Lakers: 20 Greatest Individual Performances in Franchise History

The Los Angeles Lakers have been blessed with an abundance of superstar players, and even more impressive individual performances.

Despite their recent struggles, and lack of a consistent, established scoring threat, if you search the internet looking for the greatest players of all time, you will quickly realize how the Los Angeles Lakers dominate the field.

Unlike the Chicago Bulls, whose talent was heavily concentrated in the Michael Jordan era, the Lakers, just like the Boston Celtics, have consistently had superstars spanning different eras.

From legends like Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich, transitioning to the likes of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, then Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers have had no shortage of impressive individuals, who have in turn had impressive individual performances.

With that in mind, it is no wonder why the front office is stuck looking to the past for answers, when it is readily apparent that the solutions to their problems lie in the future.

Further, with Kobe on his last legs, it is easy to forget how casually he destroyed his opponents in his prime. Translation: Prepare for a load of Kobe Bryant performances you never should have forgotten about.

That said, here is a list of the top 20 greatest individual performances in Lakers franchise history.

Next: Kobe Bryant Leads Largest Comeback in Lakers History

20. Kobe Bryant Scores 21 in the 4th, Leading Largest Come Back in Lakers’ History

This was impressive team win for the Los Angeles Lakers, but they would never have pulled off the victory without the incredible performance by Kobe Bryant.

Entering the fourth quarter trailing by a staggering margin of 27 points, 88-61, to the Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas Mavericks in 2002, there was no way the Lakers were supposed to win this game. That night, Nash was giving the Lakers headaches, scoring at will, but in classic Kobe fashion, he buckled down in the fourth quarter, slowly but surely taking over the game.

Inexplicably cutting the lead to 15 points with about seven and a half minutes to go in the contest, it was all downhill for the Mavericks after that point on. Kobe Bryant ended up finishing with 21 fourth quarter points, hitting the game winning bucket with eight seconds left.

To put this in perspective, currently, less than 20 players in the NBA are averaging 20 points per game or more.

It was not even the amount of points that Kobe scored that made this one of the most impressive performances in franchise history, but the ease with which he scored them.

Equally impressive was the fact that Kobe struggled the entire game, scoring only 6 points through three quarters, only to waltz his way to 21 points in the final 12 minutes of the contest.

Next: Jerry West Drops 63 in '62

19. Jerry West 63 Points, 1962

Jerry West’s 63-point outburst is an amazing feat even to this day, but even more impressive when you consider the fact that the three point line was not officially introduced in the NBA until the 1979-80 season.

Arguably, this means that West could have quite possibly scored even more and is why comparing NBA players across generations is damn near impossible to do. If you watch any of Mr. Clutch’s highlight videos, you realize that many of his shots were from the outside, so this is a fair argument.

You do not become the logo of the entire NBA without accomplishing some unthinkable feats, and this was one of them from Jerry West. Armed with a silky smooth jumpshot, both off the dribble and from the spot up position, watching this contest live was assuredly a treat that fans in attendance were not likely to forget.

Now a member of the executive board of the Golden State Warriors, you can still see some of West’s moves in the NBA currently. The two-dribble pull up jump shot or running hook was Jerry West’s bread and butter, and you can see that he still holds them near and dear to his heart as he attempts to teach Harrison Barnes in this video.

Next: Kobe Hits NBA Record 12 3-Pointers

18. Kobe Bryant Hits NBA Record 12 Three-Pointers in a Game

In no way is Kobe Bryant known as a sharpshooter from behind the three point line. On his career he only averages just around 33 percent from beyond the arc, considerably less than the league average. That said, it is ironic that Kobe Bryant still holds the record for most three pointers made in a game, tied with Donyell Marshall who made 12 threes, two years after Bryant did so.

That storied night against the Seattle Supersonics, Kobe hoisted up 28 shots, 18 from 3-point range, respectively shooting 57 percent overall and 67 percent from distance, finishing with a cool 45 points in only 37 minutes of play.

