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The 10 best Los Angeles Lakers big men of all time

By Cameron Salce

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on April 24, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on April 24, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Best Los Angeles Lakers big men of all time: 9. Andrew Bynum

When Andrew Bynum was drafted in 2005, there were high hopes that he could fill the void of Shaq leaving the team and end up much higher on a list like this. However multiple major injuries during his time with the Lakers derailed those dreams of him being the next great Lakers hall of fame center.

At his peak, Bynum was an all-star in 2012 and helped lead the Lakers to the NBA championship in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010. An injury in the regular season only allowed him to play 19 minutes per game during the 2009 championship series, but he played a much bigger role on the 2010 title team that took down the Boston Celtics in 7 games while playing through yet another injury.

Even while battling through injury year after year, Bynum still managed to be one of the more impactful centers in Lakers history and justified his selection as the 10th overall pick. His second-team All-NBA selection in 2012 was a glimpse of what his potential could have been.

He will always be remembered for bursting on to the scene on Christmas day and shimmy shaking Shaq out of his shoes on his way to a dunk in his rookie season that showed he had the talent and competitiveness to go at the best in the game right out of high school. If it were not for his knee injuries Bynum easily could have cracked the top five of this list and could have been a perennial all-star.

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