1977–78 Los Angeles Lakers season
| 1977–78 Los Angeles Lakers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jerry West |
| General manager | Bill Sharman |
| Owner | Jack Kent Cooke |
| Arena | The Forum |
| Results | |
| Record | 45–37 (.549) |
| Place | Division: 4th (Pacific) Conference: 5th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to SuperSonics 1–2) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KHJ-TV (Chick Hearn, Pat Riley) |
| Radio | KLAC (Chick Hearn, Pat Riley) |
The 1977–78 Los Angeles Lakers season was the Lakers' 30th season in the NBA and 18th season in Los Angeles.
This season was defined by the December 9 punch that Kermit Washington laid on Rudy Tomjanovich during a Lakers vs. Rockets game, which received national attention. The violent moment would permanently alter Washington's and Tomjanovich's playing careers.
The Lakers won 45 games, an eight-game decline from their Pacific Division-winning ballclub of the year prior. They would be defeated 2-1 in the first round by their division foes, the Seattle SuperSonics, who went on to the NBA Finals.