What is surprising about that night was the fact that Kobe hit the first of his 12 threes with five and a half minutes left to go in the second quarter, then proceeded to hit five more before halftime. Prior to this game, the Lakers’ record for threes in a game was eight, set by Nick Van Exel in 1997, but Kobe demolished that with ease, hitting 11 by the third quarter.

Currently, the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, are on Kobe’s heels, both already with 11 made threes in a game. How long this record will stand the test of time, we will have to wait and see, but fans will always remember the night that Kobe could not miss from beyond the arc.

Next: Shaq Scores 61 on His 28th Birthday

17. Shaq Drops 61 on His Birthday

The legend goes that during the game, Shaq became upset after he saw his idol Kareem Abdul-Jabaar giving tips to opponent Keith Closs on how to stop him and that is what ignited his stellar performance.

Not only did Shaq score 61 on the helpless Los Angeles Clippers, but he did so on his 28th birthday, on what he considered his “night off.”

In his hilarious recollection of what he calls his best game ever, Shaq revealed:

"That night it was my birthday, and we had a party… Usually I go home, eat lunch, take a nap and get ready for the game, but we playing against ‘The Great Keith Closs and the LA Clippers,’ so I’m taking the night off. I got to get ready for the party… So, we get out there and they’re killing us, and everybody’s looking at me. . . I look over to the bench and I see one of my idols telling Keith Closs how to stop me. I see Kareem saying, ‘You gotta do this, you gotta do that.’ Now I’m pissed."

Shaq may be remembered for his outgoing personality, but when he was locked in, he was virtually unstoppable, just ask Keith Closs. Further, if scoring 61 points in a contest was not enough, Shaq also went on to pull down 23 rebounds the very same night.

Next: Kobe Scores 56 Points in Only Three Quarters

16. Kobe 56 Points in 3 Quarters, 2002

Much is made of The Black Mamba’s 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks, an instance which will be mentioned later in the slideshow, that people often forget that Bryant also scored 56 points through three quarters against the Memphis Grizzlies, three years prior.

D’Angelo Russell once mentioned that Los Angeles Lakers fans are spoiled, and he may be right, as they were treated to one of the longest primes in NBA history. For more than ten seasons, Kobe Bryant was a threat to explode on any given night, and this instance proves this point distinctly.

In just 34 minutes, that night Kobe shot 62 percent, on 21-of-34 shooting, with five rebounds, four assists, and zero turnovers, posting a +40 on the night. Los Angeles ended up smoking the Memphis Grizzlies, 120-81, and you can bet that after the game, Pau Gasol was thinking to himself, “Man, I wish I never had to play this guy again,” finishing a sad -38 in 44 minutes of play.

For some reason, similar to when playing the Toronto Raptors, Kobe Bryant seemed to always erupt against the Memphis Grizzlies. Thanks Shane Battier and Jalen Rose!

It is highly unlikely that Lakers fans witness another Kobe Bryant 50 point performance, but it was great while it lasted.

Next: Kobe Drops 60 in Third Straight 50 Point Game

15. Kobe Bryant Drops 60, Third Straight 50-Plus Point Game

Hello again, Memphis.

This game was not necessarily significant for the fact that Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in an NBA contest, for in his prime, that was happenstance and at the time the Pau Gasol led Memphis Grizzlies were one of the worst teams in the NBA, but more so, for the fact that it was his third consecutive 50 point game in a row.

Three 50-point games in a row?! Again to put this into context, in the 2015-16 season there have only been two 50-plus point scoring games, Stephen Curry with 53 and James Harden with 50.

To this day, Kobe Bryant trails only Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive 50-point games: Wilt has seven, Kobe has five. Further, Kobe dropped 60+ in two of the four of those contests, and narrowly missed chalking up a fifth consecutive 50+ point game by only seven points.

In his prime, Kobe would beat you from the inside, off the dribble, catching alley oops, from midrange, hitting fall away jumpers with ease and from the outside, draining threes at an astounding clip.

Considering the Lakers current circumstances and his current struggles, it is easy to take Kobe Bryant for granted, but man was he something.

