43. Mel Counts
Mel Counts is another player that had split time with the Lakers as he spent four full season with the organization and two partial seasons. The seven-footer played for the Lakers starting in the 1966-67 season up to the 1969-70 season before leaving for Phoenix. He came back in the 1972-73 season before leaving again after the next year. Despite a fractured run with the franchise, his production was unavoidable.
His second stint wasn’t nearly as productive as his first when the big man was in his prime. Over the three full seasons that he spent in Los Angeles from 1967-70, Counts played in 240 games and averaged 12.3 points, 8.4 boards, and 1.7 assists. He was undoubtedly capable of using his size to dominate both as an offensive player and as a rebounder.
Counts was inevitably overshadowed during his prime with Los Angeles by the likes of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (we’ll hear more from them later), but he was a huge part of the success of those Lakers teams as productive big man. He may not be the first player that comes to mind in the discussion of the franchise’s greatest players, but to deny his place is foolish.
Next: No. 42 Selvy