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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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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s three great seasons

  • 1982-83 season (age 35), 1984-85 season (age 37), 1985-86 season (age 38)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the next three greatest seasons in Los Angeles Lakers franchise history for a player over the age of 35. Kareem also has several of the greatest seasons in Lakers history in terms of win shares, period. The Lakers acquired Kareem in his prime and he continued to be one of the best players in the league well into his 30s.

While the likes of Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson often get mentioned as the best Lakers of all time before Kareem, you could legitimately make a case that Kareem is the greatest basketball player of all time.

He holds the all-time counting records, won six championships, six MVPs and is the best college basketball player of all time. Michael Jordan is the popular answer but the right answer might just be Kareem.

That is a conversation for another day, though.

Much like LeBron James is currently, Kareem continued to lead the Lakers late into his career. Unlike LeBron, Kareem had one of the best point guards in NBA history to take over the reins of being the best player on the team.

LeBron has Anthony Davis, who is not quite Magic Johnson-level.

While his rebounding numbers went down Kareem still managed to average over 20 points in all three of those seasons while being an elite rim protector.

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