Lakers: 50 Greatest Players in Franchise History

Dec 22, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) waves to the crowd after the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Lakers won 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers have been continually blessed to house some of the greatest players of all time

Last week we broke down the 30 greatest scorers in Lakers’ franchise history and this week it is time to discuss the greatest Lakers’ players ever in franchise history. This means that players who played for the Minneapolis Lakers and pre-merger are included.

This list differs from the best players of all time, in that, just because they rank high on that list does not guarantee them a top spot in the Lakers’ top players in franchise history.

For example, just because we think Wilt Chamberlain is a top player of all time, does not means he is a top Laker of all time.

Though championships and stats will play a big part in where players fall in this list, fandom and things they have done after their playing career for the Lakers will also factor into the rankings.

From fan favorites Derek Fisher and Robert Horry to ex-players turned rivals, a la Vlade Divac, no stone will go unturned as we dive into the Lakers’ rich history.

You don’t win 16 Championships with a bunch of scrubs, so without further adieu, here are the top 50 players in Lakers’ franchise history.

Next: No. 50 Luke Walton

50. Luke Walton

Many Lakers fans, even the most die-hard of the bunch, remember Luke Walton as a bench hero from the Pau Gasol-Kobe Bryant championship teams in the late 2000s. While he was undoubtedly that (and a cult hero for his troubles), he also played a much more integral role for the Lakers during the dark days in the mid 2000s as one of the key components alongside Kobe.

Over the course of his eight full seasons in Los Angeles, the Arizona Wildcats product averaged just five points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting a meager 43.3 percent from the field. However, from 2006-08, Walton played a much more important role for the organization as he averaged 9.1 ponts, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 36.5 percent from three.

Walton’s eight-and-a-half seasons with the team weren’t all productive, but he was loyal to the organization. Now the interim coach for the Golden State Warriors at just 35 years old, there are many hoping that Walton will return to make his presence felt again as Byron Scott’s usurper at head coach. While that may or may not happen, Walton served the Lakers well enough to kick off this list.

Next: No. 49 Ron Harper

49. Ron Harper

Ron Harper spent the final two seasons of his illustrious and lengthy NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and ultimately played a pivotal role in the team winning their first two championships of the Kobe-Shaq era. While Harper may not have been the contributor that the stars of those teams were, he was a pivotal role player in the starting lineup and a catalyst that helped the well-oiled machine operate at its full potential.

Harper played 127 games with Los Angeles over the course of his two seasons in the organization and started in 124 of those contests. Playing 25 minutes per game, the veteran guard averaged 6.8 points, three assists, four rebounds, and one steal per game. His efficiency as a scorer was admittedly less than ideal, but that’s not what his role on those title-bound teams was. He was a defensive anchor on the perimeter and a veteran leader for a relatively young team with young leaders in Bryant and O’Neal.

Harper had success throughout his entire career, but he capped off that career with two titles as a member of the Lakers. He’s not going to be in any record books because of his production in purple and gold, but he undoubtedly served a major role in those teams being as successful as they were.

Next: No. 48 Darrall Imhoff

48. Darrall Imhoff

Darrall Imhoff is a strange case in terms of determining where he fits in the canon of Lakers history. For one, he spent only four seasons in Los Angeles while starting his career in New York and finishing it with a few other stops after. Moreover, he also was smack in the middle of a lineup with the Lakers that featured a number of all-time greats while also playing at a time when Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics were winning all the titles.

Even still, the 6-10 center had a widely productive stint with the Lakers over the course of his four seasons and 316 games as part of the organization. The big man averaged 7.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and two assists per game over the course of his time in Los Angeles while shooting 47 percent on his field goal attempts. At his peak with the team, Imhoff made the 1967 NBA All-Star team as he averaged an impressive 10.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.

Imhoff certainly gets overshadowed in terms of his greatness with the Lakers and for a number of reasons. Even so, he played for some of the great lesser-known teams from the 1960s in Los Angeles and was one of the staples for those teams in the frontcourt. He’s not going to break the top-45, but he undoubtedly deserves his spot on this list.

Next: No. 47 Elmore Smith

47. Elmore Smith

Elmore Smith played only two seasons for the franchise and came around to the team at a time when the team was undoubtedly in a bit of a transition period in the mid 1970s. That being the case, it’s impossible to deny the fact that the big seven-footer made a sizable impact on those teams he was a part of, even if his stint was incredibly brief.

Essentially tasked with being the big body that would replace Wilt Chamberlain on the Lakers roster, Smith came in and was dominant on both ends of the floor for his time in Los Angeles. Over his two seasons and 155 games played with the organization, Smith averaged an unreal 11.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.9 blocks. 1.9 assists, and one steal per game. Just for good measure, he also converted on a solid 47.2 percent of his shot attempts.

Had Smith stuck around longer, there’s at least a chance that he would find himself much higher in these rankings than No. 47. As he only spent two years wearing the purple and gold in a period where the team wasn’t all that successful (they made the postseason in just one of Smith’s two seasons), it’s hard to put him any higher than this.

Next: No. 46 Ariza

46. Trevor Ariza

The first current player to crack this list (though he no hasn’t suited up in Los Angeles for over five years), Trevor Ariza comes in at a solid No. 46. The forward played a season and a half for the franchise, both of which the Lakers found themselves playing in the NBA Finals. Though they only won one title, the then young Ariza played a vital role in their success.

Ariza, who was only 22 years old when he first became a member of the organization, immediately carved out a role for himself on the team when he arrived via trade during the 2007-08 season. He would go on to play 106 career games with the Lakers, logging 23 starts over that span. For his career with the team, he averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and an impressive 1.7 steals per game.

While Ariza may have carved out a role for himself in his current form as a three-and-D type of player, he was mostly just a defensive stopper for the Lakers when he was still in the early stages of his career. That being said, his defending was wildly important to the success of those teams and earns him a spot in the rankings.

