On This Day In Lakers History, Wilt Chamberlain And Jerry West End An Unbeaten Month In…
One of the more unique teams in NBA history, the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers achieved numerous firsts and records on their way to winning a championship. The squad, which included players like Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West, proved to be too strong for the other teams in the league. The Lakers set an NBA record with 33 straight victories and achieved their historic standing during this season. The Lakers finished December with an incredible feat, even if winning 33 games set a record in and of itself.
The Lakers and Seattle Supersonics played in the KeyArena on December 30, 1971. With just one more win left in the month, the club would have the greatest monthly record in NBA history at the end of 1971, having gone 15-0 overall. NBA veteran Elgin Baylor was not wearing a suit, which put the Lakers at a disadvantage before the game even started. The Lakers’ lead was only one point at the end of the first quarter when they were playing on the road.
But Lenny Wilkens, Spencer Haywood, and Zaid Abdul-Aziz (formerly Donald Smith) were a strong opposition that game and helped the team rally in the third quarter. In the third quarter, the Supersonics outscored Los Angeles by seven points, reducing their deficit to just four points. But from that point on, it was all Lakers as they won 122-106 to etch their name in history. Jim McMillian’s 34 points and Chamberlain’s 17 points were crucial catalysts for their team’s 30th straight victory while West concluded with 28 points.
The Lakers would rule the NBA on their way to earning West’s only NBA championship, leading the league to a flawless month and a 30-game winning run.
A game-used jersey that Chamberlain wore during the NBA Finals series recently went for $4 million at auction, demonstrating how valuable it is even now.
