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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 Focus on Sport/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Best Los Angeles Lakers big men of all time: 3. Wilt Chamberlain

This portion of the list could go on and on about Wilt Chamberlain’s video game-like numbers that he put up throughout his career, but most of those career stats were accumulated on teams other than the Los Angeles Lakers.

But one of his best team accomplishments in Wilt’s spectacular career that included a 100-point game and averaging 50 points in a season was achieved on the Lakers, and that was winning an NBA title. It is hard to believe that Wilt only won one NBA championship in nine seasons before joining the Lakers because he was so dominant individually statistically throughout his career, so his title in Los Angeles meant a lot to his legacy.

That was one of the big knocks on Wilt throughout his career was that he did not win as many titles as fellow big man and biggest rival Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics year after year.

Joining the Lakers helped bury that criticism, and in 1971-72 season, when the Lakers had the best record in franchise history and won the NBA championship over the New York Knicks. Chamberlain was a giant part of that 1972 championship team, arguably the best Lakers team of all-time, a team that still holds the record for most consecutive regular-season wins in a row with 33.

Chamberlain was only a part of one Lakers title team, but he helped start the trend of the best big man in the league going to Los Angeles to win a championship. That coupled with his legendary resume of scoring records and MVP awards justifies his spot as a top-three Lakers big man of all-time.

He is arguably the most dominant force to ever step foot on a basketball court and that brings us to the only other player in that most dominant player ever argument who also wore a Lakers uniform.

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