Next: No. 45 Hot Rod

45. “Hot” Rod Hundley

Hot Rod Hundley spent his entire career with the Lakers organization. Unfortunately for him (and for the franchise) his entire career was only six seasons spent in the NBA as the guard’s knees gave out on him and prematurely ended his playing days when he was merely 28 years old. That doesn’t take away how impressive Hundley was over his time in Minneapolis and Los Angeles as he was part of the team making the move to the west coast.

After he had established himself and before his knees started to give way on him, Hundley enjoyed a two-year peak during which he showed an unbelievably amount of promise. The guard averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game from 1959-61 and was one of the leaders in the backcourts for those impressive teams. While saying that he shot 35.5 percent from the field over those two years might seem to lessen his production, that was more a byproduct of the era than anything else.

It’s unfortunate that Hot Rod’s career was cut short, but he would go on to do great things in the league in terms of broadcasting. As a player, though, he meant a great deal to the franchise and was unquestionably on his way to ranking much higher on this list than he does now.

Next: No. 44 Horace Grant

44. Horace Grant

Horace Grant spent two seasons of his 17-year NBA career with the Lakers, though they oddly happened to come in non-consecutive years. He suited up alongside Shaq and Kobe for the 2000-01 season on the way to winning the second title in the three-peat and then played his final NBA season with Los Angeles as well in the 2003-04 season. And while he may not have been the player he once was while with the organization, he still played a valuable role.

Merely in terms of statistical output, Grant was nothing special for either team that he was a part of. In 132 games and 87 starts, Grant averaged just 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game over his time in Los Angeles. However, his contributions to his team—particularly in the 2000-01 season—weren’t measureable by a box score.

Looking back, Grant was one of the guiding veteran presences as the Lakers went on to win their second title in the three-peat. Not only was Grant a familiar face for Shaq as they played together in Orlando, but he also had the advantage of three-peating with the Chicago Bulls and was able to offer guidance from that experience. Again, the stats may not indicate it, but Grant was a big part of the Lakers’ success in the early 2000s.

Next: No. 43 Mel Counts

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

42. Frank Selvy

Frank Selvy spent his last four NBA seasons with the Lakers organization as an integral part of the Los Angeles teams that would start their long war with Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics in the early 1960s. Over that run, though, Selvy played a major part in the success of the Lakers.

In Selvy’s four full seasons with the franchise (he was traded to the then Minneapolis Lakers midway through the 1959-60 season), Selvy appeared in a 309 games. Over that time, the guard-forward averaged a respectable 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. While he wasn’t overwhelmingly productive, he was a reliable option offensively that had his spots and had his role in the offense. Unfortunately for him, his legacy with the Lakers is largely rooted in failure.

In Game 7 of the 1962 Finals against the Cs, Selvy missed what would have been the game-winner despite having a good look at a shot he normally knocked down. The Lakers would then go on to lose to Boston and start a losing streak throughout the 60s. Despite that moment of infamy in Lakers lore for Selvy, he was a big part of those teams being competitive with Boston and he deserves a spot on this list.

Next: No. 41 Pat Riley

41. Pat Riley

I’ll be the first to admit that this might not be an entirely fair ranking of Pat Riley in the context of what he meant to the Lakers as a player. Riley spent five full seasons with in Los Angeles in the early-to-mid 1970s before being traded midway through the 1975-76 campaign. Though he wasn’t an All-Star, he was at least decently productive.

Over those five full seasons as a role player in Los Angeles, Riley averaged 7.8 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game. He was never a first option or anything close for the Lakers when he was playing, though he was a part of the historic 1971-72 team that reeled off the record 33-game winning streak. Even still, that’s not the whole reason he comes in at No. 41.

It’s impossible to separate Riley the player and Riley the coach who navigated the Showtime era teams to so much unbelievable success. In a ranking of the all-time great players in the history of the franchise, that probably shouldn’t play a huge factor. However, the history he was a part of as a player in Los Angeles combined with his contributions as a coach ultimately land Riley a little higher than he probably should be. But really, who’s going to deny Pat Riley’s greatness?

Next: No. 40 Jim Chones

40. Jim Chones

Jim Chones starts off the top 40 of these rankings and, though he only spent two seasons playing for the Lakers, deservedly so. The big man played in Los Angeles from 1979-81 and played in all 82 games over the couple of years he spent there. If those years and seasons ring a bell, that’s because they were part of the infancy of the Magic-era/Showtime teams of legend. Chones may not get the shine, but he was part of getting that ball rolling.

In his 164 career games in Los Angeles, the 6-11 forward/center was quite productive. He averaged 10.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and one block per game. Perhaps his most impressive attribute was that the big man also shot a reliable 49.6 percent form the field over the time he spent with the Lakers.

Again, his run was too brief with the franchise to place him much higher than this on the list, but Chones has a definite place in Lakers history. Alongside Magic and Kareem, Chones was a reliable role player that was productive in his avenue. He didn’t stick around long, but it was long enough to earn respect in terms of his place in the team’s history.

Next: No. 39 Sedale Threatt

39. Sedale Threatt

Point guard Sedale Threatt came around during an interesting time for the Lakers in the mid-1990s. The franchise was rebuilding in the wake of no longer having Magic Johnson and only a few remnants of the organization’s prominence during Showtime. Despite the timing of his stint with the team, though, Threatt made his presence felt in a big way over his five seasons in Los Angeles.

Threatt played in 386 career games with the Lakers, starting in 194 of those contests. Over that span, he averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting an impressive 48.9 percent from the floor. He was phenomenal in his first two years in Los Angeles as the guard averaged 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor. He declined after that, but remained productive during a period of transition.

Threatt came in between two great eras in the franchise’s history, which often results in him being a bit overlooked in the context of Lakers history. However, that shouldn’t be the case as he was a highly productive player in a difficult time for the organization, which says something about his quality as an NBA player.

