Los Angeles Lakers: 50 Greatest Players in Lakers History (Updated 2023)

(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
8 of 50
Frank Selvy (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)
Frank Selvy (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)

Greatest Lakers of all time: 43- Frank Selvy

  • 6 seasons, 364 games, 2 NBA Finals
  • 10.3 PPG
  • 3.6 APG

“Pops” was a sweet shooter who had a notable college career while at Furman College. Not only was he the nation’s leading scorer and an All-American his senior year, but in his final college game he scored 100 points.

Selvy’s pro career was not nearly as successful, although he was a starter on several very good Laker squads. He had two stints with the team, including his final 5 NBA seasons, mostly playing alongside the great Jerry West in the Lakers backcourt.

He ranks 27th among Lakers in career points and 21st in APG and was an all-star in 1962. But unfortunately he’s best remembered for what happened later that season in the final seconds of Game 7 of the Finals.

Selvy had scored 4 straight late points to tie that game. But he missed a wide-open jumper at the regulation time buzzer that would have won the title for LA. Instead the Lakers lost in overtime.

Despite that miss, he deserves to be recognized for his other contributions to Lakers success.