The Lakers were defeated in the 1991 NBA Semifinals.
The 1991 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1990 -- 91 NBA season . Prior to 1991 , they met for four postseason series ( 1968 , 1971 , 1972 and 1973 ) , all Lakers victories . The 1991 Finals marked the first time the Bulls defeated the Lakers in a playoff series .