Next: No. 38 Slater Martin

38. Slater Martin

Slater Martin spent his first seven NBA seasons as a member of the Minneapolis Lakers, never playing for the franchise after they made the move to Los Angeles. However, that doesn’t credit or discredit his contributions to the organization, which were great considering the era in which he played as his stint with the Lakers lasted from 1949-56.

As the point guard for those Lakers teams, Martin was a quality performer as he put up 9.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. In today’s terms, his 37.6 percent shooting over his time in Minneapolis is abysmal, but in that era, that was actually remarkably efficient for a guard that stood only 5-10. That he was productive at all on those Lakers teams is even more impressive.

At the time, the team’s bread and butter was relying on the size of players like George Mikan whose combination of size and skill were nearly unmatched throughout the league. That Martin was able to carve out a sizable role for himself in that context on those teams is enough to earn him a spot as one of the greatest Lakers ever, but it doesn’t hurt that he also just happened to be a four-time All-Star while with the team as well as being quite productive.

Next: No. 37 Artest/World Peace

37. Ron Artest/Metta World Peace

Ron Artest/Metta World Peace/The Panda’s Friend is a deservedly infamous figure in the history of the NBA itself, but his last few years of productivity in the NBA were spent with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2009-13. Over that time, Artest remained an integral part in the success of those teams as a high quality two-way player that, though a bit off-kilter, was able to swing games in favor of the purple and gold.

Not including his current stint in Los Angeles (which isn’t much to speak of at this point, anyway) Artest/Peace wasn’t a wowing statistical monster by any stretch. Through 298 games with the team, he averaged 9.9 points, four rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He was a decent three-point threat for the Lakers over that run with the team, but his real value came as a physical leader and a lockdown defender for those teams.

While there was never a Malice at the Palace type incident in Los Angeles, Artest/Peace was hardly an angel once he put on the Lakers jersey. Even still, his value in terms of being a strong defender and a potential scoring threat helped propel the Kobe-Pau Lakers to the heights that they reached.

Next: No. 36 Ceballos

36. Cedric Ceballos

Cedric Ceballos has historic notoriety in the NBA for a number of reasons. Not only was he an unreal high-flyer during his time with the Phoenix Suns, but the forward was also a highly productive player. Though it was a brief time that he spent in Los Angeles, the height of Ceballos’ production in the NBA came over his two and a half seasons that he spent with the Lakers.

Ceballos was simply unreal as a member of the organization. He played in 144 games over his time with the team and just tore it up. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting an impressive 51.7 percent from the floor. He was a transcendent type talent who was ultimately forced out too soon from the Lakers as the Kobe-Shaq era entered its infant stages in the 1996-97 season.

Despite the brevity of his run with the Lakers, Ceballos was truly an unforgettable player and presence in the history of the organization. Not only was he able to fill up the box score in a major way, but he was also able to do it with flash and excitement. If he’s been with the team longer, Ceballos would have undoubtedly vaulted into the top 25 of these rankings.

Next: No. 35 Sam Perkins

35. Sam Perkins

Sam Perkins made a name for himself in the NBA virtually at every spot as he played for four different teams over the course of his career. Only two and a half of those 17 years playing in the league were spent in Los Angeles, but those two and a half years were long enough for him to make a lasting impression in Los Angeles.

Perkins played for the Lakers right at the tail end of Magic’s run with the team and as Perkins’ former college teammate at North Carolina in Michael Jordan started to take over the league. From 1990 to midway through the 1992-93, Perkins played in 185 games for the Lakers, starting in 178 of those outings. He put up tremendous numbers over that time, averaging 14.6 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one block over his time in Los Angeles while shooting a solid 46.8 percent from the floor.

The former Tar Heel was never a part of any of the all-time great Lakers teams that the franchise has enjoyed over its history, but he was still an integral part of some successful teams alongside one of the greatest players ever. That’s enough for Perkins to get his mention in these rankings for himself.

Next: No. 34 Vern Mikkelsen

34. Vern Mikkelsen

As the Lakers were running rampant through the NBA throughout the 1950s, power forward Vern Mikkelsen was unquestionably a huge part of their success. The 6-7 big man proved to be a force over his 10 seasons spent with the Minneapolis Lakers, including becoming a six-time All-Star over the course of his career. Looking at what he did on the floor, it’s a wonder he only went to six All-Star Games.

Mikkelsen played 699 career games with Minneapolis as he spent his entire professional career as a member of the organization. Over that time, he averaged 14.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Perhaps his greatest trait as a player was his longevity and consistency as a productive player for the Lakers. His three best seasons came when he was 23, 26 and finally 29 years old. While he was solid in the years between those seasons, that he was able to put up his best numbers so sporadically looking back shows his staying power in the league.

Obviously the era in which Mikkelsen played is a bit of a strange time to judge looking back now as his 40.3 percent career field goal percentage would’ve been respectable at the time. Even still, it’s impossible to overlook his contributions and his value to the franchise.

Next: No. 33 Glen Rice

33. Glen Rice

Glen Rice made his mark around the NBA over his 15 years spent in the Association, including three consecutive All-Star appearances with the Charlotte Hornets. After that, he headed to Los Angeles where he spent two seasons with the Lakers. Unfortunately he was injured for much of his first year with the team, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t able to make his mark on the organization as a part of the championship 1999-2000 team.

While Rice was largely a third scoring option for the team that led by Kobe and Shaq that would go on to win three straight titles, he was productive in that role that season and the injury-plagued season before. Over 107 career games with the Lakers, Rice averaged 16.3 points, four rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting a more than respectable 37.6 percent from long-range. His perimeter shooting was a huge asset for that title team as it only furthered their dangerous attack.

Rice’s brief stay with the franchise limits how high he could climb in these rankings, but he played an important enough role in the start of yet another dynasty in the team’s history to more than earn his spot in the top 35 on this list.

Next: No. 32 Elden Campbell

32. Elden Campbell

Elden Campbell spent eight and a half seasons with the Lakers to begin his NBA career, starting with the team in the 1990-91 season and ultimately being traded away during the 1998-99 campaign. Campbell thrived for the Lakers during the end of one era, through a transitional period for the franchise, and at the start of another major era as a key role player as a part of the frontcourt rotation.

