5 Reasons Why Kobe Should Top List of the Greatest Lakers of All Time
By Fern Rea
Reason #1: Tenure
Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts in the second half of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center. Lakers won 101-81. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
When taking into consideration the greatest Lakers of all-time, the amount of time that the player spent in a Lakers uniform is crucial in the determination. No matter what measure of tenure you choose, Kobe laps the field.
Seasons with Lakers:
17 Kobe Bryant
14 Jerry West
14 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
13 Magic Johnson
Regular Seasons games played with Lakers:
1,239 Kobe Bryant
1,093 Kareem Abdul Jabbar
932 Jerry West
906 Magic Johnson
Playoff games played with Lakers:
220 Kobe Bryant
190 Magic Johnson
180 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
153 Jerry West
Minutes played with Lakers:
45,390 Kobe Bryant
37,492 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
36,571 Jerry West
33,245 Magic Johnson
Kobe is the Lakers all-time leader in all of the aforementioned categories.
Kobe has played an additional 4 full seasons, 333 more regular seasons games, 30 more playoff games and 12, 145 more minutes than Magic Johnson and Kobe is still adding to that already massive disparity.