The 5 most underrated Los Angeles Lakers of the 21st century
By Eric Hirsch
Few people would dispute that the NBA is a superstar-driven league. Over the past twenty years, the Los Angeles Lakers have had more of them than perhaps any other franchise – Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis to name a few.
But while the stars get most of the attention and glamour, it is often the under-the-radar, dirty work-type players that push contenders over the top.
With that in mind, let’s revisit the six championship Lakers teams of the 21st century and recognize the top five most underrated players who made major contributions to the Lakers’ success, with an emphasis on the postseason. Without further ado, here’s No. 5.
Most underrated Los Angeles Lakers of the 21st century: 5) Robert Horry
“Big Shot Bob” was a role player on the Los Angeles Lakers teams that completed a three-peat in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Though his stat sheet contributions waned in comparison with his prior championship years in Houston, Horry’s championship pedigree and playoff experience would prove crucial to the Lakers’ success at the outset of the new millennium.
His electric, game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings will go down as one of the great moments in Laker history. Without it, the Lakers would have faced a nearly insurmountable 3-1 deficit in the series. But thanks in large part to Horry, the Lakers advanced past the Kings and went on to sweep the New Jersey Nets in the Finals, thereby solidifying a post-Showtime Lakers dynasty.
Horry would go on to win two more championships with the San Antonio Spurs. While Horry was undoubtedly lucky to play alongside the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan, you don’t contribute meaningful minutes on SEVEN championship teams for three different franchises by accident. Robert Horry could hoop.
2000 Playoff Averages: 7.6 PPG, 5.3 REB, 2.5 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.8 BLK, .288 3FG%
2001 Playoff Averages: 5.9 PPG, 5.2 REB, 1.9 AST, 1.4 STL, 1.0 BLK, .368 3FG%
2002 Playoff Averages: 9.3 PPG, 8.1 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.8 BLK, .387 3FG%