Laker Lifers: Players who spent their entire career with the Lakers

How rare is it in this current game of the NBA to see players sticking with one team their entire career? How many players do you know that have endured good days and bad and have never left the city in which they play? There is something special about it for sure. Being a member of the Los Angeles Lakers is beyond special by itself, but being a Laker lifer has it’s own place.

One athlete that comes to mind in more recent years is of course the great Dirk Nowitzki, who spent his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks.

Then of course is John Stockton with the Utah Jazz, Larry Bird, and Kevin McHale with the Boston Celtics, Derrick Jeter, goalie Mike Richter, and on and on.

When it comes to being on the Los Angeles Lakers for life, my mind always goes straight to Kobe Bryant.

Kobe spent his entire career as a Laker. There were times when it looked like he might depart and go somewhere else but it didn’t happen. He was a special type of player. Much like Magic Johnson in that he was the face of the franchise for many years.

In fact, when anyone talks about the two, you can’t help but think about the team for which they played for. He was a Laker legend as we all saw him come in as a kid, and leave as the Black Mamba. To say he transcended the NBA and professional sports is an ultimate understatement.

Magic Johnson was a Laker lifer. Lakers owner Jerry Buss and Johnson were always close. They partied together in the early years and grew close as friends. Magic watched him closely and learned a lot about what it took to be a successful businessman.

Most importantly, they became lifelong friends who never forgot each other. The Lakers were always a second home for Magic as Buss looked at him like a son. Other than Kobe Bryant, Magic is the person I think of when I think of the Los Angeles Lakers.

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James Worthy was one of those special payers. He spent his entire career in the purple and gold. Part of three Laker championship teams, he held a special place in the heart of all Lakers fans. Worthy was a large part of Showtime and he was also with the team when the winning dwindled and the Lakers struggled. That number 42 will forever be remembered.

The great Jerry West spent his entire career as a Laker. He even spent a good amount of his post-playing career in the Lakers head office as their GM.  A great talent on and off the court, he is responsible for so much of the Lakers’ success and is one of the staples to the organization. There is a reason why the NBA chose him to be their logo.

There was, of course, the great defensive mastermind Michael Cooper, who was always called on to guard an opponent’s most dangerous player, which he always did a great job of.

Cooper was just a hardworking player that would go onto be part of some of the greatest Laker teams and then of course enjoy a very nice coaching career for the WNBA where he was the head coach for the LA Sparks.

How many other players were there that spent their entire careers as Lakers? Elgin Baylor, George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard, and Jim Krebs enjoyed careers as Lakers. Some of them played for many seasons.

Mike Penberthy who only played one season in the NBA, is someone that comes to mind when I think of those who have been Laker lifers. While he may have only played for one season, he got to be a Laker and win a title. (Not too bad huh?) He is currently one of the many assistant coaches for the Lakers.

It is a special occasion when someone spends their entire career with one team. No matter how long or short it is. As Lakers fans, we remember these special few who had to endure the hardships of seasons in which things would be up and down. Also, the hardship of perhaps being able to make more money with another organization or the chance at having more spotlight on you.

Sometimes it seems that it is something we overlook as fans. The statistics are what always draws us in but when we step back and are more objective, we can see everything from a bird’s eye view.

When you invest so much into a professional sports team as a fan like we do, these are the things that you investigate and have a special appreciation for.