5 greatest playoff scorers in Los Angeles Lakers history

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most decorated franchises in NBA history. The reigning NBA champions have 17 NBA titles under their belt and many phenomenal players gave their absolute best to make this possible. From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to LeBron James, there have been numerous talents who have worn the purple and gold jersey during their careers.

With the 2021 NBA playoffs, it’s the perfect time to take a look back at the five players who have scored the most points in the postseason for the Los Angeles Lakers. That being said, let’s begin the countdown without any further delay.

The top playoff scorers in Los Angeles Lakers history:

5. Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor was part of the L.A. Lakers back in the 1960s and was a key player for the team.  Despite not winning any trophies, Baylor was an elite scorer and helped the team go deep in the postseason numerous times.

Baylor averaged a sensational 27.63 points per game for his career, which is a testimony to his insane scoring abilities. He is only behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain on the list. Additionally, Baylor is also one of the six players in the NBA to ever cross the 70 points mark in a single game.

It is quite obvious that Baylor was a fabulous player, but he was unable to lift the NBA trophy even once in his career. However, Baylor can not be blamed for not giving his 100% in the playoffs as he scored 3,623 points in 134 playoff games for the Lakers.

4. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson hit the ground running from the day he entered the league. He helped the Lakers win the NBA championship in his debut season and he played a vital role in the NBA Finals. Magic impressed fans all around the globe with his top-notch skills in the said finals and bagged his first-ever NBA Finals MVP as well.

For his career, Magic averaged 19.5 points & 11.2 assists per game while being a key figure in the rise of the showtime Lakers. Johnson’s rivalry with Larry Bird was the biggest talking point during the 80s and the two superstars exchanged blows in the finals from time to time.

Despite being primarily known for his excellent passing skills, Johnson’s scoring ability was a huge threat for the opponents as well. In his 190 playoff games for the purple and gold, Magic accumulated 3,701 points. He helped the purple and gold become NBA champions five times during his career while bagging in the NBA Finals MVP three times.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Unarguably one of the best centers to ever grace the NBA court, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated oppositions thanks to his incredible presence inside the box. He was part of the showtime Lakers and formed a formidable duo with Magic Johnson.

Kareem was a nightmare for defenders on any given night and his skyhook helped him stay one step ahead of opponents for a long time. For his career, Kareem averaged 24.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

Kareem is one of only three players to cross the 4000 points mark for the Los Angeles Lakers with 4,070 points to his name in 180 playoff games. For his immense efforts, he won six NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVPs over the course of his career.

2. Jerry West

At no. 2 we have another historical figure in the Los Angeles Lakers history, Jerry West. West’s prime was roughly around the same time as Elgin Baylor. However, unlike him, West was able to win an NBA Championship.

In his career spanning over 14 years, West managed to help the Lakers reach nine NBA Finals and due to his efforts, he was named an NBA All-Star every year.  Considering West scored 4,457 points in just 153 playoff games is truly remarkable.

However, the only jewel missing from his crown is the regular season MVP. It’s quite surprising that a player of his caliber could never win that honor in his phenomenal career.

Read More: The 10 best Los Angeles Lakers big men of all time

1. Kobe Bryant

Who else, but the late legend Kobe Bryant is the person who has scored the most points for the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs. Recently, the Mamba was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021. Bryant spent his entire career with the purple and gold and gave Lakers fans countless moments to cherish over the years.

Kobe is regarded as arguably the best Los Angeles Lakers player by most fans and he has a breathtaking resume to back it. He is an inspiration for NBA players and achieved everything one can imagine.

Kobe played 220 games in the postseason while wearing the golden jersey and scored a breathtaking 5,640 points.

It’s no surprise that Kobe finished his career with five NBA championships and being named a finals MVP twice. He was arguably the best scorer of his generation and averaged a stunning 25.0 points per game in his career.