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Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting the all-time starting five in NBA 2K18

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 6: The Los Angeles Lakers 1999-2000 Championship banner is seen at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 6: The Los Angeles Lakers 1999-2000 Championship banner is seen at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Lakers All-Time Starting Five Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The center position was by far the toughest to choose a starter from; there were so many great choices. Every choice was dominant in their own way and had a strong case to be the starting center in the all-time lineup. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is our pick from a very deserving group of players.

Part of the reason for Abdul-Jabbar making our starting five is his longevity. Abdul-Jabbar not only had a lengthy career, but his tenure with the Lakers was longest as well. Out of all the options, Abdul-Jabbar had the longest Lakers career at 14 seasons.

Out of the 51 statistics that Basketball Reference has on their team indexes, Abdul-Jabbar is in the top-10 of 35 of them. He is first in defensive win shares, blocks, defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds, and two-point field goals. At 7-feet-2 inches tall, Abdul-Jabbar was difficult enough to stop, but his patented skyhook made him virtually unstoppable.

Abdul-Jabbar averaged at least 21.5 points per game his first 11 seasons with the Lakers. It was not until his age 39 season that he dropped under that mark. He was still efficient, though, as he shot at least 53.2 percent from the field his first 13 seasons with the team.

There is no denying that Abdul-Jabbar is not only one of the greatest centers to ever play for the Lakers but to play in the NBA in general. He is a worthy selection as the starting center to round out the Lakers All-Time starting five.

Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History

Honorable Mentions: Shaquille O’Neal, George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain

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