Few NBA organizations, if any, can boast the history of success that the Los Angeles Lakers have record of hanging in the rafters of Staples Center. With 17 NBA Championships ranging from 1949 when they were in Minneapolis all the way to 2020, there has never been a problem with scoring big wins when it comes to the Lakers.
With such success, it’s no surprise that the Lakers have also seen some all-time greats pass through their halls. From George Mikan to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson to Kobe Bryant, the purple and gold have retired 11 numbers in their history but that’s only a fraction of the impactful players who have put on the uniform.
Specifically looking at scorers throughout Lakers history, though, sheds a different light on a number of players. While you could potentially debate the overall merits of Magic and Kobe as whole players, there’s no argument that the latter was far and away the better scorer of the two. It creates an interesting distinction as scoring, while incredibly important to success, is simply one part of the game.
Subsequently, there are many great scorers in Lakers history, both past and present, who may not be among the greatest players to every play for the franchise but who knew how to find nylon whenever they put up shots.
Those are the players we’re going to be looking at here; we’re going through the illustrious history of the Los Angeles Lakers and highlighting the 30 best scorers to ever play for the franchise.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 30. Jim McMillian
Jim McMillian is another player that often gets lost in the shuffle in the illustrious history of the franchise, but he’s also a player that was involved in one of the most successful runs in the history of the Lakers. He played for three seasons in Los Angeles from 1970-73, which includes the historic 71-72 Lakers that reeled off 33-straight wins on their way to a title.
McMillian is one of the often forgotten role players on that historic team, but he was quite productive as scorer for those teams at the small forward position. He played in 242 games for the Lakers and averaged 15.3 points per game over that stretch. Moreover, he shot an impressive 46.8 percent from the field for those teams and was really one of the complimentary pieces that helped bring it all together in Los Angeles.
Because of the teams he played on, the stars on those teams, and the simple fact that he wasn’t a member of the Lakers for all that long, McMillian isn’t the first name that comes to mind in terms of great Lakers and great Lakers scorers. However, that’s what he was for those teams and he deserves a spot in the rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 29. Glen Rice
Continuing the theme of players who weren’t with the Lakers all too long, but were productive as scorers in their time with the team, Glen Rice certainly fits the bill. The sweet-shooting wing only spent two seasons in Los Angeles at the end of the 1990s (missing out on the Shaq-Kobe titles), but that was more than enough time for him to leave his mark on the team in terms of his scoring prowess.
Rice played in 107 games for the Lakers thanks to one of his seasons in LA being shortened by a lockout. However, that didn’t stop him from averaging 16.3 points per game over that span alongside Shaq and Kobe, which is impressive in itself that he could score at that clip alongside two all-time greats. His 43 percent shooting from the field isn’t all too impressive, but his 37.6 percent shooting from long-range is certainly a more than respectable mark and a big part of why he was such a valuable scorer while he was a member of the Lakers.
Once again, he’s penalized in terms of these rankings because of the short nature of his tenure in Los Angeles, but what he was able to do as a scorer with the Lakers gives Rice a firm spot on this all time list.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 28. Lucius Allen
Point guard Lucius Allen spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers in the late 1970s and was the one of the generals in the offense for that time. He was a fine overall point guard in terms of his overall contributions. However, Allen’s greatest contributions were unquestionably derived from his abilities as a scorer from the point guard position.
Allen played in 210 games over the course of his time spent in Los Angeles and finished his Lakers tenure with 3,351 total points scored. That averages out to Allen putting up 16 points per game over his time in Los Angeles. The point guard also shot 45.2 percent from the field over his time in purple and gold, which is a more than adequate level of efficiency for most any point guard, but especially a guard in the era which he played. Moreover, his scoring came before the institution of the three-point line, another factor working in his favor.
