3. Jerry West
Similar to Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, Jerry West spent his entire 14 year career on the Lakers.
Drafted second overall by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1960, West ended up playing his first season in Los Angeles and taking the league by storm. Averaging 27.0 points and 6.7 assists on his career, West’s scoring line is that much more impressive when you consider that he played his whole professional tenure without the added help of the 3-point line which was added in 1979-80.
You don’t get to be the logo of the entire NBA without doing some amazing things and West was truly a once in a lifetime talent. To this day, West still remains the only player to win a Finals MVP award in a losing effort, doing so against the Boston Celtics in 1969.
It is ironic that some of West’s most memorable moments came in losses, as he will always be remembered for hitting his three quarters court 2-point shot that sent the game to overtime in 1970, a game which they ultimately lost to the New York Knicks.
Although West only has one NBA Championship to his name as a player, he still holds the title for leading his team to the longest win streak (33) of all time, a record that the Golden State Warriors attempted to break earlier this season.
In addition to being a great player, Mr. Clutch also helped the Lakers after his playing career when he became the general manager in 1982, drafting James Worthy and orchestrating moves that brought over both Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Despite jumping around from the Memphis Grizzlies and now to the Warriors, success seems to follow West wherever he goes.
Next: No. 2 The Mamba