Los Angeles Lakers: 50 Greatest Players in Lakers History (Updated 2023)
By Ed Schrenzel
Greatest Lakers of all time: 34- Clyde Lovellette
- 4 seasons, 282 games, 1 title
- 17.2 PPG
- 11.2 RPG
Many readers are likely unfamiliar with “Jellybelly”, who backed up the great George Mikan during the Minneapolis Lakers’ final championship season of 1953-54. Mikan then retired, and Lovellette replaced him as the team’s starting center for most of the next three seasons.
Clyde was known for his tough guy image who used his strong 6-9, 230 pound body to mix it up with everyone underneath the basket. But he also had an effective set shot.
Later in his career Lovellette went on to even greater heights as a member of the then-St Louis Hawks, where he teamed with superstar Bob Pettit in the early 60’s before finishing his career as a back-up to Bill Russell in Boston.
He would have ranked higher on this list had he played for a longer time with the Lakers, for whom he made 2 all-star teams. He is 6th in RPG, 13th in PPG and 26th in total points