Allen wasn’t a player that lit the box score on fire on a nightly basis, but there’s inherent value in having a point guard who can score and score efficiently. He played that role quite well for the Lakers while he was there and, had he stuck around a bit longer, he may have snuck into the top 20 of these rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 27. Kyle Kuzma
Seeing that Kyle Kuzma has only been in the nBA and with the Lakers for four seasons, this inclusion might seem a bit far-fetched. However, when you also consider that he’s already inside the top 35 for career points scored in Lakers history after such a short time, even with him taking on a smaller role over his third and fourth seasons, it makes a bit more sense.
Despite being a late first-round pick in 2017, Kuzma joined the Lakers and immediately proved his worth as a scoring threat. Over his first two years in Los Angeles, the forward averaged 16.1 and 18.7 points, respectively, while shooting over 45 percent from the field over that span. He also shot over 36 percent from 3-point range as a rookie and in the 2020-21 season as well.
The one thing, as of the 2020-21 campaign, that could hold Kuzma back from climbing any higher on this list is the personnel around him. With the arrival of LeBron James and then Anthony Davis, Kuzma simply hasn’t been asked to play as prominent of a role in the offense, which is why he averaged under 13.0 points per game over his third and fourth seasons in the league.
With that being said, Kuzma’s ability to put the ball in the hole remains obvious. He has a strong, versatile scoring presence that allows him to fill it up inside and out. And that’s why the youngster cracks the top 30 already in his career.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 26. Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom played seven seasons with the Lakers and saw both the worst and the best of times with the Kobe-era Lakers. While he was known for doing much more than just scoring the basketball, his value as a secondary scorer to Bryant prior to the Pau Gasol trade and even as a scoring option after can’t be underestimated in terms of its value to the Lakers at the time.
Over his first four seasons with the Lakers, Odom averaged 15 points per game while shooting an impressive 48.7 percent from the floor. While those were some of the worst teams in recent history for the Lakers (give it up for Smush Parker, everybody), it’s hard to imagine just how bad they would’ve been without Odom on the floor. His production slid once Gasol came around, but he still averaged 13 points per game overall during his Lakers tenure and was a reliable option in the offense.
Odom is an interesting case because he’s better known to Lakers fans for his capabilities as a point forward in the offense, able to facilitate in ways uncommon of a player with his size. However, he was an important cog as a scorer for quite some time and that can’t be forgotten in these rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 25. Jordan Clarkson
Over the course of 3.5 seasons playing with the Los Angeles Lakers at the start of his NBA career, Jordan Clarkson was very much an enigmatic presence on the floor. In 273 games with the franchise, he averaged a solid 14.3 points per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the floor and 33.2 percent on 3-point attempts.
Those numbers are certainly fine but, alone, they probably don’t warrant the former second-round pick earning a spot among the 30 greatest scorers in franchise history. However, that’s what made and still makes Clarkson such a fascinating and enticing player. Because even if he’s not a consistent threat, his ability to take over games with his scoring is undeniable.
Particularly when he was playing in a pseudo-sixth man role for the Lakers, Clarkson was among the better heat-check type of players in the league. If he checked into a game and the shot was falling, the opposing team was going to be in for a long night. Whenever he was on, it was hard for any defender to do anything to cool him down.
Since being traded to the Cavaliers in the middle of the 2017-18 season, Clarkson has continued to be a bit of an inconsistent but still-dangerous scorer when he’s on the floor. And while no one would ever mistake him as a bonafide elite talent when it comes to lighting up the scoreboard night-in and night-out, his ability to pop off earns him a top-25 spot in these rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 24. Nick Van Exel
Nick Van Exel is one of the more enigmatic players just in terms of his performance on the hardwood in the history of the Lakers in the NBA. He spent five seasons in Los Angeles through the mid 1990s, the first five years of his career to be exact. While he would go onto be a slightly more prolific scorer in his prime, Van Exel was solid in that capacity while he was playing in LA.
In just five seasons and 378 games with the Lakers, Van Exel still managed to put up 5,633 points over his time with the team. That was good for an average of 14.9 points per game over his time in Los Angeles. His 41 percent shooting at the start of his career is certainly nothing to get excited about or to even be mildly impressed by, but his 36.4 percent shooting from long-range in his first five seasons in the NBA is an admirable rate of efficiency from three-point land.
