Ranking every single teammate LeBron James had on the Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James' tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers is coming to an end after eight eventful seasons. Almost nobody expected LeBron's tenure to last eight full years given his age, and even fewer people would've guessed that it would end because he's going to play for another team, not because he is retiring.

There was a lot of roster turnover during his time in Los Angeles, which isn't unique to a LeBron-led team. While there were core pieces of LeBron's Lakers run, Rob Pelinka shuffled the deck more often than not as the Lakers pursued an NBA Championship.

A total of 113 players suited up for the Lakers during LeBron's time with the team. And while some spent far more time with him than others, they all can say that they were teammates with LeBron James.

And there's only one thing to do with so many teammates over an eight-year run: rank every single one. From No. 1 all the way down to No. 113, here is every single teammate LeBron James had on the Los Angeles Lakers ranked.

LeBron James' 10 best teammates on the Lakers

1. Anthony Davis

There's nobody else who could have topped this list. While LeBron's entire tenure with the Lakers didn't completely overlap with Anthony Davis, it will be most remembered for the pairing that brought the team a 17th championship, Disney World bubble be damned.

The Lakers moved mountains to trade for AD, sending a monumental package that was picked apart by Lakers haters at the time. However, when the dust ultimately settled, it was clear the Lakers got the better end of the stick and were eventually able to flip Davis in an even better trade anyway.

As iconic as Davis and LeBron should go down in Lakers history, there is also a massive what-if surrounding their heads. This is a partnership that could have won multiple titles if health (and Russell Westbrook) hadn't gotten in their way.

Instead of being in the conversation with other all-time Lakers duos like Kobe and Shaq, Kobe and Pau, or Magic and Kareem, LeBron and AD are instead in the conversation with Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. A great all-time duo that could have won more than they did.

2. Austin Reaves

Is Austin Reaves more talented than Luka Doncic? Absolutely not. But he accomplished more in his longer stint with LeBron than Luka did in their short time together. This isn't just about raw talent, it's about the impact one had next to the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Reaves is one of the best feel-good stories not just of this decade, but of LeBron's entire career. Reaves went from an undrafted rookie whom LeBron saw potential in to being one of the 30 best players in the league. This netted Reaves the largest contract for an undrafted player in NBA history this offseason.

Reaves wasn't part of the title team but in many ways he was the spiritual successor to Caruso, whom we already highlighted as an integral part of that 2020 team. Just like Caruso, Reaves proved his worth while the entire NBA world counted him out. But unlike Caruso, he's not just a role player. He is now a legitimate star.

3. Luka Doncic

LeBron and Luka only crossed paths for a season and a half and it came via the most surprising trade in NBA history. Nobody ever expected the Dallas Mavericks to willingly trade Doncic, and even fewer people expected Luka to somehow find his way as LeBron's teammate.

While the duo didn't accomplish much together, Luka did something no other player in LeBron's career had ever done. He forced the all-time great to play differently. For the first time in his entire career, the Lakers were no longer LeBron's team once Doncic rolled into town.

All that being said, LeBron took on his third-fiddle role and excelled. In many ways, it helped set the table for this final chapter of his career, wherever it may be. The hope is that while LeBron does that, Doncic can fully take over the reins and lead the Lakers to championship No. 18.

4. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The most consistent and tenured role player from LeBron's first half with the Lakers has to rank just below the three stars that James shared the court with. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was never the second-best player LeBron shared the court with in Los Angeles, and there were times when he wasn't even third. But when it mattered, KCP showed up, and that matters for this list.

The Lakers struggled over the years to find many consistent three-point shooters who had an impact beyond just one season. KCP was one of the few exceptions as he played a hugely important role as a three-and-D wing on the 2020 title team.

Caldwell-Pope shot 37.8% from three throughout his Lakers tenure, which was highlighted by his 39.8% three-point shooting his last two seasons with the team. Most notably, KCP was a double-digit scorer on 29 minutes a game during the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

5. Alex Caruso

Alex Caruso was the first hidden gem role player the Lakers found to play alongside LeBron James. Caruso was the team's best defender not named Anthony Davis and as he blossomed into a three-point shooter his value only went up.

But the Lakers clearly didn't value him enough. The Lakers getting cheap and not matching the four-year deal Caruso signed with the Chicago Bulls is still one of the most baffling decisions of the Rob Pelinka era. It's even more baffling considering his rank on this list.

Caruso was an important member of the 2020 championship team and really turned a corner the following season. It's a shame his Lakers tenure had to end when it did.

6. Rui Hachimura

It doesn't feel like it, but Rui Hachimura has almost as much experience alongside LeBron James in Los Angeles as anyone on this list. Hachimura is fourth in total games played since LeBron became a Laker. Acquired during the 2023 NBA trade deadline, Hachimura played 228 games with the Lakers and proved to be worth the price the team paid.

All Hachimura did the moment he got to Los Angeles was score buckets. He was never the most dangerous man on the court but he was a consistent scorer in the teens, fitting perfectly into the role the Lakers needed. With his Lakers tenure officially closed, Hachimura can look back fondly on his 12.3 points per game on 41.5% three-point shooting.

Hachimura's most memorable moment as LeBron's teammate came at the end of James' historic 10-point streak. After 1,297 consecutive games with at least 10 points, LeBron passed on the opportunity for double figures late in the game so Hachimura could hit the game-winning shot.

7. Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma could have been so much higher on this list and if you look at the raw counting numbers, it may seem like he is ranked too low. However, anyone who watched Kuzma knows just how frustrating his inconsistency could be for the Lakers.

Before he was the most talked-about trade chip in Los Angeles, Kuzma was a productive, yet sometimes frustrating, role player for the Lakers. Kuzma didn't always quite know he was a role player and while that oftentimes got him in trouble, it sometimes worked in the Lakers' favor.

