24. Vlade Divac
Though remembered for the end of his career, where he was a Los Angeles Laker hating, Sacramento King loving player, Vlade Divac actually spent his first seven years in the NBA with the Lakers.
As hard as this may be for a diehard Lakers fan to hear, Vlade Divac was Pau Gasol before Pau Gasol. Not only could he bang with you in the post or protect the rim, but he was one of the best passing big men of all time. In classic Shaq fashion, Divac would even grab the rebound and push the break himself from time to time.
Inserted into the Los Angeles Lakers roster at the end of the Showtime era, Vlade was a charismatic piece who fit right in with Magic Johnson and the gang.
That said, another reason Vlade has absolutely MUST rank in the top 25 Lakers of all time, is because he was ultimately the piece responsible for bringing Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles.
On this day 18yrs ago the hornets told me right after they drafted me that they had no use for me and were going to trade me #thanku #lakers
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 1, 2014
After acquiring Shaquille O’Neal in the summer of 1996, the Lakers no longer needed Vlade’s services and decided that trading him to the Charlotte Hornets for the pick that turned into Kobe Bryant was worth the gamble. Boy, were they right.
Next: No. 23 Rudy LaRusso