Van Exel was one of the most unique guards to ever play in the NBA and it all started with the Lakers. Even if he wasn’t in his prime while playing in Los Angeles, he was pretty close to that level for a team who needed him to put the ball in the hole. He doesn’t quite crack the top 20 of these rankings, but he certainly comes close.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 23. Byron Scott
While most Lakers fans now know him as the thorn in their side and one of the primary reasons that this 2015-16 team is so frustrating, Byron Scott was quite the valuable player for the Lakers long before he was ever the head coach. As a guard, Scott played 11 seasons in Los Angeles over his career, including taking an integral part in Showtime, and was a fantastic scorer along the way for the organization.
In 846 career games, Scott put up 12,780 total points over his time in Los Angeles. That averaged out to an impressive 15.1 points per game. That number is impressive enough considering all the talent he was playing with on the Lakers at that time. However, what makes it even more impressive is the fact that, as a guard, Scott managed to convert on a wildly impressive 49 percent of his shot attempts and a solid 37.3 percent of his three-point attempts.
The thought of leaving Scott off of this list just to spite him for the lackluster and frustrating nature of his tenure as the head coach in Los Angeles crossed my mind. However, he was far too productive for one of the best eras in the history of the franchise for that to ever be a reasonable thing to do.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 22. Dick Barnett
Dick Barnett only played for the Lakers in three seasons during his career, but the guard was still able to have tremendous success scoring the basketball during that brief run. Even more impressive is that, even though he played from 1962-65 with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West on the Lakers, he was still able to find the touches and efficiency to score at the level that he did over those three seasons.
Barnett’s career with the Lakers lasted 232 games over the course of those three seasons and he still put up 3,890 total points despite such a short time being spent in the purple and gold. The guard averaged 16.8 points per game over his time with the Lakers while shooting a solid 44.8 percent from the floor over that span. Again the most impressive part of all of this was that he could average just under 17 points per game while sharing the floor with two other prolific scorers.
Barnett’s short tenure is one of the reasons why he just barely cracks the top 20 of these rankings. However, his productivity over that time undoubtedly earns him a place in these rankings and firmly entrenches him as one of the better Lakers scorers ever.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 21. Adrian Dantley
Most fans of the NBA know the name of Adrian Dantley, but most of those fans associate him as an opponent of the Lakers while playing with the Detroit Pistons in the 1980s. In the late 1970s, though, Dantley spent two full years with the Lakers. Though that’s an incredibly brief run and despite the fact that he would go on to be far more prolific scoring the basketball than he was with Los Angeles, it’s hard to deny the numbers he put up in those two seasons.
Even playing in only 116 games in a Lakers uniform, Dantley still topped 2000 points in his career with in Los Angeles. He finished his time with the organization having scored 2,128 total points and having averaged 18.3 points per contest. Even more impressive is the fact that Dantley put up those scoring numbers while shooting a fantastic 51.5 percent from the floor.
Though he may not be best known as a Laker when fans look back on his career, Dantley indeed spent his time in Los Angeles and made his mark during that brief run. He’s be much, much higher had he been around for more than two years, but his numbers don’t lie over those two seasons and earn him a top 20 spot.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 20. A.C. Green
When it comes to bucket-getters, no one would describe A.C. green as elite in that category. In fact, over his nine seasons total spent in Los Angeles donning the purple and gold, he never averaged more than 13.6 points per game in any season. Instead, he was more of a do-it-all role player, evidenced by the fact that he averaged 7.7 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game over that same span as well.
Having said that, there are a few things that stand out about Green’s time with the Lakers. For one, he only averaged 29.2 minutes per game over nine seasons, meaning he wasn’t on the floor as often as many others were at the time. Secondly, he was quite efficient over that time as well, shooting 50.3 percent from the field with LA. And finally, Green was admirably consistent as a mid-level scorer, only dipping below double figures per game twice in his initial eight seasons with the Lake Show, once coming as a rookie.