Overall during his time with the Lakers, Campbell averaged 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field. However, that doesn’t fully do his body of work justice. A better indication is his productivity from 1993-97 where he averaged an impressive 13.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and two blocks for games for the Lakers as a pivotal role player during a growing period for the organization after the end of Magic’s run as the leader of the team.

Campbell’s ultimate lack of team success with the Lakers doesn’t do his resume any favors in terms of where he slots in on this list. However, the big man was a big presence for many years in a Lakers uniform and he earned his keep with the franchise, which is good enough to put him in at No. 32 in the rankings.

Next: No. 31 Mychal Thompson

31. Mychal Thompson

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired center Mychal Thompson in the middle of the 1986-87 season and he would go onto help the end of Showtime along in their quest to capture two more titles during the historic run of those teams. He would ultimately play out the rest of his career with the Lakers before retiring at the conclusion of the 1990-91 season, playing four and half season with the Lakers and making his presence felt despite no longer being in his prime.

Over his time with the Lakers, Thompson played in 335 career games with the organization and, admittedly, wasn’t the player that he was earlier in his career. Even still, the big man was a reliable, veteran presence in the post that put up solid numbers with a limited workload. In only 22.8 minutes per game, he averaged 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game over his time spent in Los Angeles, including averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 51.2 percent shooting as the Lakers went on to win the title in the 1987-88 season.

Thompson wasn’t an overwhelmingly great player by the time he got to Los Angeles, but his presence during those last two Showtime runs was undeniable. He was a veteran force who was productive as a secondary role player and that’s good enough to slot him in at No. 31.

Next: No. 30 Rambis

30. Kurt Rambis

Kurt Rambis’ time with the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately served as the bookends for his NBA career. The goggled power forward started his career with the organization and he spent his first seven seasons in the league as a part of Showtime. After numerous stops elsewhere, a depleted Rambis concluded his career with two more seasons in Los Angeles.

Considering how washed up he was by the time he returned to the Lakers, his final two seasons as a part of the franchise were ultimately forgettable. Even then, his numbers as a member of Showtime were nothing special as the big man averaged 5.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while playing only 18.7 minutes per contest over those seven seasons. But none of that is why Rambis kicks off the top 30.

For all of the flash and glory that was the Showtime Lakers, they wouldn’t have been the same team without Rambis. He was the blue collar aspect of those illustrious teams, willing to do the dirty work and unafraid to mix it up with opponents if that’s what a situation called for. He was the attitude that those teams needed to take them to another level and, even if that didn’t mean big numbers, it helped the Lakers reach the pinnacle of the league.

Next: No. 29 Bynum

29. Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum is an unquestionably divisive figure in terms of both the Lakers and just as an NBA player in general. Between injuries that derailed much of his career and his numerous attitude problems that were prominent throughout his career, the big center is hard to gauge in terms of his greatness. However, it’s unfair to deny his contributions in Los Angeles when he was healthy and at his brief peak.

Drafted by the Lakers right out of high school, Bynum spent his first seven NBA seasons with the franchise. The big man didn’t see the floor much in his first season and played a larger but limited role in his second season. Though he was affected by injuries after that, he still served as a major frontcourt piece in the two Kobe-Pau led championship teams in Los Angeles.

Over his five-year peak with the team, Bynum was truly a force on both ends of the floor as he averaged 14.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game on 57.2 percent shooting in 264 games played from 2007-12. Though his time in Los Angeles and in the league ended unceremoniously, there’s no question that the big man deserves immense credit for what he was able to do in his time with the Lakers.

Next: No. 28 Rick Fox

28. Rick Fox

Make no mistake that it was perfectly acceptable for Lakers fans to absolutely despise Rick Fox when he first came into the league. Not only was he a member of the Boston Celtics right out of college, but he was also simply that type of player who was a role player with a knack for getting under the skin of opponents. When he joined the Lakers for the 1997-98 season, though, he became revered for those qualities.

Fox spent his last seven NBA seasons in Los Angeles, sticking around for the entirety of the all too short Kobe-Shaq era of the organization. On those teams, he was far from the first, second, or even third option, but he made his mark as a solid two-way player on those teams that helped the engine keep ticking when maybe other pieces weren’t delivering at their maximum potential.

Over the seven years with the organization, Fox averaged 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 34.5 percent from the field. The production wasn’t going to make him an All-Star and isn’t anything really to write home about. However, it was production and solid play that was vital to the success of a truly great run for the franchise.

Next: No. 27 Bob McAdoo

27. Bob McAdoo

In his prime, Bob McAdoo was truly one of the more dominant forces in the NBA as one of the league’s premier big men. By the time he made his way to Los Angeles for the 1981-82 season, he was no longer that type of player and injuries and old age were slowing him down. Even still, he spent four years at the start of the Showtime era with the Lakers and made his presence felt on those teams.

Considering his age and limitations while he was a part of the franchise, McAdoo’s production was actually quite remarkable. Through four seasons with the Lakers, McAdoo averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.8 block per game, but did so while playing just 20 minutes per game. He was almost a super-role player for those early Showtime teams, able to bring a wily veteran presence off of the bench and simply dominate for brief stretches in the post.

McAdoo is one of the often overlooked transcendent talents that the NBA has ever seen. While he was no longer that type of player when he made his way to the Lakers, there were still remnants of that guy that shone through when he would come into games and that, coupled with him being a part of Showtime, earns him the No. 27 spot.

Next: No. 26 Jim McMillian

26. Jim McMillian

Jim McMillian came into the NBA out of Columbia University as a member of the Lakers organization at the tail end of the careers of all-time Lakers greats like Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. McMillian spent a mere three seasons with the franchise before going elsewhere for the rest of his career, but his production on one of the greatest NBA teams of all time is what earns him the respect on this list.

