Los Angeles Lakers: 10 best point guards in team history
By Ed Schrenzel
No. 10: Walt Hazzard
After guiding the John Wooden-coached UCLA Bruins to its first NCAA title, Walt was drafted by the Lakers with the 5th pick of the 1964 draft.
He played somewhat limited minutes his rookie year but he started to blossom his second season when he averaged nearly 14 points and five assists in just 27 minutes a game. Walt continued to be a solid contributor during his third year with the team.
But the NBA was adding new teams at the time, and after that season Seattle selected Hazzard in the expansion draft. As the focal point of the SuperSonics’ offense, he had his best pro season, averaging 24 points and six assists.
In his three seasons with the Lakers, which featured the magnificent combination of Elgin Baylor and West, he averaged a more modest 9.4 points and 3.8 assists a game in a supporting role.