Los Angeles Lakers: 10 greatest shooting guards in franchise history

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 23: Kobe Bryant #24 and Byron Scott of the Los Angeles Lakers is seen during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 23, 2016 at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5 of 11

Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images /

7. Dick Barnett

Best remembered for his later days with the Knicks alongside Walt Frazier, Barnett also had three very solid years with the Lakers in the early 60’s while teaming with West.

He had a few noteworthy quirks. One was visual: his highly unorthodox left-handed form included kicking back his heels as he was shooting his excellent, accurate jumper. The other was auditory, almost an early form of trash talk: Dick was so confident that his shot was going in, he often shouted “Fall back baby” to his teammates as he released the ball. In essence, his message was, “Hey, the ball is going into the basket, so you might as well hustle back on defense”.

Barnett thrived in his first two years in LA, averaging over 18 points per game in each season. In his third year, he slipped a bit to just under 14 points per game, and was traded in the offseason to New York, where he averaged a career-best 23 points per game in the first of his eight seasons there.

Overall for the Lakers, Dick averaged 16.8 points per game, which is the fourth highest of any Lakers shooting guard.

Home/Lakers News