Though he was solid in a limited role as a rookie, McMillian really came on in his second and third seasons in Los Angeles. From 1971-73, the forward averaged an impressive 18.9 points, six rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting an impressive 47 percent from the floor. He was the unsung hero of those wildly successful teams as legends ended their run.

I’d be remiss to say that McMillian’s role on the 1971-72 Lakers team that went on to win the title after going on an NBA record 33-game winning streak didn’t play a major factor in his placement on this list. He may not get the love that other Lakers do for his role on that team, but he was a big part of it all the same. All that together lands him at the No. 26 spot and deservedly so.

Next: No. 25 Jim Pollard

25. Jim Pollard

Jim Pollard played for the Minneapolis Lakers for his entire seven year career between 1948 and 1955, and makes the top 25 of the best Lakers in franchise history for one simple reason.

Yes, he averaged around 13 points and 8 rebounds for his career, but what it is most impressive is the fact that he won five championships with the Lakers, four in the NBA and one in the BAA.

Nicknamed “The Kangaroo Kid,” at 6’4″, per Hoophall.com, “It was reported that he could touch the top of the backboard and dunk from the foul line, predating today’s athletic players.”

Long before the wide spread use of cameras, this becomes even more unbelievable when you again consider that Pollard played in the 50’s! Do you remember what kind of footwear they were sporting the in the 50’s?

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978, after his playing career Pollard also went on to coach in the NBA and the ABA, even coaching the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1959-60 season for 39 games in which the team went 14-25.

That said, it seems like Pat Riley is the only former Laker to find success as a coach, I’m talking to you Magic Johnson, Byron Scott and Kurt Rambis.

Next: No. 24 Vlade

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.

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

23. Rudy LaRusso

Considering he played for the Lakers in the 60’s, Rudy LaRusso might be one of the lesser known players on this list, especially in the top 25, but he is one the impactful Lakers’ players who can say that he played for the Lakers in both Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

Playing his first eight seasons with the Lakers, then finishing his ten year career with the San Francisco Warriors, the 6’7″ power forward was selected to five All-Star teams, three while on the Lakers, two while with the Warriors.

Despite helping lead the Lakers to four NBA Finals appearances, which sadly ended with four losses to the Boston Celtics, LaRusso was later joined by Allen Iverson, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley in the impressive players without a ring category.

LaRusso actually got to play alongside Jerry West and Elgin Baylor in their primes, and played third fiddle for Los Angeles for the majority of his career.

Ironically, after his departure the Lakers reloaded heavily with additions of Gail Goodrich and Wilt Chamberlain ending their 17 year drought in the 1971-72 season with a championship win against the New York Knicks.

That said, it was not until 1985 that the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in the Finals.

Next: No. 22 Van Exel

22. Nick Van Exel

Nick Van Exel was flashy. Nick Van Exel was cool. For some kids growing up in the 1990’s Nick Van Exel was the reason they wanted to play basketball.

Even though he only played five of his 13 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers,  NVE had a profound impact on the Los Angeles fans. Alongside Eddie Jones, both men represented Lakers’ basketball in the mid to late 90’s.

There is something about left handed players that just looks so right, and Van Exel was no exception. Hovering just around 16 points and 7 assists during his tenure in Los Angeles, it was not his stats, but his persona that drew fans in.

Drawing the nickname “Nick the Quick,” for his blinding speed paired with his ability to stop on a dime, Van Exel was a streaky shooter armed with smooth handles, who had a knack for hitting shots at the most opportune times.

Drafted 37th overall by the Lakers in the 1993 Draft, Van Exel further adds to the Lakers’ legacy of picking up steals in the second round. Van Exel never won a championship with the Lakers, or ever for that matter, and was only selected to one NBA All-Star team in 1998, but he will always be a fan favorite of many Lakers faithful.

Next: No. 21 Eddie Jones

21. Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones was the Lakers version of Kobe Bryant before they traded for him in 1996.

Despite playing only five seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, then proceeding to jump around the league for the rest of his career, with stints with the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and even the Memphis Grizzlies, alongside Nick Van Exel, he thoroughly represented the front half of the 90’s for the Lakers.

By far, my favorite Lakers player pre-Kobe, Eddie Jones was a high flying, efficient slashing guard who made highlight plays on a nightly basis.

During an era in which Los Angeles faithful desperately missed the Showtime era of the 80’s, Jones did his best to make fans forget about the past, if only for a game, and have them solely engaged on the present.

Just watch the mix at the top of the page and let the nostalgia flow. Originally number 25, then converted to 6, Jones averaged just around 15 points, three assists and three rebounds in his five year tenure with Los Angeles, but he will always be a fan favorite for those who have followed the Lakers religiously.

Ultimately, he and Elden Campbell, were traded to Charlotte for Glen Rice, a player who proved key to the beginning of the Lakers 2000 era dynasty.

Next: No. 20 Mikan

20. George Mikan

If you have a game in which you 61 points, and allegedly 36 rebounds, it is extremely nonsensical to keep you out of the Top 50 Lakers of all time.

George Mikan played seven seasons in the NBA, all with the Minneapolis Lakers from 1948-1956 and in his time he was a monster.

Lakers fans boast of housing some of the best big men of all time, normally including Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, but it was actually George Mikan who set the table for these big men.

Averaging 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds a game, 28.4 and 28.3 ppg in his best seasons, Mikan was a walking double-double.

In addition to putting up big numbers, Mikan also has the jewelry to show for it, winning four championships in seven seasons.

Similar to the rule changes made for Kareem, according to NBA.com, the rules were changed for Mikan as well.

"Mikan was so hard to defend and to score against, in fact, that the NBA had to change its rules of play in order to keep him from completely overwhelming the league."

Dominant big men are a dying breed in the current state of the NBA, and it will be interesting to see how the league adapts when the next transcendental big man hits the scene.

Next: No. 19 Happy Hairston

19. Happy Hairston

Finishing his eleven year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Happy Hairston averaged a double-double for LA but more importantly, was part of the 1971-1972 team which won the NBA record best 33 straight games.

