Los Angeles Lakers: Building the all-time “second best” squad

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

SG: Gail Goodrich

This Los Angeles Lakers all-time team has two interchangeable guards who both could serve as the one or the two-guard, so in reality, these labels don’t really matter, much. If this team was playing in today’s NBA, you might have Goodrich as the point guard just based on the fact that he is 6’1″ while Scott is 6’3″.

However, Goodrich was a more prolific scorer, especially considering his time, so he slots in as the two-guard on this all-time team.

Goodrich played nine seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers but never led the team in Win Shares for a season as Wilt Chamberlain and/or Jerry West always bested him. However, he is still a Hall of Famer that was named an all-star five times as well as getting one All-NBA nod.

Goodrich’s four best years were from 1971 to 1975 and he really took his game to another level at this point. Goodrich averaged a combined 24.5 points, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game in this four-year stretch opposed to the 18.6 points per game that he averaged for his entire career.

We are a bit undersized in the backcourt, but that is alright. Scott is one of the more overlooked players in team history and Goodrich is a Hall of Fame talent.