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Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers’ all-time starting lineup

By Jonathan Kiernan

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Larry O'Brian trophy as teammate Shaquille O'Neal (L) hold the MVP trophy after winning the NBA Championship against Indiana Pacers 19 June, 2000, after game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers won the game 116-111 to take the NBA title 4-2 in the best-of-seven series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Larry O'Brian trophy as teammate Shaquille O'Neal (L) hold the MVP trophy after winning the NBA Championship against Indiana Pacers 19 June, 2000, after game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers won the game 116-111 to take the NBA title 4-2 in the best-of-seven series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images – Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images – Los Angeles Lakers /

Power Forward: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1975-76 Season: 27.7PPG, 16.9RPG, 5.0APG, 1.5SPG and 4.1BPG. 6-time NBA Champion, 6-time Regular Season MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, 19-time All-Star, 11-time All-Defensive Team, 15-time All NBA team, The NBA leader in points (38,387)

Runner up: Pau Gasol

I know. I know, this is kind of cheating but with so much depth at the center position for the Los Angeles Lakers over their storied history, someone had to be pushed to the power forward position. In this instance, “The Captain” is the Lakers Power Forward in this instance.

Arguably the most underrated Superstar in NBA history, Kareem’s name is usually in the conversation or around the conversation when it comes to the greatest player of all time.

The list usually goes Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Larry Bird, and then Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Let’s make this very clear. Kareem has a valid case to being number 1 if not second to MJ.

The absolute pinnacle of consistency at a high level for 20 years, Kareem is in this writer’s opinion the greatest center in NBA history.

There is nothing Kareem couldn’t do. He had the most unstoppable shot in NBA history. The skyhook has been his weapon of choice for many game-winners throughout his illustrious career.
While Kareem wasn’t the most muscular center in the NBA, he had a finesse game that allowed him to put his opponent to the sword each night.

In today’s NBA, Kareem would be unstoppable. With his length, mobility and defense, he would on that end alone be one of, if not the most dominant shot-blocker in the league.

On the offense end, he would cook every center with his vast array of post moves.

The Lakers were incredibly fortunate to have Cap on the Lakers for such a long time. Alongside Magic Johnson and James Worthy, they led the purple in gold to some of the best moments in the franchise’s history.

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