Top 10 Lakers Draft Picks of All-Time

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as the names of the first round draft picks are displayed above the stage during the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers have been blessed with some of the best players to ever play the game.  From a depth standpoint, the Lakers undoubtedly have the greatest list of players out of all of the NBA franchises, even the Celtics.  However, a large chunk of these players were not actually drafted by the Lakers as some were traded for during the off-season, or right before the trade-deadline.  Some of the great Lakers players that were traded to the purple and gold came at the peak of their careers, most noticeably Pau Gasol, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.  Even Wilt Chamberlain, who showed major signs of slowing down in his first season as a Laker, averaged 20 points and 20 rebounds, the only Laker to ever do so.

But there are the homegrown players, the ones that received the ultimate call, being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night.  Some of these players, did not play one game of their careers without the purple and gold.

Honorable Mention:

Vern Mikkelsen–  We are going way back on this one.  In 1949 the Lakers used their territorial pick to select Mikkelsen out of Hamline University.  Mikkelsen was known for his defense, and was a six-time All-Star with the Lakers.  He was also a four time champion as a part of the dominant George Mikan-led Minneapolis teams.  Mikkelsen finished his career averaging an almost double-double, at 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, and played for the Lakers in all ten of his years in the NBA.

Norm Nixon– Nixon was selected by the Lakers with the 22nd pick in the 1977 NBA draft, and was actually the Lakers third pick in the first round.  Nixon ended up much more successful than the two selected in front of him, and won two championships with the Lakers.  Nixon was the fourth leading scorer, and the team leader in assists (yes, he averaged more than Magic Johnson) for the 1980 championship team.

10.  Vlade Divac

In today’s game, teams usually have three or four foreign born players on their roster.  Divac however, was the one of the first foreign born players to play in the NBA, and to make an impact.  The Lakers selected Divac out of Serbia in the 1989 draft, as Divac was the only international player selected in the first round.

Divac produced immediately (video above), averaging 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in his rookie season, earning him a spot on the NBA All Rookie First-Team.  Divac was key piece to the 1990 team that went to the Finals, averaging 13.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.  Divac was a tremendous defender, at fourth all-time in blocks in Lakers history.

Divac’s last three seasons with the Lakers were the best of his career.  He averaged 14.3 points and 10 rebounds over the course of those seasons.  Let’s not forget that Divac was dealt for Kobe Bryant on draft night in 1996.

Divac was one of the best players on the early 2000 Kings teams that gave the Lakers all they could handle year in and year out in the playoffs.

Next: Everybody Loves Green

Mar 24, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers former player

at the press conference at the Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

9.  A.C. Green

In the stacked draft class of 1985, including Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, and Joe Dumars, the Lakers grabbed Green out of Oregon State University with the 23rd overall pick.  Green joined the Lakers at the perfect time, coming off an NBA championship in the 1984-85 season.

Green was a crucial part of the Lakers back to back titles in 87′ and 88′, averaging around 11 points and 8 rebounds in the playoffs.  Green led the Lakers in rebounding in six of his eight seasons in L.A.  The peak of Green’s Laker career came in 1990, when he averaged 12.9 points and 8.7 rebounds, and was voted in as a starter for the Western All-Star team.  Green finished his career second all-time on the Lakers offensive rebounding list, and eighth in total rebounds.

What made Green so special was his durability.  In a day where it is impressive for a player to appear in twenty straight games, Green missed three games out of 1281 in his career.  Green holds the NBA record for most consecutive games played, with 1,192.

8.  Derek Fisher

Fisher spent four years at University of Arkansas at Little Rock, leaving the school second all-time in points, assists, and steals.  The Lakers drafted Fisher with the 24th pick in the 1996 draft, the same year as Kobe.  Statistically, Fisher posted numbers that suited his draft position, but Fisher’s impact on the Lakers organization of the course of his career goes way beyond his career totals.

Fisher suffered many injuries during his first tenure with the Lakers, but always seemed ready go come playoff time.  Fisher showed early in his career that there was no stage he feared, including Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in San Antonio (video above).  This was Fisher’s first of many game-winners in his Lakers career.

Fisher may not be up there in the points category of Lakers all-time leaders, but he is fifth in games played.  Fisher won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and is now trying to do the impossible: coach the New York Knicks.

7.  Michael Cooper

Magic, Kareem, Worthy.  When people think of “Showtime” that is what comes to mind, but statically, its was Magic, Kareem, and Coop who were the more successful trio.  Those three set the record for most playoff wins for a threesome of teammates that stood for quite some time.  Last year in the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker surpassed them.

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In 1978, the Lakers selected Cooper with the 60th overall pick out of the University of New Mexico.  Cooper was drafted in the same year as Larry Bird, and the two had some great battles over the years.

Cooper was a lock down defender for the Lakers throughout the 80’s, who’s versatility on defense was essential to the five championships won.  Cooper was one of those guys who could play multiple positions, using his athleticism and aggressiveness to his advantage.

Cooper played all thirteen of his NBA seasons with the Lakers, and was selected to eight All-NBA defensive teams, and was the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year.