Next: George Mikan's 61 Point, 36 Rebound Game

Dec 9, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) shoots a game tying shot over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 123-122 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

14. George Mikan 61 Points, 36 Rebounds 1952

When discussing the Los Angeles Lakers’ great centers, the list normally consists as follows: Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Shaquille O’Neal. But the player who is more often than not the odd man odd is George Mikan, who was a monster in his seven-year career.

True, it was a different time. The game of basketball probably resembled another sport more so than the type of basketball that is played today, but the old adage remains true, “Numbers don’t lie,” and George Mikan put up some big boy numbers.

Stats were not kept with the most consistency during this era, but it is well accepted that Mikan was a walking double-double, posting 20-plus points and double-digit rebounds on a regular basis.

On January 20, 1952, Mikan posted 61 points and reportedly had 36 rebounds in a double overtime victory over the Rochester Royals. If the reports are true, then Mikan has more rebounds in a single game than any player since the 1985-86 NBA season.

Mikan also went on to lead the Minneapolis Lakers to the NBA Finals, beating the New York Knicks in seven games and then to two more in the following years, for the first three-peat in NBA history. If that doesn’t get him some credibility with the fans, nothing will.

Next: Kobe Drops 65 on the Portland TrailBlazers

13. Kobe Bryant 65 Points, 2007

The Portland Trail Blazers should be added to the list of teams that Kobe Bryant just demolishes almost every time he steps on the floor against. Seemingly, whenever a team has a player they deem “The Kobe Stopper,” Kobe comes out dead set on proving them wrong, and making them look foolish for such a blasphemous statement.

Though Ruben Patterson, the original “Kobe Stopper,” was long gone by this time, the damage was already done: Portland, you were already forever on Kobe Bryant’s list.

This game is significant for many reasons, the first of which being that this was the first of Kobe’s streak of four consecutive 50-point games. Further, coming off of a six-game losing streak, Kobe was willing to do whatever was necessary to get the Lakers off their schneid.

Down by four with under a minute remaining in regulation, Kobe stepped up and hit two clutch threes, including a fall away three close to where he sunk the Blazers so many years before, this time over Zach Randolph.

Then, in overtime, Kobe hit one of his most memorable shots ever over LaMarcus Aldridge, a spinning, reverse pivot three pointer from the corner to give the Lakers a three point lead, ultimately sealing the victory.

Next: Kobe Scores the Most Points by an Opponent at MSG

12. Kobe Bryant Puts Up 61 at Madison Square Garden

This was truly a magical Mamba moment.

Sixty-one points in the Mecca of Basketball, New York, the place where the lights are the brightest, is unreal.

Stories from this cold February night are well documented but none more hilarious than reports of Kobe draining shots in defenders faces then proceeding to talk trash to them in Italian.

When recalling his night, Kobe humbly said, “It’s a blessing to do what you love and to have moments like this.”

Former Knick David Lee recounted the performance saying, “He wouldn’t speak to anyone on the court. He was very quiet tonight. By the time he hit his first two 3s, you could see what he was attempting to do in the game.”

Kobe also revealed where his added incentive came from:

"On a lighter note, I’m going to review this documentary I’m doing with Spike Lee tonight after the game and I didn’t feel like sitting next to him and hearing him talking trash about the Knicks, so that was added incentive as well. Seriously. He’s going to get an earful tonight."

On that night in 2009, Kobe broke Bernard King’s record for most points scored at the new Madison Square Garden, only to have it broken five years later by Carmelo Anthony who scored 62.

To this day, Kobe holds the title for the most points scored by an opponent at the current MSG.

Next: Elgin Baylor's 71 Point Outburst Against the Knicks

11. Elgin Baylor’s 71 Point Outburst Against the Knicks

Speaking of the Knicks …

As the video references, Elgin Baylor may very well be one of the most underrated players in NBA history.

One interesting tidbit about this performance is that it was in the first year that the Lakers moved to Los Angeles.

It is hard to justify how a 71-point performance, good for eighth all time in terms of most points scored in a game, is only 11th on this list, but the Lakers’ history is full of amazing individual games.

