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Image credit: Fadeaway World
The Los Angeles Lakers are arguably the most impressive and dominant NBA team of all time. They have 17 NBA championships, a record tied by the Boston Celtics, and have the best player ever. In fact, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers may have had six of the top 10 greatest NBA players by looking at the name alone: Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jaah Barr, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain. That also doesn’t include some of the other all-time greats, including Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.
But how are the best Lakers ranked in the pyramid scheme? By narrowing down the list of the greatest players to ever play for the iconic Los Angeles Lakers, it becomes clear how these legends spent their careers playing for the Lakers. There is something special about wearing the purple and gold at the famous Staples Center, here is a list of the players who have successfully played for the Lakers and how they rank in the 6 grades. By doing this, we can learn which players are among the best ever on the Lakers, but only the best ever occupy the first tier.
layer 6
Eddie Jones, Kurt Rambis, Andrew Bynum, Mychal Thompson
Eddie Jones started the 6th tier as the NBA’s starting shooting guard during Kobe Bryant’s early years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jones is a solid two-way perimeter player who can defend the ball and shoot. During his Lakers career, Jones averaged 15.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in five seasons.
Kurt Rambis is not a star, averaging 4.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks during his Lakers career. The big man is 6-foot-8 and 213 pounds, which makes him an inside presence when defending the rim and rebounding. Rambis isn’t expected to start, but supporting a star player won’t be easy. But Rambis has won four NBA titles, so of course he’s not complaining.
Andrew Bynum was a key part of the Lakers’ 2010 championship run, pairing him with Pau Gasol. Bynum made only one All-Star team as a member of the Lakers, and that was later in 2012, but he was a reliable interior scorer at 7-foot-0, 285 pounds for his size. Make him a recognized and influential star.
Mychal Thompson won 2 NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987 and 1988 while hitting approximately 24 MPG for the team in the playoffs. Thompson is a 6-foot-10 big man who can score and rebound, is a capable scorer, and has been a big part of the Lakers’ championship run off the bench.
Tier 5: Norm Nixon, AC Green, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Lamar Odom, Robert Horry, Clyde Lovelet, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, Vlad Divac, Happy Hairston, Rudy LaRusso, Bob McAdoo
A 2-time All-Star and 2-time NBA Champion for the Lakers, Norm Nixon deserves credit for his consistency as a member of the Lakers throughout his career. Nixon’s career averages for the Lakers were 16.4 points and 7.9 assists, very solid numbers for a star guard who did his best to win a championship for his team. Nixon made his first All-Star team with the Lakers in the 1982 season, averaging 17.6 points, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals. Nixon clearly had a talent for the job, and he did it often.
AC Green is known as “Iron Man” because he is extremely durable. He managed to hit more than 1,100 consecutive games, which is unmatched by any player. That means in more than 14 straight seasons, Green has never had an injury or even an ailment serious enough to keep him from playing. It’s just amazing because no player has shown such dedication and love for the game to last this long without missing a game. Of course, nine of those seasons came with the Lakers.
Everyone who followed the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2000s knew how valuable Derek Fisher was. The point guard is a huge contender, using his strength to fight on defense and knock down jumpers in time. Fisher is considered a good outside shooter, and his high arc shot is generally solid. Derek won an impressive 5 NBA championships, playing in the backcourt alongside the legendary Kobe Bryant.
Rick Fox isn’t a star player, but he doesn’t have to be. His role is to use his size to defend the perimeter, knock down open 3-pointers, and grab loose balls. Did he complete those tasks? The answer is yes, because Fox won three NBA championships with the Lakers and was the starting small forward for a three-peat Lakers led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Lamar Odom is one of the best “Swiss Army Knife” players in recent memory because he is a very versatile power forward at 6’9″. Odom can handle the ball like a guard, create for others, rebound effectively, and create his own offense. Even though he’s an inconsistent shooter, Odom can be useful offensively because he can do a lot. Defensively, Odom was tasked with guarding wings and bigs, and he always got the job done.
Few players in NBA history have been more pivotal than Robert Horry. Despite being a role player without much All-Star skill, Horry is a proactive player who defends and chases the ball. But his job is to make the shot in time, and he’s done it time and time again. Robert Horry’s game-winning shot against the Sacramento Kings in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals became one of the greatest shots in basketball history.
Clyde Lovellette, a 6-foot-9 center who spent four seasons with the Minneapolis Lakers, started to break out after his first season with the team. The center put up 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in his first season and went on to average 18-plus points in three straight seasons with the Lakers. After an underwhelming first season, Lovellette ended up making two straight All-Star teams, the first with the Lakers his previous season and the second with the St. Louis Hawks.