All told, Green’s consistency as a role player throughout his career landed him with the 15th most career points scored with the Lakers in franchise history. So while he may not measure up to some other players on this list who had better individual seasons or runs, his longevity and career mark with Los Angeles is what lands him at No. 20.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 19. Clyde Lovellette
Another player from an era that makes it incredibly difficult to judge their place in rankings of all-time greats is big man Clyde Lovellette. The big man played only four seasons for the Lakers from 1953-57, but was more than able to establish himself as an elite scorer in the NBA as a whole and in the history of the Lakers.
Lovellette averaged 17.2 points per game with the Lakers, the 15th highest per-game average in the team’s history. While he may have only shot 43 percent from the field over the course of his time spent with the franchise, Lovellette’s scoring ability was not only impressive, but also revolutionary in the overall context of the game. He was one of the first big men to step away from the paint and create offense from the mid-range as a big man. He was essentially one of the original archetypes of a stretch four.
Lovellette would undoubtedly be higher in these rankings had he not spent merely four years with the organization, but here we are. Still, with the level of productivity that the big man showed in addition to his contributions to the league in terms of how his scoring affected the league in years to come, Lovellette seems like the right fit for No. 17.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 18. Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones fits into the history of the Lakers in that strange time before the organization landed their next megastar in Kobe Bryant in the late 1990s and at the beginning of Kobe’s career before he reached the heights he would go on to. Jones spent five seasons in Los Angeles and, above all else, he was one of the best scoring forces on those teams and put up the numbers to prove it.
Those five seasons with the Lakers led to Jones playing in 314 career games in a Lakers uniform where he amassed 4,784 points for the purple and gold. While his average of 15.2 points per game over that time may not seem like a wholly impressive number, what makes it far more impressive is that he hit 46.3 percent of his shots as a perimeter-oriented offensive player. That’s largely due to his prowess as a long-range shooter as he hit on 37.8 percent of his three-point attempts with the Lakers.
Jones’ tenure in Los Angeles wasn’t lengthy and he never saw any real great success as a member of any of those Lakers teams in the late 90s as he was never really the first option once Kobe and Shaq arrived. That being said, his ability as a perimeter scorer for the Lakers is undeniable and he is worthy of recognition for that in these rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 17. Anthony Davis
The biggest knock on Anthony Davis with the Lakers and his inclusion on this list would be that he’s only spent two seasons with the franchise to this point and he’s not been healthy for an entire year in either of them, playing in just 98 games over the past two years. But when you look at what he’s been able to accomplish when on the floor, it’s hard to deny Davis his props.
Over two seasons with Los Angeles, Davis has averaged 24.5 points per game. For reference, that mark is the sixth-best on a per-game basis in franchise history. He’s also reached that clip while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and, in the 2019-20 season, he also converted on 33 percent of his 3-point attempts, the third-best mark of his career.
To be fair, Davis’ brief tenure with the Lakers to this point — though there are likely many more years with the purple and gold ahead — is the reason why he falls outside of the top 15. He just simply doesn’t have the body of work right now to justify being any higher than that. Yet, he undoubtedly deserves inclusion merely by joining the Lakers.
In the simplest terms, there have been few players in the history of the game that possess the scoring versatility of Davis. His blend of size and skill makes him a dangerous threat in all facets of the game, scoring included. Therefore, his raw ability that he’s already put on display in LA is enough to warrant his spot on this list and, frankly, he should only rise up in the coming years, assuming he can stay on the floor.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 16. Happy Hairston
In the early 1970s, the Lakers were in a bit of a transition period between two separate eras of greatness as they were moving on at the end of the careers of Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor and leading into the era led by Kareem and then Magic. During that time, though, forward Happy Hairston was one of the scoring leaders for the Lakers, which earns him this spot in these rankings.
