Los Angeles Lakers: 50 Greatest Players in Lakers History (Updated 2023)
By Ed Schrenzel
Greatest Lakers of all time: 47- Elmore Smith
- 2 seasons, 155 games
- 11.7 PPG,
- 11.1 RPG
- 3.9 blocks
“Elmore the Rejector” was a blocked shot specialist who started his career with two excellent seasons with the old Buffalo Braves (the current Clippers). In the 1973-74 season he averaged an amazing 4.9 blocks a game for the Lakers, and was also an excellent rebounder who ranks fifth on the all-time team list.
Smith spanned the gap for the Lakers between two of the greatest big men of all time. They traded for him to replace Wilt Chamberlain at center after Wilt retired following the 1972-73 season and two years later included him in the package of players they swapped for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Elmore went on to have a pretty good but not great NBA career that was shortened by a knee injury.