Ranking 24 worst Lakers starters of the Kobe Bryant era
By Tyler Watts
11. Jumaine Jones
Jones was a first-round pick in 1999 that ended up in Philadelphia. The 76ers made a run to the NBA Finals in his second season where they lost to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Jones played 19.4 minutes per game in the playoffs that year as he averaged 5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds. It was arguably the best stretch of his career.
The 6’8 wing was traded to Cleveland in 2001 where he spent two years before being dealt to Boston. After one season in Beantown, the Celtics shipped him to the Lakers as part of a five-player deal.
Jones had made just 50 starts over his first five years before arriving in LA, but he made 23 in 2004-05. The 6’8 wing averaged 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game as the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1994. Not all the blame falls on Jones, but he did not help.
The Los Angeles Lakers dumped him on the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2005 offseason. The 6’8 wing spent two more years in the NBA before a long career overseas. He should not have been starting for the Lakers and his one season with the team was an indication of how the team viewed his performance.