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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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Photo by: Ron Kuntz Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images /

No. 4: Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain was one of, if not the most, dominating players in NBA history. For the first seven seasons of his career, he averaged at least 35 points and 20 rebounds per game, including an incredible 50.4 points and 25.7 boards in 1961-62.

But these rankings consider only what a player did with the Lakers. Wilt joined the team for the final five of his 15 seasons. By then, his offensive skills, although still formidable, had sharply diminished, but he was still a great rebounder and shot blocker.

When the Lakers traded for “the Big Dipper” for the 1968-69 season, it was thought that combining him with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West would create a “super-team” that could finally knock off the Celtics in the Finals. However, LA once again fell to Boston in seven games and endured the same result the following year against the New York Knicks.

As Baylor’s career was winding down due to injury, a new force was rising in Milwaukee, where a young superstar center named Lew Alcindor led the Bucks to the 1971 championship. It appeared the window was closing on LA, which still hadn’t won a title since moving from Minneapolis.

But that suddenly changed the following season. Behind the scoring of West and Gail Goodrich and Chamberlain’s tenacious play on defense and on the boards, the Lakers won a record 33 straight games and a then-record 69 regular season games. They then defeated the Knicks in the Finals for their first LA championship and Wilt was named MVP of the Finals.

In his five Lakers seasons, Chamberlain averaged 17.7 points and a team-record 19.2 rebounds per game and shot over 60 percent from the field (but just 47.5 percent from the free throw line).

Although blocks were not yet an official statistic, it is generally acknowledged that he was also likely LA’s all-time block leader. For most teams, he would rank closer to the top. But the Lakers are not just any franchise, especially when it comes to big men.

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