1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season
| 1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Paul Westhead |
| General manager | Bill Sharman |
| Owner(s) | Jerry Buss |
| Arena | The Forum |
| Results | |
| Record | 54–28 (.659) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 3rd (Western) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Rockets 1–2) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KHJ |
| Radio | AM 570 KLAC |
The 1980-81 NBA season was the Lakers' 33rd season in the NBA and the 21st season in Los Angeles. The Lakers were attempting to become the first team since 1969 to repeat as NBA Champions. Despite missing Magic Johnson for 45 games due to a knee injury, the Lakers still managed an impressive 54–28 record during the regular season, and they were the #3 seed heading into the Western Conference playoffs. However, the underdog Houston Rockets eliminated the Lakers in a best-of-three first round series two games to one.