Playing behind the likes of Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich and Elgin Baylor, Happy was somewhat of an afterthought but he still managed to average 13 points and 13 assists that very season.

In fact, Hairston was the second leading rebounder on that Los Angeles Laker team, trailing only Wilt the Stilt himself.

A little lesser known fact about that historic streak was that after winning 33 straight, the Lakers went on to drop four of their next six games, only to finish the season with two more amazing eight game win streaks.

Additionally, although they finished with the best record in the entire league at the end of the season, the Lakers finished with 67 wins and 15 losses, which is not even good enough for top five best single season records of all time.

That said, this team is still in the conversation for the title of best team of all time.

Standing 6’7″, 225 pounds, aside from having an excellent basketball name, the fact that Hairston was able to contribute to this Lakers record, even at the end of his career, makes him a no brainer for the top 20.

Next: No. 18 A.C. Green

18. A.C. Green

They don’t call him Iron Man for nothing, to this day A.C. Green holds the record for most consecutive NBA games played with 1,192. Although he ended up playing for four different teams during his NBA career, Green is still most known for his role with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coming onto the scene in the middle of the Showtime Era, Green was known for his grit and hard work, a similar to Robert Horry, though the stats might not attest to it, he was a great player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rebounding and defensive prowess was Green’s bread and butter, and he even won a starting bid on the 1990 Western Conference All-Star team.

This is more impressive when you consider that he beat out the likes of Clyde Drexler and Chris Mullins as the starter, and also that he was one of three Lakers to start alongside Magic and James Worthy.

An interesting tidbit about Green is the fact that he won championships with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 80’s and also with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

A.C. Green still remains part of the Lakers family, often starring on TWC Sportsnet’s pre and post game shows.

Next: No. 17 Big Shot Bob

17. Robert Horry

Robert Horry has seven NBA Championships. I repeat, Robert Horry has seven NBA Championships, ironically ranking him tied for seventh all time in that category.

This ranks him above the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan (6), Magic Johnson (5), Kobe Bryant (5) and Tim Duncan (5). Sure, he was never the star of any of these teams, but he played a crucial role in most, if not all, of their championship success.

Starting his storied career in Houston then Phoenix, ultimately landing on the Los Angeles Lakers toward the end of his fifth season in the NBA, they don’t call him “Big Shot Rob” for nothing.

If you take a look at Horry’s career numbers, they are not impressive by any means, but unless you watched him play or “read a paper or something,” that you would be able to realize the impact that he had on his teams.

It would be different if Robert Horry made one clutch shot for one team, but Horry made a career of it, doing so for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs later in his career. Known as a slasher at the beginning of his career, it is interesting that his clutch spot up shooting was ultimately responsible for his claim to fame.

Next: No. 16 Lamar

16. Lamar Odom

In the midst of all the tragedy currently surrounding Lamar Odom, in case you forgot, he was an amazing basketball talent.

Brought over to Los Angeles in a package that sent Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat and Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant to Tinsel Town, he was immediately placed between a rock and a hard place. This is to say, that no matter how well he played, it would never hold a flame to what Shaq did for the Lakers and for the NBA.

That said, it didn’t stop Lamar from doing his darnedest as he served as one part of the Lakers’ three headed, seven foot Cerberus dog, alongside Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Odom was the stretch four before stretch fours were in and the best Lakers point forward since Magic. Armed with uncanny ball handling abilities for a man 6’10”, 230, without Odom there is likely no two-peat for the Lakers.

Paired with his kid like love for the game of basketball, another thing that made Lamar great was that he seemingly played every game like it was his last.

After being devastated by the Lakers when he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, Odom was never the same player, but while it lasted, he was truly something.

Next: No. 15 Norm Nixon

15. Norm Nixon

When you look at the facts, the Lakers actually have an amazing track record when it comes to finding players in the draft. Using the 1977-1979 as a small sample size, the Lakers drafted Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper, and then Magic Johnson in back-to-back-to-back drafts. Not a bad haul by any measure.

Ironically, in the case of Nixon and Cooper, Los Angeles actually drafted two players before finding gems in the 22nd and 60th picks respectively, something which Nixon never got over.

Similar to Russell Westbrook, Norm Nixon had the attitude that he was the best player in the league, despite having the best player in the league on his team in Magic Johnson. That said, though he was ultimately traded for Byron Scott in the 1983 season, Nixon played an instrumental role in the founding of the Showtime Lakers.

Nixon falls to fifteenth overall on this list because of his unfriendly departure from the Los Angeles Lakers and that the player that he was traded for actually had a bigger impact on the team than he did, Vlade Divac style.

Magic and Coop were extremely disappointed when he was traded, but looking back at it now, they probably wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Next: No. 14 Byron

14. Byron Scott

Considering all of the hardship Byron Scott is currently putting Lakers fans through, it is extremely hard to look at him in any shade of positive light, but as a player, Scott was something else.

In a trade that sent Norm Nixon to the the Donald Sterling owned Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers received their fourth overall pick, in a move that was heavily questioned at the time.

Having won two championships in recent years, critics and supporters alike question why you’d break up a championship caliber team to bring in a rookie. With hindsight behind 20/20, the decision was a great one, with the Lakers winning three more championships and Byron Scott serving as a key factor.

Playing in the golden age of Showtime, Scott was the perfect slashing two guard alongside Magic Johnson. Despite only being 6’3″, Scott made up for his lack of height with impressive athleticism.

Upon coming to the Lakers, similar to Tony Kukoc on the Chicago Bulls, Scott was first treated as a hostile and was required to pay his dues before any respect was passed his way.

The irony lies in the fact that despite being a great player, a la Magic, Byron proves every day that it doesn’t translate over to being a great coach.

Next: No. 13 Pau

13. Pau Gasol

Despite the unwarranted criticism of Pau Gasol being to soft, or, in hindsight, that the Lakers gave up too much to get him in 2008, the simple fact of the matter remains, Gasol was directly responsible for two back-to-back Lakers’ championships.