6.  Gail Goodrich

After winning consecutive NCAA Championships at UCLA, Goodrich was selected by the Lakers in the 1965 draft as a territorial pick.  Goodrich entered the league with no real position.  At 6’1″, he was known as a scorer rather than a point guard leading to doubt about his ability to produce in the NBA.  Goodrich’s first stint with the Lakers lasted three years, averaging 11.3 points per game.

In the 1968 expansion draft, Goodrich was selected by the Phoenix Suns, where he rose to stardom.  Two year later he returned to L.A., joining Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West to create one of the best teams in NBA history.  The 1971-72 season featured the record setting 36 game winning streak, as Goodrich led the team in scoring with 25.9 points per game.

Goodrich made four All-Star teams with the Lakers, and is currently eighth on the all-time Lakers scoring list.

5.  James Worthy

The Lakers traded for the first overall pick in 1982, selecting Worthy out of University of North Carolina.  Worthy’s athleticism made him a perfect fit to play alongside Magic Johnson in the “Showtime” style of play.  Worthy averaged 13.4 points as a rookie, and was named to the All-NBA Rookie team.

Like most greats, Worthy saved his best for the playoffs, including his 23.6 point average for the 1987 championship team.  Worthy won three titles with the Lakers, and was the named the Finals MVP in 1988.  Game seven of that Finals series featured one of the best individual performances in NBA Finals history, as Worthy posted a triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The 80’s Lakers usually brings Magic and Kareem to mind, as some overlook Worthy’s big-time performances.  Without Worthy, Magic would have likely retired with only two championships.

Worthy ranks sixth all-time on the Lakers scoring list, and third in steals.

4.  Elgin Baylor

With George Mikan, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain dominating the early years of NBA basketball, Baylor was truly one of the first superstars at the wing position.  Baylor was also one of the first true scorers the NBA ever saw.  Although Chamberlain was the ultimate stat-sheet stuffer, Baylor was not far behind:

*stats from basketball-reference.com

The Lakers received the number one overall pick in 1958 after going 19-53 the previous season.  Baylor brought the league’s worst team to the Finals in his rookie year, only to lose to Boston in four games.  In the 1962 playoffs, Baylor set a Finals record for points in a single game, with 61 against the Boston Celtics.  Baylor lost the the Boston Celtics in the Finals seven times throughout his career.

Baylor’s final year lasted only nine games because of knee problems, and later that year the Lakers went on to win the NBA Finals.

Oct 18, 2013; Shanghai, Shanghai Province, China; Golden State Warriors executive board member Jerry West and his wife Karen West sit in front row seats before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mercedes-Benz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Danny La-USA TODAY Sports

3.  Jerry West

The Lakers drafted West second overall in the 1960 draft out of West Virginia.  As a rookie, West averaged 17.6 points and 7.7 rebounds.  In his second season, West exploded for 30.8 points per game, beginning an eleven year streak of averaging 25 points or better.  In the first round of the 1965 playoffs, West averaged 46.3 points per game against the Washington Bullets, which still stands as the most points averaged in a playoff series.

In the 1969 playoffs, West averaged 30.9 points and 7.5 rebounds, becoming the only player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP on the losing team.

West was one of the first pure-scorers the league ever saw, as he could hit it from outside or get into the paint and use his athleticism to finish.  West’s insane averages are overshadowed by the fact that he only won one championship.  Had West won a few more, he would have been on the Mt. Rushmore of NBA players along with Jordan and Kareem.

Let’s not forget what West did as a general manger for the Lakers, as he built one of the best dynasties in sports history.  His draft night trade for Kobe Bryant was one of the most significant moments in Lakers history.

Next: 2. Kobe Bryant

Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-80. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

2.  Kobe Bryant

One may argue that Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets, but Jerry West specifically told Charlotte who to grab, knowing that a deal would be made immediately after.  So technically, the Lakers “selected” Bryant with the 13th pick in the 1996 draft.  The best Laker ever debate of Kobe and Magic will never end, so I chose Bryant at two simply because it was a draft night trade.

Bryant’s contributions to the Lakers out-weight any of the greats to wear the purple and gold.  With 19 years as a Laker, Bryant stands as the all-time leader in points, games played, field goals, three-pointers, free throws, and steals.  Bryant has won five championships, two scoring titles, a pair of Finals MVP’s and one regular season MVP.  The list of career accomplishments goes on and on for Bryant.

Bryant’s clutch play over the years has brought countless amounts of excitement to Lakers fans over the past two-decades.  No matter how bad the Lakers may be next year, Staples will sell out every games as long as the Black Mamba is suiting up.

Next: 1. Magic Johnson

1.  Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson, the leader of the “Showtime” Lakers.  His passing abilities and team leadership made the Lakers title contenders throughout the 80’s, and arguably the best dynasty of all-time.

As the first overall pick in 1979, Magic led the Lakers to a championship in his first year.  In Game six of the 1980 Finals, the rookie put up 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was out because of a sprained ankle.

Johnson’s best moment as a Laker came in the 1987 Finals against the Boston Celtics, where he hit his iconic across the lane sky-hook over two Celtics players in Game four (video above).  Johnson averaged 26.2 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds in that series, earning Finals MVP.

Johnson’s career accomplishments are similar to that of Bryant, with five championships, but one more Finals MVP with three.  Johnson led the league in assists four times, and steals twice.  Johnson was also a twelve time All-Star, including two All-Star game MVP awards.