Ranking of the 25 best players in the history of LA Lakers (2023)

olos angeles lakersthey are one of the biggest franchises in all of sports.

Twenty-one Hall of Famers have donned the purple and gold, and that's a number that will continue to rise for years to come. Los Angeles isn't just home to some of the game's greatest legends. won 16 championships.

The following list includes some of these Hall of Famers, as well as others who will surely be exalted to basketball immortality if they give up their kicks.

I did not rate these players as the best to ever play in Los Angeles. I chose this list based on what they brought to the Lakers.

Each player must have played at least three seasons in LA to be eligible. Also, all stats are used aboveBaloncesto-Referencia.comUnless otherwise noted, they are from the time the player was with the Lakers.

(To use: Players who were with the Minneapolis Lakers were also there.)

For example,steve usHe is an all-time great point guard. ranks fourthNBACareer history, he has two MVP awards and eight All-Star Game appearances. However, he is just entering his second season in Los Angeles, so he does not qualify for this list.

The rankings emphasize championships (and the player's role in achieving those rings), MVP and other individual awards, franchise records, personal statistics with the Lakers and special talents that brought them to Los Angeles.

Of course, some of the greatest players of all time top the list:Wilt Chamberlain,Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,magical johnson,Kobe BryantmiShaquille O'Nealbe the most notable.

Who is the greatest of them all? Well, that depends on how you define it. There is no statistic that makes one of these legends far superior to the other - they all deserve recognition for their tremendous performances in purple and gold.

But according to my analysis, a Laker is a little bigger than the others.

This is a list detailing those who have played for the Lakers, but Phil Jackson deserves credit.

Jackson is one of the best coaches in NBA history. He was responsible for 118 playoff wins and five championships with LA, averaging a career high of 1,155-485.

As of this point, the "Zen Master" is the only recognized non-player.

Let the Lakers games begin.

Robert Horry spent seven years as a Laker, winning three straight championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Horry's Game-Changing Shot: He hit one big shot after another in each of those championship series (see one of the big ones from the 2002 season).Herein 1:55), and reliable production off the bench was a key factor in these championship runs.

During his time in Los Angeles, "Big-Shot Bob" averaged around seven points and five rebounds per game.

Clyde Lovellette spent four seasons with the Minneapolis Lakers.

He was part of the 1954 championship team back then and averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game. Lovellette was one of the first large and skilled centers to become synonymous with Lakers basketball.

Bob McAdoo was a monster. In his best-of-four season in Los Angeles, he averaged about 25 points and eight rebounds a night (every 36 minutes).

He was the ideal player for a team that included Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabar. Although a former star ofThe New York Knicksand the Buffalo Braves, McAdoo is a perfect match for the "Showtime" Lakers.

McAdoo helped anchor two championship teams, one in 1982 and one in 1985.

Aside from spelling his name cooler than most, Mychal Thompson has brought a lot to the Lakers.

He won back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988, putting up around nine points per game. In addition to his accomplishments on the court, Thompson is also the father of one of the best young point guards in the NBA, Klay Thompson.

Rick Fox spent the second half of his career as a Laker (he spent the first half as a Boston Celtic).

During his seven years with Purple and Gold, Fox averaged 12 points and played a key role in Kobe and Shaq's three-goal title run.

Fox's most famous highlight was probably the pitch fight with Doug Christie going into the tunnel (seeHere), but he was an invaluable player for LA and should be remembered for his contributions on the field.

Vern Mikkelsen was a member of the Minneapolis Lakers for 10 seasons.

He was a big, brash guy and still holds the league record for most pitches with 127. His intensity and passion for the game was also reflected in his defensive style.

During his stint with the Lakers, the forward averaged 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds. Mikkelsen was also a key factor in four title races, three of them in a row.

Pau Gasol changed the course of the history of the Lakers.

The team stole it in a trade with theGrizzlies de memphisand saw an immediate return on their investment. Gasol helped lift the team out of mediocrity, winning two championships along the way.Kobe Bryant2009 y 2010.

Gasol averages around 17 points and 10 rebounds per game as a Laker and will seek another title with the 'Black Mamba' before retiring.

Norm Nixon was an important part of two championships as a Laker.

The Guardian ranks fourth in Los Angeles history in assists and second behind Magic Johnson in assists per game.

Although Nixon is not a member of the Hall of Fame, he could be a good argument to earn that right. He never averaged less than six assists per game throughout his career, despite playing on a team dominated by Johnson.

Kobe Bryant has never won a title without Derek Fisher.

One of the most powerful cold-blooded marksmen of all time (see video above), Fisher has excelled throughout his career.

The fierce point guard ranks second in 3-point shooting and fifth in games played in franchise history, behind Mamba. He spent 12 years as a Laker and won five championships on offense.

Gail Goodrich ranks eighth in assists, ninth in free throws and eighth in points in franchise history.

Goodrich was a silky lefty that would suit Magic Johnson's Lakers (every quick break turned into a highlight), but he helped set the standard for today's flashy modern game.

The point guard known as "Stumpy" won a title with the Lakers in 1972.

