52 years ago today, on January 7, 1972, the Lakers won their 33rd (and last) consecutive success. A series of record victories that still stands, half a century later!
And history records that it was against the Hawks, at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum, that the “Purple & Gold” played (and won) the final match before they were finally beaten, more than two months after their last setback (!), by the Bucks of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson and Bob Dandridge, then defending champions.
But before that, in Atlanta, the teammates of Jerry West (12 points, 13 assists), Wilt Chamberlain (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Gail Goodrich (23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) did not have to force their talent to take the measure of the frankness of Pete Maravich, Lou Hudson and Walt Bellamy.
On arrival, this gives a success with 44 points difference for these Lakers, led by six players with more than 10 points and who brought their record for the season to 39 victories and 3 defeats (they will finish at 69 victories and 13 defeats, the record until the 72-10 of the Bulls in 1995/96)! In addition to continuing their crazy series of invincibility, which had started on November 5, 1971 and which had never really been undermined too much after that.
One of the best teams in history
Because, during their 33 consecutive successes, Bill Sharman's men – who finished champions in 1972 for the 6th time in their history, just a few months after the retirement of Elgin Baylor – demonstrated undivided domination (16 points difference on average), accumulating victories of more than 10, 20, 30 and sometimes 40 points difference (23 in total, out of 33)! All in the wake of Wilt Chamberlain, best rebounder in the league, and Jerry West, best passer in the league.
Considered by some to be untouchable, this 1971/72 Lakers record has since been approached (relatively speaking) only by the Heat of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who had won 27 games in a row between the months of February and March 2013. Behind, we find the Warriors of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, with 24 victories in a row between October and December 2015.
Then come the Rockets of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, with their 22 consecutive successes between January and March 2008. Then it is the Bucks who complete this Top 5 all-timeracking up 20 consecutive victories between February and March 1971. Before the Los Angeles players exploded this old record, less than a year later.
Like Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points, Scott Skiles' 30 assists or Elmore Smith's 17 blocks, we wonder when this NBA record, which no team has touched since, will be broken.
Article originally published in 2022