So as much as the Memphis Grizzlies claim that they are still winning the trade, for the Lakers, at the end of the day jewelry speaks louder than words.

Seeing that we live in a “what have you done for me lately world,” fans may remember the ugly end to the Lakers-Gasol relationship, but I remember it for what it truly was. Just as Kobe Bryant was the piece that the Lakers desperately needed when they trade for him in 1996, Pau Gasol was exactly the piece the Lakers needed in 2008 and the results speak for themselves.

Ironically, after shopping Pau for an extended period of time and never pulling the trigger, Pau Gasol left for the Chicago Bulls where he is still proving his worth, easily averaging a double-double a game.

Just like Derek Fisher, without Gasol, Kobe Bryant isn’t the accomplished player we know him as today and fans would be wise to remember that before slandering his accomplishments.

Next: No. 12 Michael Cooper

12. Michael Cooper

Before becoming the Los Angeles Sparks or an NBA Analyst, Michael Cooper was a lifetime Los Angeles Laker.

Drafted in the third round, I know weird, of the 1978 NBA Draft, Coop played 12 seasons for the Purple and Gold and played an integral role for the the Showtime Lakers.

Coming off the bench for most of his career, only starting 94 of his 873 games, alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Cooper was a member of five NBA championship Lakers’ teams in the 1980’s.

Though Showtime was known for their electric fast breaks, what fans often fail to realize was that it all started on the defensive end of the floor for the Los Angeles Lakers. Without stops and the successive rebounds that followed, there would be no room for Magic Johnson to get out in the open floor and destroy teams with his stellar passing and court vision.

That said, Cooper was a staple of this Lakers defense, even winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1987, which is more impressive when you consider that he only started two games that season.

Willing defenders are something that the Lakers desperately lack this year, so it’s a nice change of pace to watch Coop highlights and hustle on defense.

Next: No. 11 Derek Fisher

11. Derek Fisher

Derek Fisher just narrowly misses the top ten but at the end of the day it was a really tough decision to make.

Despite Kobe Bryant getting all of the praise, and equally all of the criticism, without Derek Fisher, arguably Kobe Bryant would not be where he is today, for more reasons than one.

By now, we all know of Derek Fisher’s clutch shot making ability, whether it be his unbelievable 0.4 buzzer beater against the San Antonio Spurs, the two clutch threes in Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals, or the huge and-one layup against the Boston Celtics over Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Glen “Big Baby” Davis in Game Three of the 2010 Finals, the man simply has the clutch gene.

That said, it is the little known stories, the fact that he and Kobe Bryant came into the league together and used to play full court one-on-one games long after Lakers practice had ended, or the notion that he was one of Kobe’s only teammates strong enough to say “no,” despite the Black Mamba’s demands for the ball.

Derek Fisher will always be a fan favorite for Los Angeles Lakers’ faithful and for good reason. We love you D-Fish.

Next: No. 10 Jamaal Wilkes

10. Jamaal Wilkes

It was a close one, but it is only right to start of the top ten with a player who has his jersey retired for the Los Angeles Lakers, Jamaal “Silk” Wilkes.

Despite being drafted by the Golden State Warriors and ultimately finishing his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, Wilkes’ Los Angeles Lakers’ ties are deeply rooted.

Just watching the highlights you can tell that Wilkes truly embodies his nickname: those sweet side burns, that smooth demeanor, Silk was a really bad mamajama.

A four time NBA champion, once with the Warriors, thrice with the Lakers, Wilkes was a cornerstone of the Showtime Lakers for four solid seasons. Alongside the Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper and Norm Nixon, Wilkes might actually be considered one of the forefathers of Showtime.

The modern NBA fan might not appreciate his game, but similar to Elgin Baylor, Jamaal Wilkes was very underrated and under appreciated. Standing 6 foot 6, a lankly 190 pounds, Wilkes averaged 18.9 points and 5.8 rebound during his tenure with the Lakers, not including his last half season.

Though many other players could have taken this spot, if the Los Angeles Lakers decide to retire your jersey, it speaks wonders of your game and is enough to warrant a top ten nod.

Next: No. 9 Gail Goodrich

9. Gail Goodrich

It would be borderline blasphemy to not include Gail “Stumpy” Goodrich in the top ten Lakers of all time.

Despite being overshadowed by the big guns — Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West — it was actually Goodrich, the smooth shooting combo guard out of UCLA, who led the team in scoring during their 33-game win streak in the 1971-1972 season.

Narrowly edging out Mr. Clutch himself, Jerry West, Goodrich averaged 25.9 points to West’s 25.8. Looking at the 1971-72  Lakers’ squad, this team was truly a force to be reckoned with, having six players, all of whom are some of the most recognizable names in NBA history, averaging double-digit scoring.

You don’t get your number retired by the Lakers and put up in the rafters for nothing, so the fact that Goodrich’s number 25 proudly hangs in STAPLES Center next to legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar attests to his amazing legacy.

Goodrich was not only a volume scorer, but an accurate one as well, shooting over 44 percent in all of his seasons with the Purple and Gold except one, his rookie year, despite often attempting between 15 and 20 shots a game.

Similar to Wilt Chamberlain, Goodrich did not spend his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers but was still dynamic enough to get top ten honors.

Next: No. 8 Wilt

8. Wilt Chamberlain

You can only deny the greatness that is Wilt Chamberlain for so long.

While it is difficult to include Wilt Chamberlain in the top ten greatest players in Lakers’ franchise history considering that he actually played on four different NBA teams include the Lakers, at the end of the day, he’ still Wilt Chamberlain.

In his prime, he was the only one who held a flame to the legendary Boston Celtic, Bill Russell, and still holds some of the most insane records to date.

Per se, Wilt the Stilt will go down as the only player, likely ever, to score 100 points in an NBA game. When it is all said and done, he will also likely go down as the player with: the highest point per game total in a season (50.4), most consecutive 50 point games (7 games in 1961, 6 games in 1962, and 5 games in 1961 and 1962) and most rebounds in one contest (55).