Hairston spent six seasons with the Lakers, playing in 394 games with the organization. He fell just short of scoring 6,000 points with the organization (5,993) and averaged a solid 15.2 points per game during his time spent with the team. Moreover, the forward was efficient in getting buckets as Hairston shot 48.2 percent from the floor over the six years he played in Los Angeles.
Hairston came around for the Lakers in an admittedly strange time for the franchise where stars were at the end of their runs as elite NBA players and before Kareem came around to alter the team tremendously. However, his productivity over that time can’t be ignored. He is 100 percent deserving of kicking off the top-half of these rankings as one of the greatest scorers in the Lakers’ illustrious history.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 15. Norm Nixon
Norm Nixon played six seasons as the point guard for the Lakers in the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Some guy named Magic Johnson ultimately took over that job and ultimately overshadowed Nixon’s contributions to the team at that time, but Nixon was highly productive in his own right. Over those six seasons, Nixon was a quality scoring option in the backcourt and a great role player at the start of the Magic era for the Lakers.
Nixon appeared in 485 games for the Lakers in his career and totaled 7,938 points over that time. That was good for 16.4 points per game over the course of his time with the Lakers, a more than respectable mark with all things considered. Perhaps the most impressive part of his scoring ability was how efficient he was in putting up those numbers, hitting 50 percent of his shots at the points guard position. That’s a great mark for a big man, but it’s absolutely marvelous for a guard to show that level of efficiency.
While Nixon wasn’t even the best point guard on almost all of the Lakers teams that he was a part of, he was productive and great in the role that he played. It’s not a sexy pick to have in the top 15, but it’s Nixon’s earned place in the rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 14. Pau Gasol
The arrival of Pau Gasol in Los Angeles undoubtedly changed the fortunes of the Los Angeles Lakers in the late 2000s. Kobe Bryant was on the back side of his prime and needed another weapon if he was going to make another run at the title and Pau was the perfect compliment to do that. Inherently involved in that role was Gasol’s ability to score, which he did at an impressive rate over his seven seasons in Los Angeles.
Through seven seasons and 429 games played with the Lakers, Pau garnered 7,610 total points with the Lakers. His average of 17.7 points per game on 52.2 percent shooting is undeniably impressive, but also is slightly lessened by some injury-plagued seasons at the end of his run. In his first 4.5 seasons with Los Angeles, Gasol put up 18.5 points per game while hitting an impressive 53.4 percent of his shots from the field. He was the perfect second option in the post to compliment Kobe.
Bryant’s exploits over Pau’s run with the Lakers and the tumultuous state that the organization was in when he left somewhat overshadow just how good he was for the Lakers. While he wasn’t known exclusively as a scorer, there’s no getting around the fact that he made his mark in Los Angeles in that regard.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 13. Cedric Ceballos
Cedric Ceballos was one of the most difficult players to place in these rankings. On the one hand, the talented small forward only spent three seasons with the Lakers in the mid 1990s and was best known for his time elsewhere in the league. On the other hand, Ceballos was also fantastic in Los Angeles for the brief time he was there in terms of his scoring prowess. Ultimately, No. 12 in these all time rankings felt right.
Ceballos is one of seven players in Lakers history to average more than 20 points per game over his time with the franchise, putting up 20.9 points per contest over his 144 games with the team. That he played only 144 games and scored over 3000 total points for the Lakers is relatively remarkable. Considering that he shot 51.7 percent from the field in spite shooting only 32.5 percent from three is pretty incredible in itself.
Ceballos was a force to be reckoned with when he was with the Lakers, though it was a strange time for the organization while he was there and though his run with the Lakers was so brief. However, he was producing at such a high level during his tenure in Los Angeles that you can’t deny his place and deserved spot in these rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 12. Jamaal Wilkes
Jamaal Wilkes spent eight seasons with the Lakers essentially at the start of the Magic Johnson era with the franchise. The forward obviously wouldn’t go on to be the star that Magic was and wasn’t around for the entirety of the Showtime Lakers, but he helped usher in that era with Magic in Kareem and was around at the start. Moreover, Wilkes was also able to produce at a high level in terms of scoring over his tenure in Los Angeles and he deserves to be recognized as such.
