Los Angeles Lakers: The five best players that were never all-stars

BOSTON - JUNE 08: Derek Fisher #2 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2010 NBA Finals on June 8, 2010 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON - JUNE 08: Derek Fisher #2 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2010 NBA Finals on June 8, 2010 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Mike Powell /Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Mike Powell /Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

2. Byron Scott

If Byron Scott would have been five years older then he would have five championships like Fisher. However, he came into the fold two titles into the Showtime Lakers run. Like Fisher, Scott was an important role player for each of those championship wins.

However, unlike Fisher, Scott was a consistent starter and a pretty big role player for the team. He suffered in being the fourth, sometimes fifth, most important player on the Lakers and as a result, he has often been overlooked in the history of basketball.

Scott was the perfect guard to put alongside Magic Johnson and he was one of the best scoring guards in the league at his best. Across two seasons from 1987 to 1989, Scott averaged 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and that still was not enough to get him an all-star nod.

He ended up playing with the Lakers until 1993 and finished his Laker career averaging 15.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He ranks 10th in all-time win shares in franchise history while ranking fourth in steals.

The only accolade that Scott earned in his career was an All-Rookie nod. He might not have lived up to the potential of being a fourth-overall pick, but he had a tremendous career with the Lakers.