventh game.
The Pacers made one final valiant effort, but it fell short and the Lakers clinched their first championship in twelve years.