Though many of these achievements were while Wilt Chamberlain was on teams other than the Lakers, he still managed to average 19.3 points, 19.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists at the end of career in Los Angeles.

He was also a key contributor to the Lakers league record, 33-game win streak, the very same season they won his only NBA Championship with the Purple and Gold.

Historically, it is amazing how many of the best big men in the league the Lakers were ultimately able to snag.

Next: No. 7 James Worthy

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

6. Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor is one of the most underrated players ever to play the game which is tough to do when you averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists on your career.

One of the main reasons for this was likely that he played alongside Jerry West, who gets most of the credit, and later Gail Goodrich and Wilt Chamberlain.

Whenever Kobe is asked about some of his NBA muses, he normally references Magic or Michael Jordan, but he also mentions learning a thing or two from Elgin who he considers, “Dr. J and Michael Jordan before Dr. J and Michael Jordan.”

That said, if you watch closely, you can actually see quite a bit of Baylor’s game in Kobe, in terms of footwork, how they got to the basket and the angles they utilized to score the ball.

Baylor also holds a record that will likely withstand the test of time, scoring 61 points and grabbing 22 boards in 1962 against the Boston Celtics. Similar to Jerry West, many of his records came in defeats and this was no different, with Los Angeles ultimately losing to the Celtics in seven games.

Sadly, Elgin Baylor has no true NBA titles to his name, as the season the Lakers took home the jewelry, Baylor was forced to retire due to knee problems just nine games into the season.

Next: No. 5 Shaq

5. Shaquille O’Neal

In his prime, Shaquille O’Neal was unstoppable.

People currently rave about Lebron James’ amazing athleticism paired with his massive build, but Shaq was the original freak of nature. Standing 7’1″, 325 pounds when in shape, with some of the craziest fast twitch muscles you have, or will ever, see, Shaq was a monster.

Diesel will forever be the NBA’s go to “shoulda, coulda, woulda,” in regards to what he and Kobe Bryant could have accomplished had they put aside their differences, dropped their egos, and worked together instead of fighting against each other. All good things must come to an end, but the one-two punch of Shaq and Kobe was a force to be reckoned with.

Four time NBA champion, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one the year after leaving Los Angeles with the Miami Heat, Shaq is a one time regular season MVP, three time Finals MVP, two time scoring champion and was Rookie of the Year in 1993.

A lesser acknowledged fact about The Big Aristotle is the fact that he still ranks sixth all time in NBA scoring (28,596) with Dirk Nowitzki (28,567) close on his heels.

Averaging 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 blocks in his prime, there has not been a big man the likes of Shaquille O’Neal since his departure from the NBA in 2011, and likely will never be one again.

Next: No. 4 Kareem

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Similar to what Tim Duncan represents to the modern NBA fan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the vision of consistency for two entire decades for fans in the 1970’s and 80’s.

Even before moving to Los Angeles in 1975, Kareem showed his dominance on the Milwaukee Bucks posting unheard of seasons averaging 34.8 points and 16.6 rebounds a game, the year after averaging 31.7 and 16.0.

Though Kareem ranks third as all time greatest player in the NBA, the reason he falls to third greatest Lakers player in franchise history is because he did not spend his entire career in LA, meaning some of his accomplishments, including one championship, do not belong to the Lakers.

That said, his tenure alongside Magic Johnson, and later James Worthy, was truly one for the record books. During the 80’s the Lakers only missed two NBA Finals appearances, winning five of the eight they starred in.

On top of finishing his 20 year career with six NBA Championships, Kareem also has six MVP awards, two Finals MVP honors, Rookie of the Year honors and of course, is the all time leading scorer in the NBA, a record that is likely to stand for the foreseeable future.

Cap was truly amazing, and continues to aid the Lakers young players today.

Next: No. 3 The Logo

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

2. Kobe Bryant

The reason Kobe Bryant jumps Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on this All Time Greatest Lakers player list is due to the fact that he spent his entire career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Some players claim they bleed Purple and Gold, but Kobe is the only player whose actions speak louder than his words.

In 20 seasons, Kobe holds the record for the longest time tenured with the same team, close behind is John Stockton, Utah Jazz, with 19 seasons, and Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 19 seasons. That said, seeing that Tim Duncan has shown no signs of slowing down, he may take the record in years to come.

The Black Mamba is a five time NBA Champion, two time NBA Finals MVP, two time scoring champion and one time regular season MVP. Additionally, Bean (32,866) is the third all time leading scorer trailing only fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and former teammate Karl Malone (36,928).

Oh, and you can’t forget that he holds the record for the second greatest scoring performance of all time, which put into context, is debabtly more impressive than Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game.

Despite the fact that during this farewell tour, Kobe Bryant is a mere shell of his former self, his accomplishments can’t be denied and players around the league continue to attest to this with their high praise of KB24.

Next: No. 1 The Magic Man

1. Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Though new age Lakers fans may find issue with Magic Johnson ranking above the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant for the title of best Laker of all time, if you look at both Magic’s accomplishments and what he did for the make up of the NBA it is fairly easy to understand.

To start it off, Magic Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds on his career. Additionally, through his 13 year career, Magic led the Lakers to 9 NBA Finals, winning five of them.

Despite losing the Rookie of the Year trophy to Larry Bird in 1980, Magic finished his storied career with three MVP trophies, three Finals MVP trophies, and remains the only player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP trophy as a rookie.

The 2010 documentary, “Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals,” perfectly chronicles the effect that both men had on the game of basketball. Arguably, without their heated rivalry, and later budding friendship, the NBA might not have made it out of the 1980’s.

At this time, NBA games were shown on tape delay to the chagrin of NBA fans everywhere. Taking a look at the amount of live games shown versus tape delayed games, you can easily see that the future of the NBA was in trouble.

Magic’s combination of on and off court esteem give him enough to rank as the best Laker of all time.