7. James Worthy
As history would have it, the Lakers ended up with the first overall pick in the 1980 draft, the very year after winning the NBA Championship all due to a coin flip. Oh, that, and the fact that earlier that season the Lakers traded the Cleveland Cavaliers, Don Ford, for their first round pick.
This made the Los Angeles Lakers the first defending champions ever to also end up with the first pick in the NBA draft. At the time, the pick was highly controversial, with many thinking that Dominique Wilkins was the obvious choice for the Lakers, but with hindsight being 20-20, it is ever apparent that they made the right decision in choosing Worthy.
Still an NBA Analyst for the Lakers today, Worthy was a monumental piece in the Los Angeles Lakers “Showtime” movement. Worthy provided Magic Johnson with another slashing, scoring option on the fast break alongside Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes and later Byron Scott.
Further, Worthy posted the only triple-double of his career against the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the 1988 Finals, finishing with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, eventually winning him Finals MVP Honors.
A three time NBA Champion, Worthy is more than worthy of ranking in the top 10 Lakers players in franchise history.
Next: No. 6 Elgin Baylor