In a league where back-to-back wins are a battle and three-peats are legendary, one team did the unthinkable: won 33 straight games. No breaks. No slipups. No off nights.
From November 5, 1971 to January 9, 1972, the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just dominate — they rewrote the definition of team basketball. With legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Gail Goodrich leading the charge, the ’71–’72 Lakers set a gold standard of consistency and excellence that no NBA team has touched in over half a century.
🏟️ The Moment That Changed Everything
The Lakers began the 1971–72 season under a cloud of frustration. Despite boasting talent for years, they had never quite gotten over the hump — always the bridesmaid, never the champion.
Then came Bill Sharman, the former Celtics sharpshooter turned head coach, who brought a fresh philosophy:
- Morning shootarounds
- Conditioned offense
- Unselfish ball movement
It clicked.
After a slow 6–3 start, the Lakers never lost again for over two months. From November 5th to January 9th, they rattled off 33 consecutive wins — an NBA record that still stands.
Some of the victims during the streak:
- Celtics
- Knicks
- Bucks (with Kareem)
- Warriors
- Suns
No team — elite or bottom-tier — could slow them down.
The streak finally ended on January 9, 1972, in Milwaukee, where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks stopped the run. But by then, the damage was done. History had been made.
🔥 What Made Them So Dominant
It wasn’t just the stars — it was the system, the discipline, and the intensity. Here’s what powered the 33-win magic:
🏆 A Three-Headed Monster
- Wilt Chamberlain anchored the defense, dominating the paint and rebounding at elite levels even at age 35.
- Jerry West, the “Logo” himself, ran the floor with poise, facilitating plays and making clutch shots.
- Gail Goodrich led the team in scoring with nearly 26 points per game — underrated, efficient, and deadly.
🧠 Coaching Genius
Bill Sharman’s innovations:
- First to institute shootarounds — now a staple in every NBA team.
- Emphasized tempo control and conditioning.
- Created a culture of professionalism the Lakers had lacked in the past.
🤝 Team Chemistry
Everyone bought in. No egos. No stat-padding. Just winning.
Role players like Jim McMillian, Pat Riley, and Happy Hairston played with purpose. They didn’t just fill gaps — they elevated the machine.
🧱 Legacy & Aftermath
The Lakers finished the season with a 69–13 record — the best in league history at that time. And they capped it all off with the NBA Championship, finally shaking off years of playoff disappointment.
More importantly, their 33-game win streak became legendary:
- 🥇 Still the longest winning streak in NBA history
- 🏈🏒⚾ Longest in all major U.S. pro sports — including NFL, NHL, MLB
- 🧊 Untouched by dynasties — Not the Bulls. Not the Warriors. Not even the Heatles.
Even teams with modern superstars haven’t gotten close.
🧠 Who Came Close?
Since 1972, many great teams have taken aim — but none have reached 33.
🔥 2012–13 Miami Heat (LeBron, Wade, Bosh) – 27 Wins
- Fell short by 6 games
- Lost to the Chicago Bulls in Game 28
🐂 1995–96 Chicago Bulls – 18 Wins (Twice)
- Finished 72–10 and won the title
- But never broke the 20+ win mark in a row
🏹 2015–16 Golden State Warriors – 24 Wins
- Started the season 24–0
- Ended with a record 73–9 season
- But lost the NBA Finals, missing that final glory piece
None of them — for all their greatness — had the sustained hunger, balance, and dominance of the ‘72 Lakers during that two-month stretch.
🧩 Trivia Corner
- 🧓 Wilt Chamberlain averaged just 14.8 PPG but 19.2 RPG — and shot 72.7% from the field.
- 🧨 The Lakers averaged 121 points per game during the streak.
- 🧬 The average margin of victory was over 16 points per game.
- 🔄 The Lakers had lost eight Finals before finally winning in 1972.
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