5 best opening night moments in Los Angeles Lakers' history

5 best opening night moments in Los Angeles Lakers’ history

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Blake #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers fights for a rebound with Brad Miller #52 of the Houston Rockets during their opening night game at Staples Center on October 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

3 of 5

Mandatory Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Lakers opening night moment No. 3: Elgin Baylor scores 52 points in 1959

One season before their debut in Los Angeles, the Lakers were witness to the third-best scoring performance in an opening game in the history of the NBA. In their last season in Minneapolis, Elgin Baylor scored 52 points in the first game, which is only behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 56 and Michael Jordan’s 54.

Anytime you’re at the top of any all-time scoring list with those two players you know you’re doing something right.

It is not surprising that the most points ever scored on an opening night in a Lakers uniform was pulled off by the legendary Elgin Baylor who was one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the franchise ranking only behind Kobe, Kareem, and Jerry West on the all-time franchise scoring list.

In a season in which he averaged over 29 points per game, he opened the year not only with 52 points but he had a staggering 21 rebounds as well.

Somehow those stats were not enough to get the Lakers the victory that night and they lost 106 to 105 to the Detroit Pistons. Detroit had a much more balanced attack with all of their starters scoring in double figures, and the next-best Lakers’ scorer compared to Baylor put in a mere 15 points.

Home/Lakers News