In 575 career games with the Lakers, Wilkes was able to amass 10,601 total points. That’s good enough for an average of 18.4 points per game, an impressive mark considering that he was playing with Magic and Kareem at the time. Moreover, Wilkes was also one of the more consistent scorers in Lakers history in relation to his productivity as well. For his career, the forward hit 51.6 percent of his field goal attempts over his eight years in Los Angeles.
Wilkes isn’t one of the first names that comes to mind in the context of greatest Lakers of all time, but he was undeniably effective as a scorer. Subsequently, he come in just outside of the top 10 of these rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 11. James Worthy
James Worthy is deservedly a Lakers legend in the history of the franchise for his playoff heroics and many other reasons. One of those reasons just happens to be that he was one of the primary offensive forces in Los Angeles during the Showtime era, simply another lethal weapon on that loaded roster. His ability as a scorer was and is undeniable in terms of it’s greatness in Lakers history.
Big Game James played for 12 seasons with the Lakers and appeared in a whopping 926 games. Over that time in Los Angeles, he accrued 16,320 points for his career. That’s good for a career average of 17.6 points per game. However, that doesn’t take into account his prime where he averaged 19.9 points per game over the course of eight seasons while also shooting 53.2 percent from the floor. The big forward was just dominant as a scorer and consistent in playing that role for almost his entire career.
While his numbers may not be as gaudy as some other Lakers players, Worthy was still incredible as a scorer while spending his entire career with the organization. He deservedly earns a spot in the top 10 rankings of the greatest scorers in the franchise’s history.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 10. Gail Goodrich
Gail Goodrich is one of the unsung heroes of the Lakers in the history of the organization. The guard played alongside many other greats in the history of the franchise such as Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor. However, Goodrich often gets overlooked in the context of the great players in Lakers history, but that’s a mistake. However, he won’t be overlooked in these rankings as one of the greatest scorers in team history.
Goodrich spent nine seasons with the Lakers in his career and racked up an impressive 13,044 total points over his time with the Lakers. He put up that number in only 687 games as a part of the organization, good for an average of 19 points per game. Even more impressive is the fact that he put up those numbers from the guard position while shooting 46 percent from the floor and playing alongside many other prolific scorers.
Goodrich deserves to get his due in the canon of Lakers all-time greats whenever that conversation comes up. Lake Show Life is certainly giving him that as he was a no-brainer to be slotted into the top 10 of the list of the franchise’s greatest scorers ever.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 9. Wilt Chamberlain
There’s no way that Wilt Chamberlain falls out of the top five in terms of lists of the all-time greatest scorers in the NBA. After all, no other player has ever put up the per-game averages in seasons that The Big Dipper did and no player has ever put up 100 points in a game. However, those milestones all happened before Wilt joined the Lakers. While he was still dominant when he came to Los Angeles, he was no longer at that level anymore. Hence why he falls to No. 8 in these rankings.
Even if he wasn’t averaging 50 points per game (yes, he actually did do that) with the Lakers, Wilt was still phenomenal at the end of his career. He put up 17.7 points per game for Los Angeles over the course of his five seasons within the organization, totaling 5,985 total points in only 339 games in LaLa Land. Even when he was on his way out of the NBA, The Stilt could still get buckets.
Again, Chamberlain is one of the greatest scorers that the NBA has ever seen. However, he simply wasn’t at the level that he was before by the time he joined the Lakers. Still, he easily makes it into the top 10 of the greatest scorers in Lakers history.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 8. Magic Johnson
It almost feels wrong to have Magic Johnson out of the top five of any list involving all-time great Lakers, yet here we are and it feels justified all the same. For all of the great things that Magic gave to the organization in terms of success and fame, he was never known as a scorer. That doesn’t mean he was incapable, but he was the playmaker on the floor to make the best play available in the offense. That didn’t always mean scoring the basketball, but he was quite great in doing that if need be.
