Ranking 5 Worst Lakers starters of the Magic Johnson era

3. Mychal Thompson

Thompson was already passed his prime when he arrived in LA in a 1987 trade. The number one overall pick in 1978 spent his first eight seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. He was never an All-Star, but the 6’10 big man averaged 16.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 34.3 minutes per game during that stretch.

Thompson spent just 49 games in San Antonio before joining Magic Johnson and the Lakers just after his 32nd birthday.

He immediately helped Showtime win back-to-back championships, but Thompson was the backup center behind Kareem. It stayed that way until the 19-time All-Star retired in 1989 at 42 years old.

Mychal Thompson was 35 years old by the time he got to start next to Magic Johnson for the Lakers and his best days were well behind him. He averaged 10.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 26.9 minutes per game during the regular season, but his production dipped in the playoffs as Los Angeles was bounced in the second round by the Suns. They had won the West three straight years and seven of the last eight, so it was a massive disappointment.

Thompson played one final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his playing time and production fell off further before he headed overseas for his final season. The former number-one overall pick and father of Klay currently does the radio broadcasts for the Lakers.