Ranking 24 worst Lakers starters of the Kobe Bryant era
By Tyler Watts
7. Tarik Black
Black went undrafted in 2014 after playing four years of college basketball. The 6’9 big man was signed by the Rockets, but waived four months later. The Lakers were looking for any help they could get and claimed him off waivers.
Black started 27 of his 38 games played with Los Angeles that season. Kobe Bryant was limited to 35 contests, and the Lakers won just 21 times. It was an ugly year, but Black showed flashes. He averaged 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in 21.1 minutes per game.
The 6’9 big man played two more years in Los Angeles but never matched those numbers. He only appeared in 39 games during Kobe’s farewell season and averaged just 12.7 minutes each night. The following year, he made 16 more starts, but there was little to get excited about.
The Los Angeles Lakers waived Tarik Black in the summer of 2017. He signed with the Rockets where he played one final season. Black was 26 years old in 2018 when he played his last NBA game. He is still playing in Europe, including helping Olympiacos win the Greek League championship in 2023. The 6’9 big man produced a few thunderous dunks, but little else during his time next to Kobe Bryant in LA.