Per Lakers Nation,  according to Knick Johnny Green,

"Elgin did nothing unusual in that game. It was just a typical Baylor performance. He just came down the floor, his teammates would clear out an area, and he’d shoot — a jump shot or a driving layup, followed up by a rebound if he missed. Each particular shot had nothing amazing about it. It was just that Elgin was such an amazing player"

Baylor’s stats attest to Greens’ comments as he put up astronomical numbers in his prime.

For his career, Baylor averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds a game, which is impressive to say the least. but in his prime he put up seasons of 30 and 16, 35 and 20, and 38 and 19, all without a three point line.

Next: Kobe Outscores the Mavs Through 3 Quarters

10. Kobe Outscores the Mavericks Through Three Quarters

Coming off a loss to the Houston Rockets and a relatively mediocre Kobe Bryant performance, 24 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds in 38 minutes, when put into context Kobe’s night against Dallas was simply insane.

Kobe had some amazing individual performances, but 62 points through three quarters is just ridiculous. Oh, he also added eight rebounds and three steals to his stat line.

A 62 point scoring outburst is tied for 15th most points scored in a single game all time, which is amazing in itself, but the fact that he did not even play in the fourth quarter makes it even crazier. Using the previous game as reference, Kobe played five less minutes than the night before, and scored 38 points more.

What is even more impressive is the fact that Kobe outscored the entire Mavericks team 62-61 through three quarters. At the time, Dallas was in the top half of the league, in terms of defense, and the top three offensively, which makes the performance even more incredible.

Considering how hot he was that night, and what he did eventually did to the Raptors a month later, it is curious to ponder if Kobe would have broken 81 points had Phil played him the rest of the game.

Next: Shaq Has 40 and 24 in the 2000 NBA Finals

9. Shaq Scores 40 and adds 24 Rebounds in the 2000 NBA Finals

Considering the Los Angeles Lakers are an organization that is all about winning championships, it is only right that the top 10 of this list is predominantly comprised of playoff or Finals moments.

Not many people have the honors of saying they have scored 40 points in an NBA Finals game and Shaq barely squeaked his way in 2000 when he dropped 40 points on the helpless Indiana Pacers, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead in the Finals.

More impressively, was the fact that Shaq had 24 rebounds and 39 free throws! He ended up shooting just above 46 percent from the free throw line that night.

This was also the same night that Indiana Pacer, Jalen Rose, intentionally injured Kobe Bryant, putting his foot under Kobe’s before he landed on a jumpshot. Kobe ended up only playing nine minutes that night but it did not matter, as Shaq picked up the slack making the Pacers pay for their bush league tactics.

Bryant ended up missing game three, but the Lakers ultimately defeated the Pacers in six games, giving them the first championship of the 2000 three-peat. In game six, Shaq had himself another game finishing with 41 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks, taking home his first of three Finals MVP honors.

Next: Shaq Has Another 40/20 Game, This Time Adds 7 Blocks

8. Shaq 44 points, 21 rebounds, 7 blocks in Western Conference Semifinals

It seems like ages ago, but at one point, the Sacramento Kings used to give the Los Angeles Lakers fits. Meeting three straight years in the playoffs during the Lakers three-peat saga — Western Conference first round in 2000, semifinals in 2001, and the Western Conference Finals in 2002 — this was the Lakers one true Western Conference rival.

Armed with Chris Webber, Jason Williams, Peja Stojakovic and ex-Laker Vlade Divac, the Kings were a tough, hard nose team who despised the Lakers, players who they considered too “Hollywood.”

The Lakers are quite familiar with one sided rivalries, so it was nice to finally be on the winning side of one.

This was the first game of the 2001 Western Conference Semi Finals and Shaq delivered the goods. Finishing with 44 points, 21 rebounds, the Lakers made short work of the Kings, and the rest of the field that year, finishing with only one loss in 16 games in that storied playoff run.

