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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 greatest 22nd overall picks in NBA history

By Jason Reed

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 25: Jared Dudley #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 25, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 25: Jared Dudley #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 25, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Norm Nixon, 1977, Los Angeles Lakers

Norm Nixon is the third-straight player on this list to be associated with the Los Angeles Lakers but he is much more associated with the team than Jared Dudley and Miles Plumlee. Plumlee was simply a bad part of a Lakers highlight and Dudley has been a lockerroom guy for two years.

Nixon was drafted by the Lakers in 1977 and made his mark in Lakers’ history. He definitely is not one of the first names you remember when you take a trip down memory lane but he did have a positive impact on the team.

It was positive enough to be named the second-greatest 22nd overall pick in league history.

Nixon won two championships with the Lakers and was an all-star twice in his career, once with the Lakers and once with the Los Angeles Clippers (in their first season in Los Angeles as well).

His advanced numbers do not hold up to modern-day standards as he was not the most efficient scorer but the overall efficiency in the league back then was far lower than it is now. Overall, Nixon averaged 16.4 points and 7.9 assists per game in his six seasons with the Lakers.

It is really close between Nixon and the no. 1 player on this list but the ceiling of the greatest 22nd overall pick ever is a bit higher, even if he did not win a championship during his career.

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