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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 best power forwards in team history

By Ed Schrenzel

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 9: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands in observance of the national anthem before a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at STAPLES Center on March 9, 2014 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 2014 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 9: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands in observance of the national anthem before a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at STAPLES Center on March 9, 2014 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 2014 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 best power forwards in team history
Photo by: Brian Bahr/Getty Images /

No. 6: Robert Horry

“Big Shot Rob” is a difficult player to rate. In his 17-year NBA career, seven with the Lakers, he averaged more than 10 points a game only three times- all within his first four years in the league with the Houston Rockets (during which the team won two titles). And he never averaged as much as eight rebounds a game.

His statistics with the Lakers are not particularly impressive. He averaged only 6.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. These numbers are just slightly above those of Kurt Rambis, who only earned honorable mention. And Horry’s playoff stats are only marginally better.

So why is Rob ranked No. 6? The biggest hint is in his nickname. In most games he seemed to float along, doing nothing particularly notable. But he lived for the game’s biggest moments. When the game was on the line, there were few players any better, including his teammates Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Horry is probably best known for his buzzer-beating 3-pointer that defeated Sacramento in Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals when a loss would have put the Lakers down 3 games to 1. But that was only one of several clutch shots that earned him his moniker.

Rob helped three different teams win seven championships, including the Lakers three-peat of 2000-02. Those titles are not only one more than Michael Jordan won, they are more than any player who didn’t suit up for the Celtics in the 1960’s ever won. Right place, right time? Certainly, that was part of it, but Horry’s contributions can’t be overlooked. And that’s why he deserved his ranking.

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