Johnson, playing 13 seasons with the Lakers, sits in fifth place in terms of most career points scored with the Lakers, scoring 17,707 over the course of his career. He averaged an impressive 19.5 points per game in doing so and did so with remarkable efficiency that’s indicative of that playmaker narrative, hitting on 52 percent of his shot attempts.
Magic is a special case because, if he wanted, I fully believe that he could be one of the best five scorers in Lakers history simply because he was that talented of a basketball player. However, he chose to play a different role to put his teams in a better position to win. That hurts him in terms of ranking scorers, even if it adds to his overall legend.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 7. George Mikan
Because of the era in which he played, the legendary big man George Mikan is one of the most divisive players in the history of the NBA and the history of the Lakers in terms of just how great he was. He undoubtedly played at a time where the big men in the league simply weren’t at a level of size and skill to where they could match up with his “ability” in those regards. All that said, it led to Mikan putting up big scoring numbers while playing for the Minneapolis Lakers.
Mikan played seven seasons with the Lakers and was one of the most dominant scorers in the league over that span. In only 439 games, Mikan still put up a ridiculous 10,156 total points with the Lakers and averaged an impressive 23.1 points per game along the way. It’s hard to argue that a player who was that prolific during his time in the league doesn’t deserve a spot among the best scorers in a team’s history.
That being said, the era Mikan played in is just strange in every sense. Not only was there not much competition for Mikan at his position, but he also wasn’t particularly efficient considering the advantages he had. He shot just 40.4 percent from the field over his time in Minneapolis, a curiously low level of efficiency. Even then, his output over seven seasons is worthy of him being No. 6 in these rankings.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 6. LeBron James
It’s crazy to think that the two greatest players of the past two decades have now suited up for the Lakers but, when LeBron James announced his decision to head to LA, that became the reality. And even if some people would describe the King as being in the later stages of his NBA career at this point, that hasn’t stopped him from putting on quite a show thus far.
LeBron’s greatest asset has long been the ability to affect games in every facet, whether that’s with his facilitating for teammates, rebounding or even locking in on defense. However, he’s not only still a dynamic scorer that can take over games but he’s actually evolved in that capacity since joining the Lakers, particularly with his ability as a shooter.
James has actually averaged 25.9 points per game over his three seasons in Los Angeles, which is lower than his average with the Cavs and Heat. But part of that is due to the presence of Anthony Davis, it should be said. And even still, LeBron has been wildly efficient, shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep despite taking more 3-point attempts per game than ever before in his career.
There is a case for not having James this high on the list given his short tenure so far with the franchise. But with how good he’s been as a scorer in addition to the versatility in his bucket-getting, it would be foolish not to already include him among the all-time great Lakers scorers.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 5. Shaquille O’Neal
Even playing only eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s remarkable just how productive Shaquille O’Neal was when he was in his prime with the Lakers. He was one of the most unstoppable forces that the league has ever seen. Shaq and Kobe have three titles to prove that, but Shaq’s numbers over those eight seasons in Los Angeles do a pretty good job of showing that as well.
Despite only playing eight seasons with the Lakers, Shaq still ranks seventh in terms of career scoring with the Lakers. To put that in perspective, the six players ahead of him all played 12 or more seasons with the Lakers. That’s because Shaq holds the third highest per-game scoring rate in Lakers history, putting up 27 points per contest while wearing the purple and gold. Moreover, the big man was predictably efficient in putting up those gaudy numbers as he shot 57.5 percent with the Lakers.
It’s amazing to think of the scoring numbers that Shaq could have put up with Los Angeles had he been able to knock down more than 53.3 percent of his free throws. Along those same lines, it’s curious to think just how much he would have scored had he and Kobe never had their beef and had he stayed with the Lakers. Even still, Shaq was too unstoppable as a scorer to not break the top five.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 4. Jerry West
The conquests of Jerry West with the Los Angeles Lakers organization are legendary and rightfully so. Whether he was coming through in the clutch with 60-foot buzzer beaters or simply becoming “The Logo” as one of the more dominant players of that era, West made his mark on the league and the organization. As a part of that, he was also just an unbelievable scorer.
