Revisiting Where Kobe Bryant Ranks Among Lakers Players All-Time

As Kobe Bryant prepares for the final 27 games of his NBA career, where does he rank among Lakers players all time?

Ranking players is admittedly a difficult task. Ranking players across generations is a complex, challenging undertaking. Los Angeles Lakers fans under age 50 likely never saw players such as Jerry West or Elgin Baylor on the court. And of course, there have been constant changes in the game, including rules, styles of play, and competition. Which is why it’s hard to determine Kobe Bryant‘s place in Lakers history.

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It is also next-to-impossible to compare wing players who create off the dribble and soar high in the air with post players who dominate inside on both sides of play. Attempts to do so cannot be truly quantified and will, by necessity, be highly subjective.

With all of that in mind, this NBA fan of the last 56 years will now rank the top 10 Lakers of all time to determine Kobe’s place in franchise history. Criteria includes both peak performance and longevity. All statistics pertain solely to what was compiled while wearing a Lakers uniform:

Honorable Mention: Four players fall into this category. The first is forward Lamar Odom, an integral part of the team’s last two championships and one of the more versatile players in NBA history. The second is vastly underrated Norm Nixon, a two-time champ with the Lakers who averaged 16 points and eight assists a game (second highest of all-time) as a backcourt teammate of Magic Johnson.

The final two players were both also important cogs in the 1980s Showtime era. Michael Cooper played on all five title teams in 13 years where he was arguably the best perimeter defender of his time, contributed “Coop-a-Loop” slam dunks and timely three-point shots, and even became the team’s backup point guard.

Meanwhile, current Lakers coach Byron Scott was the shooting guard on three of those title teams. He averaged 15 points per game over 11 seasons and was their best outside shooter, a great finisher on the fast break, and usually started out defending the opposing team’s best backcourt player.

10. A tie between two great supporting players, Jamaal Wilkes and Pau Gasol. Wilkes’ silky smooth jumper was so consistent Chick Hearn called it the ’17-foot layup’. He averaged over 18 points per game in his eight Lakers seasons, including three title teams. Meanwhile, Gasol was the second-best player on the last two Lakers championship teams. He averaged nearly 18 points and 10 rebounds a game.

9. Gail Goodrich: The left-handed backcourt counterpart to Jerry West helped lead the Lakers to their still-standing NBA record 33-game winning streak and their very first NBA title in LA in 1971-72. He ranks No. 8 all-time on the Lakers scoring list with 19 points per game.

8. Wilt Chamberlain: His most dominant years occurred before the Lakers traded for him. He played only five seasons with LA at the back-end of his career, yet he was a tremendous rebounder and defender who could still score when needed, anchoring that first title team. He averaged nearly 18 points and 19 rebounds a game.

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7. James Worthy: The last No. 1 draft pick of the Lakers, Big Game James went on to play on three Showtime Lakers title teams, including one where he was named Finals MVP. In 12 seasons, all spent with the Lakers, he averaged nearly 18 points per game (21 in the playoffs) and ranks No. 6 in total points.

6. Shaquille O’Neal: The big fella might have ranked higher but he only played eight seasons and 514 regular season games with the Lakers, far fewer than every member of the top-5. But he was the Finals MVP in three Lakers championships and ranks tied for second in points per game (27) and fourth in rebounding (11.8).

5. Elgin Baylor: Largely forgotten by both fans and Lakers ownership (who shamefully have not honored him with a statue outside Staples Center), he was the top Lakers player when they first moved to LA in 1960. For his entire LA career, he formed the deadliest one-two combinations in NBA history alongside West. Although he never won a ring, his teams made the Finals seven times in 12 seasons. He ranks first on the Lakers with 27.4 points per game, and second in rebounds (13.1) although he was only 6-5.

4. Jerry West: It is tough to separate “The Logo” from Baylor, but West played two seasons longer and was the leader of the team that won LA’s first title. A tremendous all-around player, he tied Shaq for second in points per game with 27 (up to 29 in the playoffs) and second in total points, and also averaged 6.7 assists (fourth all-time) and nearly six rebounds from the backcourt, while playing sterling defense.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Fans often forget that Kareem played his first six years in Milwaukee where he dominated the NBA averaging over 30 points and 15 rebounds a game. He didn’t quite reach that level in his 14 years in LA, but he still averaged over 20 points in each of his first 11 seasons with his nearly unstoppable Skyhook. Overall as a Laker, he averaged 22 points (No. 5 all-time) and nine rebounds, earning five rings.

2. Magic Johnson: Arguably the most popular player in franchise history and perhaps the greatest point guard ever. From the moment he first donned a Lakers uniform, Magic was first and foremost about winning. In 13 seasons he averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and seven rebounds a game. His teams won five rings and he was a three-time Finals MVP.

1. Kobe Bryant: He has worn a Lakers jersey longer than any player in history, ranking first in games played and points scored, fourth in points per game (currently 25.1), and second in total assists. He also matched Magic, Kareem and Cooper with five championship rings, even though his teams had far less depth than that of the Showtime era teams.

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Arguments could easily be made to change the ranking of the top-6 players. It is a testament to the franchise that any of those Lakers would have been the greatest all-time player on most other teams. But Kobe’s talent, iron will to win, and longevity place him on the top of this list.

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