Kuzma was wholly fine in the Lakers' 2020 championship run and he was pretty woeful the following year in the NBA Playoffs. But he still had his moments, with his most memorable game arguably being his 19-point burst in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Of course, in poetic Kuzma fashion, the Lakers lost that game.

8. Rajon Rondo

The Lakers didn't get prime Rajon Rondo alongside LeBron James. In his place, they got a mythical creature that had to be seen to be believed: playoff Rondo.

Rondo's tenure with the Lakers was largely forgettable outside of the 2020 bubble. Inside the bubble, Rondo showcased the same kind of magic that play in the very same city. Rondo was legitimately the third-best player on the 2020 championship team and that fact should not be lost in history.

Rondo was third in VORP and third in Box Plus Minus in the 2020 playoffs only behind LeBron and Anthony Davis. He averaged 8.9 points, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.7 minutes per game. His 16-point, 10-assist game was massive for the Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, as was his 19-point effort in the series-clinching Game 6.

9. Malik Monk

Malik Monk's time with the Lakers didn't last long, but man, was he an enigma. After a forgettable tenure with the Charlotte Hornets to start his career, the Lakers took a chance on Monk and unlocked the potential the Hornets initially saw in him in the first place.

Monk was probably the best role-playing microwave scorer the Lakers had during LeBron's tenure. While his 13.6 points per game is impressive, it was the way points would balloon on certain nights that instantly made Monk a fan favorite.

Is there some leftover fan sentiment bleeding into this ranking? Perhaps. Maybe if he stayed past one season, he would have worn out his welcome, although that is unlikely given how well he played in Sacramento. But one thing is certain: Lakers fans loved Monk during his short time with the team, and that means something.

10. Dennis Schroder

There are quite a few players who could have funneled into this No. 10 spot and it really is an open debate. At the end of the day, though, the player who caused the least amount of frustrations (sorry Russell Westbrook and D'Angelo Russell) is the one who cracks the top 10.

Dennis Schroder knew his role while on the Lakers (across two stints) and mostly played that role to a tee. That's not to say that he didn't have frustrating moments, but he also didn't tank the team in the same way his point guard peers did.

More importantly, this is indicative of the bad job Rob Pelinka did in building up quality depth around LeBron throughout his tenure. With so many missed swings and roster turnover, someone like Dennis Schroder ends up cracking the top 10.

Now that the top-10 is sorted, let's rank the 103 other players who suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers during LeBron James' tenure.

Tier B - Impactful role players

11. D'Angelo Russell | 12. Jarred Vanderbilt | 13. Dwight Howard | 14. JaVale McGee

Some of these players came with frustrations, but for the most part, they were impactful role players who helped the Lakers win games during LeBron's tenure. Some are far more talented than others (D'Lo) while also being much more frustrating. Some were limited in what they did (JaVale McGee) but were more impactful in key moments.

It may seem absurd to have Howard and McGee this high on the list, but this isn't a straight-up talent ranking. As key members of the championship-winning team, which included slowing down Nikola Jokic in the Western Conference Finals, they get the bump.

Tier C - Russell Westbrook

15. Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is the most fascinating player on this entire list, so he earns his own tier entirely. It felt wrong to call him an impactful role player given how the fanbase still feels about him years later. But he's undoubtedly more talented than those who come behind him.

If Westbrook joined the Lakers as an MLE signing solely to come off the bench he would be viewed much differently and would rank higher on this list. But that's not what he was. He was an expensive asset the Lakers took a swing on that, quite literally, slammed the title window shut.

In terms of negative impact, you could legitimately rank Westbrook last on this entire list. But that's not the throughline of this ranking system.

Tier D - Fine role players

These players, whether their tenures were short or long, were serviceable role players alongside LeBron James. Pretty much everyone on this list had at least one positive moment with the Lake Show, although some were more frustrating to watch than others.

It gets forgotten about, but Markieff Morris tops this list because of how good he was in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. His overall numbers throughout his Lakers career aren't impressive, but his 42% three-point shooting on 3.3 attempts per game in the 2020 playoffs is.

Tier E - There's something to remember us by

All of these role players are memorable for one reason or another. Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball would have ranked higher with more time but were shipped off for AD. Christian Wood was supposed to be a big difference-maker and proved that he isn't a winning player. Patrick Beverley burned bridges and Svi Mykhailiuk was the sharpshooter the Lakers let slip between their fingers.

And of course, Bronny James is LeBron James' son. Is he a bit high? Probably. Nepotism, baby!

Tier F - Long enough for a second cup of coffee with the Lakers

These guys stuck around long enough to pour themselves a second cup of coffee with the Los Angeles Lakers. That's still half the amount of coffee it took to write this 3,000-plus-word article about all of LeBron's Lakers teammates, but I digress.

There are some pretty recognizable names in this tier, as well as some names you may have forgotten about. Some players, like Adou Thiero, are still with the team and may enjoy even more coffee. Time will tell.

Tier G - Wait, this guy played for the Lakers?

There are some memorable names on this list of players who all played 10 or fewer games with the Lakers. Isaiah Thomas is ironically the biggest name but he has to be considered the worst teammate LeBron had in LA. He made an inspiring return to the NBA and proved in 101 minutes played why he wasn't in a rotation to begin with.

Other notable inclusions in this tier include Slam Dunk Contest hero Mac McClung, who was once a G League hero for the Lakers, Scotty Pippen Jr, who blossomed in Memphis, and trade acquisition Mo Bamba.

Oh, and let's not forget about J.R. Smith, who turned in the group project with the 2020 Lakers to get a ring despite not doing anything.

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