Jim Pollard was a four-time All-Star with the Lakers in the 1950s and won four NBA championships as a 6-foot-4 small forward. Pollard was a decent scorer in his era, consistently averaging over 11 points per game and making solid contributions on offense. Pollard started his career in the BAA and also won a BAA championship, so he was a winner with the Minneapolis Lakers as soon as he turned pro.
Martin won four chips with George Mikan’s Lakers and later won his fifth with the St. Louis Hawks. A seven-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection is nothing to sneeze at, even if the guard has the benefit of playing alongside some of the greatest players of all time. Slater Martin is a product of the 1950s, but that shouldn’t detract from his success as a pro at just 5-foot-10.
Vlade Divac spent eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, the longest tenure of any team. The 7-foot-1, 243-pound man from Serbia is a monster of a human being. After being inducted into the Hall of Fame at the end of the year, Divac made an All-Star team and has been a constant force for the Lakers for years. He was not lucky enough to win a championship with the Lakers with the aging Magic Johnson, but he still became the Lakers idol in the minds of many European fans.
At 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, Happy Hairston was what most would consider an above-average athlete, good enough to average 14.8 points per game during his career and win the 1972 NBA Championship. Hairston spent six seasons with the Lakers, averaging 15.2 points per game during that time, and proved his contribution on both ends of the court.
Rudy LaRusso has been named an All-Star five times in his career, three of which came as a member of the Lakers. The 6-foot-7 forward is a solid offensive player who can rebound well, using his strength and muscular frame to be a force on the court. It’s odd that LaRusso never won an NBA title with the Lakers, but given his athleticism and impact, he’s one of the franchise’s top talents.
Bob McAdoo was a superstar for the Buffalo Braves with an impressive 28.1 points per game, but he was also a big contributor for the Los Angeles Lakers. He joined the Lakers at age 30 and isn’t the player he used to be, but he’s still a capable scorer off the bench. He won his only championships as a player with the Purple and Gold in 1982 and 1985, making him a key member of the Division 5.
layer 4
Gail Goodrich, Pau Gasol, Fern Mikkelsen, Byron Scott, Jamal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Anthony Davis
With his superior scoring ability and perimeter defense, Goodrich quietly played a brilliant career and entered the Hall of Fame. In 14 NBA seasons, Goodrich averaged 18.6 points per game, mostly with the Los Angeles Lakers. A five-time All-Star, Goodrich led the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA title as the top scorer from 1971 to 1972. There is no doubt that Goodrich belongs to level 4 and can start the game.
Pau Gasol was a valuable addition to a Lakers team that only had Kobe Bryant at the time. For years, Bryant had begged for more help, but when it didn’t, he pleaded for a trade. Instead of complying, the Lakers got one of the best big men in the game, Pau Gasol, and the rest is history. Gasol was the perfect partner for Bryant, occupying the paint and serving as the second scorer. Thanks to the Gasol acquisition, the Lakers won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
Hall of Famer Vern Mikkelsen made six All-Star teams with the Minneapolis Lakers, averaging 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for his career, and he finished 11th on the team in 1949. Mikkelsen has been consistent as a 6-foot-7 power forward in the paint, mostly through his scoring and rebounding. Mickelson was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team four times during his Hall of Fame career and finished his career with the team’s four NBA Championships.
Byron Scott was a key member of the Lakers, winning 3 NBA Championships in 1985, 1987 and 1988. The defender excels at advancing speed, creating for others and scoring. Scott, who averaged 15.1 points in his Lakers career, never made the playoffs unless he put on the purple and gold. A tough competitor who knows how to win in his role, Scott has helped the Lakers achieve great things.
Jamaal Wilkes is a Hall of Famer who spent 8 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers after spending his first 3 seasons with the Golden State Warriors. Wilkes made only two All-Star teams, in 1981 and 1983, as a versatile scoring forward. Consistent offensive performance, Wilkes belongs in the 4th tier because he is one of the best talents to play for the team.
Michael Cooper is a defensive maestro, using his skill and athleticism to stay connected to ball handlers and make it hard for opponents to keep up. The shooting guard won five NBA championships, was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and was named to the All-Defensive Team eight times. Cooper, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his dominance in a two-way offense, spent his entire career primarily with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s.
After becoming one of the most talented players in the NBA with the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans, Anthony Davis was involved in one of the biggest blockbuster trades in recent memory when the Lakers acquired him to pair with LeBron James. Davis helped the Lakers win the championship in his first season, averaging 26.1 points per game in the regular season. His level has dropped in recent seasons, but he belongs to the 4th division.
Level 3
Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, George Mikan, LeBron James
Elgin Baylor may be the greatest player since Karl Malone, but never won an NBA championship. Baylor was an unstoppable offensive force who also had the ability to grab the glass, which is why he was an 11-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA selection in 14 years. At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Baylor is a solid athlete who can do most things on the court, but his offense stands out with a career scoring average of 27.4…
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