West holds the honor of having scored the second most total points scored in a Lakers uniform, amassing 25,192 over the course of 14 seasons and 932 games. That averages out to West putting up 27 points per game, the second highest per-game scoring rate in Lakers history. He was dominant as a scorer over his entire career and his career stats undeniably reflected that. Even playing alongside another remarkably good scorer, West was able to score in bunches and do so efficiently. Shooting over 47 percent for his career is a good indication of that.
West is going to crack the top five on virtually any all-time list regarding the Lakers and ranking the greatest scorers is certainly no exception to that. Talk about era, talk about this, talk about that; West could put the ball in the cup better than just about anyone.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 3. Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor is one of the most underrated stars in the history of the Lakers by just about every measure. He was a stalwart on the glass, a great facilitator for a big man, and simply a leader for a team in facing the vaunted Boston Celtics of that era. However, above all else, Baylor was an unbelievable scorer for his Lakers teams as he led them into battle night-after night. Though many may not realize it, Baylor is nearly unmatched in terms of his scoring prowess in the history of the Lakers organization.
Over his 14 seasons with the Lakers, Baylor averaged the more points per game than anyone of the history of the franchise. His 27.4 points per game over 846 games played in Los Angeles is 0.4 points higher than both the second and third-ranked players in that regard. Moreover, he ranks fourth in Lakers history in terms of total points scored while suiting up in purple and gold.
Baylor certainly played in a less-evolved era of the NBA, but that level of productivity deserves credit no matter what. The Lakers legend was phenomenal in virtually every regard and slots in as the third best scorer in the franchise’s history.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
It was a struggle to try and figure out where in the world to put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on these rankings. After all, he’s the NBA’s all-time career scoring leader, but he also didn’t spend his entire career or even his full prime with the Lakers. In fact, he ranks third in terms of points scored all time with the Lakers. However, the No. 2 spot is ultimately where Kareem settled.
Over his 14 seasons with Los Angeles, Kareem put up 22.1 points per game. That rate ranks sixth all time for the Lakers. As stated previously, he also ranks third in terms of total scoring with the Lakers, amassing 24,176 points over the course of his tenure with the Lakers. Even toward the end of his career, Jabbar always had the Skyhook and always knew how to put the ball through the bottom of the net. His remarkable consistency and longevity as a scorer isn’t worthless in this situation.
By many calculations, Kareem is the greatest scorer in the history of the NBA because, well, no player has ever scored more points in a career than Kareem did. However, in terms of the Lakers history, he falls just short of that mark. Had he spent more time in Los Angeles, that might not be the case. But only 14 years were spent in LA, thus knocking him off the top rung of the ladder.
Los Angeles Lakers greatest scorers: 1. Kobe Bryant
No one could be at the top of this list other than Kobe Bryant. He may not be first all-time in points per game (he ranks fifth at 24.99) with the Lakers but he’s the franchise’s career leader in points scored. However, Kobe’s stature as the greatest scorer to ever wear the purple and gold goes well beyond that.
Bryant’s greatest attribute was always the ability to get a bucket. It didn’t matter how dire the situation was — if the Lakers needed someone to put the ball in the hole, Bryant was going to make it happen through force of will and his immense talent. There are too many clutch moments and too many unforgettable performances to count.
Of course, some stand out more than others. His historic 81-point game, the 60-point outing in the final game of his NBA career, the countless outbursts at Madison Square Garden, and many others deserve special attention. But all you had to do was watch Bryant to recognize that you were watching something historic whenever he was on the floor.
Kobe’s untimely passing early in 2020 brought back many fans remembering his greatness as he walked away from the league four years prior. One thing many of those memories had in common, though, was his ability to find the bottom of the net. And anyone arguing that there has been a better Laker in doing that is simply incorrect.