This weekend marks the 64th edition of the annual NBA All-Star weekend, and for just the second time since their move to the west coast, the Los Angeles Lakers will not have a team representative in their conference’s all-star roster. Despite being voted into the starting line-up, consecutive season-ending injuries will keep Kobe Bryant from participating and collecting his eighteenth All-Star appearance. These numbers paint a picture that none of us want to see: the Lakers are in crisis, and after a season of countless blowouts, injuries and heartaches, the bright lights of Brooklyn will provide little relief for a fanbase lost in transition.
Of course, times haven’t always been this bleak; six of the last fifteen MVP awards have been awarded (or co-awarded) to Lakers players, for example. What’s more impressive is that the Lakers have had three or more members of their team selected to one year’s all-star roster on twenty-five separate occasions. In fact, since moving to southern California, Los Angeles have failed to have a player selected into the game just four times.
What accompanies the Lakers’ success at all-star level? Memorable performances, and boy have we been blessed with some showcases over the years. On the eve of the weekend’s climax, let’s count down the top five performances from a Laker in the NBA All-Star game.