Los Angeles Lakers: 50 Greatest Players in Lakers History (Updated 2023)
By Ed Schrenzel
Greatest Lakers of all time: 29- Jim McMillian
- 3 seasons, 242 games, 1 title
- 15.3 PPG
- 5.4 RPG
Jimmy Mac is one of those “forgotten” Laker players who for one reason or another have not been well-remembered through the years.
His Lakers career was relatively short but oh-so-sweet. He was a first-round draft pick in 1970 and only played 3 seasons with the club. But he was particularly effective the final 2 of his years, averaging close to 19 PPG each season,
After the great Elgin Baylor was forced to retire 9 games into the 1971-72 season due to injury, Jim stepped into the starting lineup. Coincidently or not, the Lakers took off like a rocket. In the very next game, they won the first of what turned out to be 33 straight games, which remains the longest winning streak in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues.
That was also the season the Lakers won their first NBA title in LA. Jimmy was the team’s third-leading scorer behind future Hall of Famers Gail Goodrich and Jerry West. He repeated that performance the following season when the team lost in the Finals to the Knicks.
Mac was especially well known for his almost automatic baseline jumper. He ranks 17th in career PPG (and 8th in postseason PPG).