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Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking the best title-winning second stars in team history

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Pau Gasol #16 talk during a 79-77 Indiana Pacers win at Staples Center on November 27, 2012 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Pau Gasol #16 talk during a 79-77 Indiana Pacers win at Staples Center on November 27, 2012 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is arguably the most popular player in Los Angeles Lakers history and to a good portion of the fanbase, he is the greatest player in franchise history, beating out Magic Johnson for the honors. What Kobe accomplished in the league is undeniable and he belongs on the all-time rankings, but he still was the second star for his first three championships.

This is about as good as a second star could be as Kobe really started to dominate the league in his time with Shaquille O’Neal. He was a lethal scorer from all around the court that was seemingly being held back because of his situation. In the coming years, after Shaq left, we got to see that dog fully unleashed.

Some may argue that Kobe was the true number one on that team, indicative by the team keeping him around over Shaq, but that is not the case. During this time period, Shaq was virtually unstoppable and was putting together game after game to make his case as the most dominant center of all-time.

The only way to slow him down was to foul him, which is what made Bryant so important, especially down the stretch and in the playoffs.

However, Shaq was the one, not Kobe Bryant, that was named the NBA Finals MVP in all three of the Lakers’ championships, won a league MVP and averaged 27.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

So who could be a better second superstar than Kobe Bryant if Bryant is widely considered as one of the two-best Lakers of all-time?

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