Best Los Angeles Lakers big men of all time: 8. Bob McAdoo
Before Bob McAdoo helped the Lakers win two championships by being a scoring threat off the bench, he was one of the best players in the NBA, a five-time all-star, and even the MVP in 1975. By the time he was on the Lakers he was in the latter stages of his career, but he could still be their sixth man off the bench and knock down big shots when called upon.
McAdoo’s biggest contribution with the Lakers was his play during the 1982 Finals that helped them beat the Sixers, and even making a key block on Julius Erving in Game 6 to help seal the series win. He ended up averaging 16.3 points, five rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and one steal per game in that series and showed he still had some left in his hall of fame career.
He is the shortest player to appear on this list at 6’9″, but he was always a backup power forward or center while with the Lakers, so that is why he is eligible for this list. McAdoo was truly ahead of his time because he was one of the first big men who could shoot and stretch the floor, and with that skill set he could have fit seamlessly into the modern NBA that is filled with players of his mold.
If McAdoo would have played with the Lakers during the prime of his career, he would have probably been ranked higher on this list. Yet being the first of five Hall of Famers and having two championships while playing with the Lakers is more than enough to secure his place on this list.