To this day, Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon remain the only two players with 40+ point, 20+ rebound, 5+ block performances in the playoffs. If the regular season is added, Patrick Ewing slides in with 44-22-7 in 1990.

Shaq’s other big games were similar, but his blocks this game sets this performances on another tier completely.

Next: Shaq Near Quadruple Double in the 2001 NBA Finals

7. Shaq Near Quadruple Double in the 2001 NBA Finals

There have only been four players to achieve a quadruple double in an NBA game — Hakeem Olajuwon, twice, Nate Thurmond, Alvin Robertson, David Robinson — and Shaq was one assist and two blocks away from being the fifth.

More incredibly, he would have been the first player to ever do so in the playoffs, and arguably could have been the only player to achieve such a feat in the Finals.

After losing game one at home to the Philadelphia 76ers, the only game the Lakers lost during their 2001 playoff run, Shaq was hell bent on making sure that another “L” did not occur on his watch.

Shaq shot 22 free throws on the night, converting only 10, and it is interesting to think just how dominant Shaq could have been had he focused more on getting better from the line than he did on being a celebrity. Oh, what could have been.

In 45 minutes of play, he and Kobe put on a dominant display, combining for 59 points, 10 blocks, 15 assists and 28 rebounds, all while holding Allen Iverson to 23 points, which is a feat in itself considering the fact that he had 48 the game before.

Ultimately winning their second of three championships, the only chance opposing teams had to stop Shaq was by sending him to the line, or by convincing Kobe Bryant that he was the best player on the team… sigh.

Next: Kareem and Company End the Celtics' Curse

6. Kareem Ends the Celtics’ Curse

Game 6 of the 1985 Finals was a three-fer in terms of individual performances. Led by Kareem Adbul-Jabaar’s 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists, the Lakers also got production from Magic Johnson who posted 14 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, and 28-3-3 from James Worthy.

This was also one of Magic Johnson’s NBA record eight triple-doubles in the NBA Finals, the next closest person only has two.

That said, the combination of said individual performances led to the Los Angeles Lakers ending an eight NBA Finals series losing streak to the Boston Celtics.

Having lost to Boston the prior year, Kareem and company made sure not to repeat their mistake twice, adding insult to injury by defeating the Celtics in Boston, winning their third title in six years.

Two years later, the boys in Purple and Gold got another crack at Larry Bird’s Green Men, with similar results, winning the series 4-2, reassuring Lakers fans everywhere that the curse truly had finally been lifted.

Despite being the all time leading scorer in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar is so often under rated and taken for granted, but they did not call him Cap for nothing, as he and Magic steered the Lakers’ ship to five championships in eight years, including back-to-back rings in 1987 and 1988.

Next: Elging Baylor Records the Only 60 Point NBA Finals Game

5. Elgin Baylor Only 60-Point NBA Finals Game

The NBA is constantly in flux: players are getting better, coaches are getting smarter, records are always being broken. So, when you have a record from 1962 that still stands to this day, in a league filled with players the likes of Stephen Curry, Lebron James and Kevin Durant, you know you have doing something right.

To this day, Lakers’ legend Elgin Baylor still holds the NBA record for the most points scored in an NBA Finals game with 61. At the time, this also held the record for most points scored in a playoff game, a record which was later broken by Michael Jordan in 1986 when he dropped 63 points on the Larry Bird led Boston Celtics.

Additionally, if 61 points was not enough, Baylor also added 21 rebounds to pad his stellar statline.

During that playoff run, Baylor averaged 38.6 points and 17.7 rebounds on 44 percent shooting, which is still one of the most impressive playoff statlines in NBA history, though Lebron James gave him a run for his money last postseason averaging 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Despite Baylor’s best efforts, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Boston Celtics in seven games. This was a familiar story for the Lakers until Kareem and company ended the Celtics curse in 1985.

Next: Jerry West Wins Finals MVP, in a Loss

4. Jerry West 1969 NBA Finals Game 7 – 43 points, 13 asissts, 12 rebounds in loss

If by now, you are too lazy to read anymore about the Lakers’ top 20 individual performances of all time, the annotated version of this slide is that Jerry West, “The Logo,” “Mr. Clutch,” is savage.

In Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, West finished the game with 43 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds but the Lakers ultimately fell to the Boston Celtics 108-106. That said, West remains the only player in NBA history to take home Finals MVP honors in a losing effort, though LeBron James came close last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That year in the Finals, West ended up averaging 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists a game. If there is such thing as a moral victory, this was it. Even though the Celtics took home the big prize, the title of being NBA champions, West would not let them have the glory of individual honors that is the Finals MVP.

It is tough to imagine how a team stacked with Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West could ever lose a game, but they did so many a time to the Boston Celtics.

Similar to their 33 game win streak, this remains one NBA record that will likely remain in tact for the foreseeable future.

Next: James Worthy's 1988 NBA Finals Game 7 Performance

3. James Worthy 1988 NBA Finals Game 7 Performance

Objectively one of the best NBA Finals performances of all time, people so often forget about James Worthy when thinking about Los Angeles Lakers’ greats.

With a team front loaded with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, it was easy to do so, but Worthy’s performance in game seven of the 1988 NBA Finals forever cemented his legacy in the annals of NBA lore.

Worthy finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in a narrow Lakers 108-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons, finally giving them the long sought after back-to-back championship.

Per ESPN,

"Less well-known is that this game may be the greatest outlier in Finals history. In the entirety of the 1987-88 season, Worthy didn’t have a single game with more than 12 rebounds. He also had only one game with more than 32 points and only one with double-digit assists. The odds of doing any one of these things against a team like the Pistons were small … but the chances of all three? Infinitesimal. In fact, it was the only triple-double of his 1,069-game career (including playoffs)"

In the only triple-double of his entire career, “Big Game James” could not have come through at a better time, as Worthy was given NBA Finals MVP honors and remains one of the 13 players with Finals triple-doubles.

Next: Magic Starts at Center, Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals

2. Magic Johnson Starts at Center in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals

With Kareem Abdul-Jabaar out with a severely sprained ankle, rookie Magic Johnson played arguably the most memorable game of his career for the Purple and Gold in game six of the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The game was considered to be a give away at the time, a game for the Lakers to rest Kareem with hopes that he would be able to return for the looming game seven back in Los Angeles, but that game was never necessary thanks to the Magic Man.

Most notably, Magic started the game at center, and proceeded to play every single position before the game’s end.

Magic finished with an incredible stat line of 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists playing all but one minute of the game, winning Los Angeles their sixth NBA title. He ended up taking home NBA Finals MVP honors as a rookie and to this day, he remains the only rookie to do so.

Additionally, the same season, Magic Johnson won NBA Rookie of the Year, putting the league on notice that a new sheriff was in town, adding fuel to the flame that was the Magic-Bird rivalry in the process.

Next: 81

1. Kobe Bryant 81 Points Against the Toronto Raptors

Nearly a decade later and the Toronto Raptors are still sore from the whopping Kobe Bryant placed on them from January 22, 2006.

In the second greatest scoring performance of all time, Kobe Bryant had 81 points on 61 percent shooting, 54 percent from downtown and 90 percent from the free throw line.

Over an eight game span, starting four games before this game and ending three games after, Kobe was averaging an astounding 44.1 points per game, on 47 percent shooting.

For a visual representation of Kobe’s night, just take a look at his shot chart.

These days, much is made of Stephen Curry‘s ridiculous efficiency from anywhere on the court, but this shot chart is not to shabby either. As shown above, in his prime, Kobe could beat you from anywhere on the hardwood, just look at all that green!

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the second half down by 14 points, but Kobe erupted for 27 points in the third giving the Lakers a 91-85 lead at the end of three, and scored 28 more in the fourth quarter alone.

In 2013, Kobe even reminisced on his performance saying that he could have scored 100.

Despite scoring 30 points or more in over half of his games in the 2005-2006 season, Kobe Bryant was slighted as Steve Nash took home his second MVP trophy that season. What a shame.