The best player, Lamar Odom, won two titles with L.A. in 2009 and 2010.

In addition to ranking in the top 10 in the franchise's offensive and defensive rebounding categories, Odom won the 2011 Sixth Man of the Year award.

He added around 15 points per game during his time in Los Angeles.

Jamaal Wilkes has 16 points and five rebounds in nine seasons with the Lakers.

Wilkes was tall, athletic, and agile on the ball. He thrived playing alongside Magic Johnson, running down the court like a gazelle and finishing delicately on the edge.

The forward, nicknamed "Silk," won two titles with Los Angeles and is the franchise's 10th leading scorer.

Harold "Happy" Hairston was many things to the Lakers.

First of all, he had an amazing nickname. Second, he was part of what many consider one of the greatest teams of all time, the 1972 Lakers, who set the NBA record for consecutive games won. During his career, Hairston averaged 16 points per game in six seasons with LA.

A flying big man, Hairston holds the NBA record for most defensive rebounds in a quarter (13).

A machine on the boards, AC Green led LA in six rebounds in his eight years with the team.

The center has won three championships as a Laker and ranks in the top 10 in offense, defense and total rebounds in franchise history.

In his heyday, Green put up solid numbers: In 1994, he averaged 15 points and nine boards.

During 10 seasons in Los Angeles, Byron Scott averaged around 15 points per game and won three championships as part of Magic Johnson's "Showtime" Lakers.

Scott ranks eighth in Lakers history with 5,126 field goals and fourth in steals.

Scott has been a coach in the NBA for 13 years, but what he brought to Los Angeles as a player cannot be forgotten.

During 12 years in Los Angeles, Michael Cooper won five titles with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Cooper was a blocking quarterback (he was named to the first-team defense team five times) and an efficient shooter (47 percent from the field during his career). He was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1987.

George Mikan was a member of the Minneapolis Lakers throughout his career. He averaged 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds and won five championships during his NBA tenure.

Mikan used the grappling hook before he became famous and did it as well as anyone in the history of the game. Perhaps the most important and impressive honor of his career is being one of the first players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Mikan ranks third in franchise history in rebounds per game, behind Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.

James Worthy played a significant role in three title runs in Los Angeles.

The 1982 first pick ranks third in franchise history in steals, sixth in points and seventh in field goal percentage.

"Big Game James" averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 boards and three assists during his purple and gold career.

Elgin Baylor spent his entire Lakers career racking up the most rebounds and fourth-most points in franchise history.

Baylor was extremely athletic (watch him sink into Bill RussellHere) and was an efficient scorer near the basket.

He never won a championship, but he averaged 27.4 points per game, which is the best average in Lakers history, and 13.5 rebounds in 14 seasons.

Jerry West is a Lakers icon.

RespectivelyNBA.com, West became the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points. West won his only title in 1972 and finished his 14-year career in Los Angeles with 27 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.

West trails Kobe Bryant as the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history.

Shaquille O'Neal was unstoppable.

The “Big Diesel” won three championships in LA with Kobe Bryant and was named MVP in all three title races. Additionally, O'Neal ranks second in franchise history in points (27), rebounds (11.8) and blocks (2.5) per game.

He spent eight seasons in Los Angeles and dominated the league in a way unmatched by any great man since leaving the Lakers.

"Wilt the Stilt" Chamberlain has won only one championship in Los Angeles, but he leads the franchise in rebounds per game (19.2) and field goal percentage (60.5 percent).

Chamberlain won four MVP awards and was the 1971 NBA Finals MVP, though none of the regular season MVPs came with the Lakers. However, the 'Big Dipper' averaged 30.1 points throughout his professional career.

There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest players of all time. And even if it wasn't for the Lakers, Chamberlain's 100-point game needs to show some love here.

Unreal Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Don't do it.

During his 14 seasons in Los Angeles, he had around 22 points and won five titles with Magic Johnson. He ranks first in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and blocks and second in games played and minutes played. Abdul-Jabbar is also the franchise's third leading scorer.

He helped pave the way for the Lakers to become the dynasty that they are and he revolutionized the game in terms of consequences.

Magic Johnson is the second best Laker of all time.

He has been to 12 All-Star Games, has three MVP trophies, three NBA Finals MVP awards, and five titles. His 11.2 assists per game over his 13-year career is the most in NBA history.

He holds the franchise record for total assists and assists per game and is fifth in points scored.

AndKenny Smith de TNTnoted that Johnson was the most dynamic Laker of all time. He brought such diverse skills and made each of his teammates better.

But for all of Magic's size and accolades, it's not number 1.

Kobe Bryant is the best Laker of all time.

Mamba won five championships in Los Angeles, racking up some hardware along the way. He was the league's most valuable player in 2008, MVP of the NBA Finals in 2009 and 2010, accumulated 15 All-Star games and is the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

Bryant holds the franchise records for field goals, 3-pointers, points, games and minutes played, steals and free throws.

was recognized byJerry Westen,Shaquille O'Nealit is includedmagical johnson- Black Mamba is the tallest Los Angeles Laker of all time.