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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 greatest small forwards in Lakers history

By Ed Schrenzel

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Metta World Peace #37 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on after the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 11, 2017 at STAPLES Center 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Metta World Peace #37 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on after the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 11, 2017 at STAPLES Center 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 11: Former NBA players Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell and Jamaal Wilkes pose for a photo during Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s 70th birthday celebration on April 11, 2017 at Staples Centers 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 3: Jamaal Wilkes

Nicknamed “Silk”, because of how smooth he looked on the court, the former UCLA star played his first 3 seasons with the Warriors before signing as a free agent in 1977 with the Lakers, joining Kareem, Dantley and rookie point guard Norm Nixon.

Over the next 8 seasons, he was a model of consistency, averaging double figures in points for the first 7 years. Silk was known for the weird-looking corkscrew windup on his jumper when he brought the ball back behind his head before releasing it. But that shot was so reliable that famed Lakers announcer Chick Hearn labeled it the “20-foot layup”.

The slender (6-6, 190) Wilkes was also an excellent finisher on the fast break. And he was also a great teammate. Although he made the All-Star team twice for the Lakers, his ego was quite content to allow most of the accolades to fall on his more famous superstar teammates like Abdul-Jabbar and later also Magic Johnson.

Probably the best game of his career occurred in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Fans may recall that was the game which Kareem was forced to miss with a sprained ankle, and Magic stepped in to jump center and have a fabulous performance with 42 points and 15 rebounds. But Wilkes was also outstanding, scoring a career-high 37 points and grabbing 10 boards just when his team needed him the most.

He averaged over 20 points per game in 3 straight seasons from 1980-82, and not coincidentally the Lakers won titles in 2 of those years. But by the 1984-85 season, injuries began to limit his court time and eventually ended his career after he played his final NBA season with the Clippers.
Silk ranks 10th all-time among LA Lakers in both points per game (18.4) and total points (10,601, which no player is anywhere near close to passing). He is also one of 10 LA Laker players to have his number retired and his jersey hanging in the rafters at Staples Center.

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