Greatest Lakers of the 21st century, rank 9-7
9) Kyle Kuzma
The #27 pick of the 2017 draft, he was a big, pleasant surprise in his rookie year, and he was reportedly the one young player that Rob Pelinka refused to include in the Davis trade. He shined his first two Lakers seasons, showing that he could score in many ways.
This season, Kyle Kuzma has been less effective as a result of injuries, a change of role and inconsistency. But even though he has not been a dependable third scorer game by game, he still ranks third on the team with 12.5 PPG.
Through his first 201 games over three seasons, Kuz has averaged 16 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. Recently his defense has shown improvement. If and when the NBA season resumes, he can be a key to the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason success.
8) Andrew Bynum
It took him three seasons to blossom after being the first Lakers top 10 pick in 23 years, but he became a strong, nearly unstoppable presence in the low post. At his peak, which unfortunately lasted only five years due to injury, Andrew Bynum was arguably the #1 or 2 center in the NBA.
Overall, he played 392 games for the Lakers, spanning 7 seasons, and averaged 11.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 1.6 blocks. Discounting his rookie year, when he played only 7 minutes a game, the stats increase to 13.1 points, 8.7 boards and 1.75 blocks.
Bynum’s rise to prominence alongside Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, and later Pau Gasol, helped thrust the Lakers back into title contention in 2008, and he was a big factor in the back-to-back title wins of 2009 and 2010. Overall he ranks in the Lakers top 40 for PPG and top 20 for RPG, and made one all-star team.
7) Robert Horry
Robert Horry is a difficult player to rate. He has the lowest scoring average (6.1 PPG) of any player on this list and never averaged double figures in points or rebounds with the Lakers.
So why is he ranked #7? The biggest hint is in his nickname, “Big Shot Rob”. 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 Bryant.
Despite his ordinary stats over his 316 Laker games this century, he was one of the game’s best clutch shooters. Most famously, he made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that defeated Sacramento in game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference finals.
Overall, Horry was the ultimate role player and an integral part of the Lakers “three-peat” champs from 2000-02.