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Los Angeles Lakers: Best seasons in franchise history by 35 and over players

By Jason Reed

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/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 /

Wilt Chamberlain’s two great seasons

  • 1971-72 season (age 35), 1972-73 season (age 36)

In terms of win shares, Wilt Chamberlain has the two greatest seasons by a Los Angeles Lakers player that is over the age of 35. The Lakers did not even get Wilt in his prime but he was still putting together incredible numbers in LA. He accumulated 18.2 win shares at 35 and 15.8 win shares at 36.

Things may have been different in the league back then but that is still incredibly impressive.

Wilt’s averages in those two seasons may look minuscule compared to his career averages but the fact remains that he was still a hugely important part of the Lakers’ success. At 35 Chamberlain averaged 14.8 points and 19.2 rebounds while playing great defense.

The next season was similar as he averaged 13.2 points and 18.6 rebounds. More importantly, though, Chamberlain was instrumental in the Los Angeles Lakers finally getting over the hump and winning the 1972 NBA Championship; the only title that Jerry West would win.

Chamberlain, not West, was named the NBA Finals MVP at the age of 35. Over the entire playoffs that season he averaged 14.7 points and 21 (!!!) rebounds. In the NBA Finals, he averaged 19.4 points and 23.2 rebounds.

Chamberlain may have capitalized from the era he played in and we can debate all day long about how he would fare in today’s game. The fact of the matter is that he is still one of the greatest to ever do it.

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