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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 Greatest centers in Lakers history

By Ed Schrenzel

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 06: Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal share a laugh with Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor during the unveiling ceremony for a bronze statue to honor Baylor in Star Plaza at Staples Center on April 6, 2018 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 06: Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal share a laugh with Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor during the unveiling ceremony for a bronze statue to honor Baylor in Star Plaza at Staples Center on April 6, 2018 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 Greatest centers in Lakers history
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for American Express) /

No. 2: Shaquille O’Neal

Shaq’s eight seasons with the Lakers were nothing short of spectacular. Like Mikan and Chamberlain before him, he absolutely dominated the paint, a behemoth 7-1, 325 pounds, an unrelenting force of nature that was impossible to guard. It was also extremely difficult for referees to judge foul calls for and against him.

After spending his first four NBA years in Orlando, O’Neal signed with the Lakers as a free agent in July 1996, a month after the team had acquired Kobe Bryant on draft day. Lakers executive Jerry West was ecstatic, with visions of future titles flashing before his eyes.

Yet the results were far instantaneous. Although Shaq was an immediate success, it wasn’t until his fourth season in LA, when Phil Jackson brought with him the triangle offense that was a perfect fit for O’Neal, that the Lakers won the NBA championship. Then they repeated the following year and completed a three-peat in 2002.

As good as the Diesel was during those regular seasons (and he was very, very good), he was even better in the postseason. During those three title years, his playoff averages spanning 58 games were 29.9 points and 14.8 rebounds per game. And oh yes, he was named Finals MVP for those three consecutive years.

Shaq’s numbers during his eight regular seasons in LA weren’t too bad either- 27 points (tied for second on the Lakers all-time list), 11.8 rebounds (fifth all-time) and 3.1 assists per game, converting nearly 58 percent of his field goal attempts (but only 53 percent of his free throws), which inspired the “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy.

On most teams, O’Neal would have been far and away the franchise’s best player. But on the Lakers, he would only rank somewhere in the top 6, in large part because he only played with them for eight years.

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