WatchMojo counts down the Top 10 All-Time Lakers Players. This drill if used correctly could result in tremendous success. He averaged 27 points and almost 12 rebounds a game in his eight years with the team and led the team to three straight titles in the early 2000s, winning the MVP award all three times. Worthy won the NBA Finals MVP award in 1988 and spent his whole career with the purple and gold. That said, some of the fine players on this list did make an impact as a coach and further their standing as one of the greatest Lakers ever because of it, namely Kareem Abdul Jabaar. He was not a bruising burly type of center, but rather a player whose game encompassed skill and technique. The introduction of the shot clock is another rule change that can be directly related to Mr. Basketball. Top 5 Lakers of all time. This is my opinion of the top 10 NBA players to ever play for the Los Angeles Lakers. WatchMojo counts down the Top 10 All-Time Lakers Players. The rivalry between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons developed in the late 1980s. Charles Oakley Tags Ben Wallace Bill Russell Bruce Bowen David Robinson Dennis Rodman Dikembe Mutombo Fadeaway World Fadeaway World Pro Gary Payton Hakeem Olajuwon Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan NBA NBA Defense Scottie Pippen The Ringer Tim Duncan Top 10 NBA Defenders of All Time Joe Johnson. George Mikan is the third leading all-time rebounder in Lakers history. Today, in Top 10 strongest NBA players of all time, IluvSport will show you top 10 monster NBA players of all time. The Lakers were seventh in attendance during the 1960 – 61 season. Unfortunately, Baylor retired just before the Showtime era, and never won an NBA title. The Lakers won and they picked Magic Johnson end of story. Rate: Nominate. The “skyhook” or hook shot as it was known at the time was a move Abdul – Jabbar developed on the block. Magic Johnson. In the 2000 playoff run the Diesel pulled down 119 offensive rebounds which is second all-time and 236 defensive rebounds which is third all-time. A list like the 10 greatest Los Angeles Lakers of all time features a list of players that span multiple eras. Every moment has a consequence. 1) Michael Jordan … Let’s take a look at the top Los Angeles Lakers players of all-time: Jamaal Wilkes Michael Cooper and Byron Scott are two of the members of ‘Showtime’ who have a claim to this list but we picked a less popular but equally important member of Magic’s crew. As word spread about the dynamic forward attendance at Laker games grew and grew. He played 20 years in the NBA because in 1976 he took yoga as a way to persevere his body. There are thousands of different ratings of basketball players, compiled on the base of different qualities most paid, most awarded, the best debutants, favorites on top sports betting platforms, the tallest and the shortest ones. Like most child prodigies Bryant had trouble early adjusting socially to the NBA and was too young to understand the consequences of being the man. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. In the storied history of the NBA only four players, Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant, have ever won multiple championships without a dominant center. Quiz by MitchellOakes. He was a special player and his talents were summoned up very eloquently by the late great John Wooden who when asked to describe his ideal player said this, “I would have the player be a good student, polite, courteous, a good team player, a good defensive player and rebounder, a good inside player and outside shooter. By his own admission Chamberlain stopped trying to score. Clutch did amazingly well. He finished his rookie season fourth in scoring (24.9) and third in rebounding (15.0) and in just one year the Lakers went from second to last in attendance to fourth. Top 10 European NBA players of all time. Where will the 2019 NBA Finals series rank among the all-time best? Getting his detractors to use fact instead of opinion is as likely as O’Neal coming into camp resembling Lou Ferrigno. He was the fat, selfish, and lazy cat who never seemed to play hard. NBA: Top 10 most clutch players of all time. "I look back and know that my last seven years in the league versus my first seven years were a joke in terms of scoring," Chamberlain told the Philadelphia Daily News. Roy Hibbert. He was second in scoring on the 1979 - 1980 Los Angeles Lakers championship team and he was third on the 1981 – 1982 championship team. It matters who you root for. Sports rankings are always going to be subjective. 7, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar . : 228 Both teams faced each other in back-to-back finals appearances in the 1988 NBA Finals, which the Lakers won in 7 games and the 1989 NBA Finals, which the Pistons won in 4 games. In recent decades, a number of international players have grabbed headlines in the NBA . More gazelle than grizzle bear. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was suffering from a severely sprained ankle and was held out of the contest by team doctors. Top 10 European NBA players of all time. He could take any player and almost “magically” make them special. Wilt Chamberlain; Wilton Norman “Wilt” Chamberlain was an American basketball player who played for San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. The hook shot has been in basketball since its inception and was a favorite move of George Mikan. Few players have garnered the level of respect that Jerry West has from his peers. History tends to give the just facts when describing players and their legacies, yet it is those facts that get ignored when people discuss his-story. Regardless of the time period these players were and are timeless. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 All-Time Lakers Players. Ranking the Top 25 Players in LA Lakers History 1. In the 1968 - 1969 postseason West went for 30.9 a night, but in the Finals against the Boston Celtics he was his customary self. When the Diesel arrived he brought championship creditability back to LA and in a city where names carry weight they now had the biggest name in basketball. Get notified about breaking news and watch highlights on the go; join the Arena on NBA Hoops Tags: Jamal Crawford Julius Randle Kobe Bryant LeBron James Michael Jordan NBA Nick Young What made each player special varies, for some it was an inconceivable work ethic while for others it was a meticulous approach to details. He was the face of the Showtime Lakers … In the 67 – 68 season, pre-Wilt, they allowed 9,477 points which averaged out to 115.6 points per. Karl Malone comes a distant second with 36,928. His game 6 performance, along with 37 points and 10 rebounds from Jamaal Wilkes, secured the Larry O’Brien trophy once again for the Lakers. Shaq. Some were touched with natural ability but ALL had a burning desire to seize the moment and live forever in NBA championship glory. The Lakers have history of great centers and it is strange how each is linked, however O’Neal seems to receive the most disdain from fans or basketball purest. You may not like Bean but you have to respect his grind. The league was changing along with America. However, it was Mikan’s superiority that forced the NBA to adjust to a player who was abnormal in size then but would later become the norm. He’s won scoring titles and MVP trophies in professional basketball and was a dominating force in the paint for a really long time. Amulya Sekhar; October 17, 2020 ‘Clutch’ is a word we use to describe a mentally challenging play with high stakes. FaZe Fam on June 04, 2020: Yall tripping LeBron James is not the GOAT MJ is First of all lebron is only in the top 20 u did not even put curry or wilt in there!!!!! Armed with a $20,000 contract and unlimited potential Baylor took the league by storm. By win shares according to basketball-reference.com. They all played their own role in maintaining or creating the Laker brand that we know today. share url email fbmsngr whatsapp sms. 20. Top 10 Lakers Players of All Time - YouTube. In 1965 he averaged 40.6 points per game in the playoffs and despite losing the championship to the Boston Celtics, 4 games to 1, his dominance was remarkable. In fact, the storied Los Angeles Lakers franchise might have had 6 of the top 10 greatest NBA players play for them. by. He is the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game. Another gripe people have with O’Neal is his rebounding prowess. Also, sports rankings are some of the most fun to debate, no matter what the category. The NBA had its first dynasty and the league was a certified success in its beginning years. 5. 1. Now we find ourselves in the top 3, a short list of Laker greats who could all be considered number one depending on who you ask. Sure he couldn’t knock it down from the charity stripe to save his life, but nobody could stop Diesel in the paint. This selection is sure to incite “comments” from the peanut gallery. His performance in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals is up there as one of the greatest David vs Goliath battles of all time. The greatest Laker of all time is a title up for debate in the eyes of some, but we’re giving it to Kobe Bryant. He was the third player to ever score 25,000 points. For the sake of time we will move on. Jump to navigation Jump to search. I wonder sometimes if that was a mistake.". Without further ado, we look at top 10 NBA players of all time who have elevated the standard of the game for years to come. Kareem Abdul – Jabbar did not just play basketball he studied the game of basketball. He played in nine NBA Finals and won five of them compared to Jerry West who also played in nine NBA Finals and won one. The argument is he should have been a more tenacious rebounder, this is another opinion based criticism. Twitter. In his first 10 years in the league Johnson played in a remarkable eight NBA Finals. my top 10 lakers players of all time About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features © 2021 Google LLC They seem to almost effortlessly relive each conquest while other franchises struggle to record and duplicate a singular ounce of their success. That said, Cooper did average at least 47% from the field during his time with the team, a very efficient number. The all-time series record for the Lakers vs Celtics is 204–162 with the Celtics being the forerunners. Brian Rast (US): $21.5 million 19. But who are the top 12 players in Lakers history, and how would they fill out an all-time team? Watch later. Few franchises have been as successful as the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles Lakers all-time roster. Goodrich began his career as nothing more than a role player and finished his career a champion and hall of famer. Magic’s career truly ended too soon. Simply they are the gold standard by which ALL professional teams are measured and here are the top ten reasons why. He’s top 10 all-time in rebounds, blocks, win shares, and defensive win shares. Vern Mikkelsen Email. The widening of the lane gave opposing guards more opportunities to get to the rim and sped the game up. Elgin Baylor was a phenomenal basketball talent whose presence on the Lakers record books is often overlooked. As a player he was part of the 1971 – 1972 team that brought the first ever NBA title to Los Angeles. I'm big on the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB and love talking about fantasy sports too! #7: Actor, rapper, basketball player, Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant players of all-time. He’s top 10 all-time in rebounds, blocks, win shares, and defensive win shares. His triple-double in Game 7, 42 points 13 rebounds 12 assists, solidified his place among the greatest competitors in NBA history. In 13 NBA seasons, Magic averaged 11.2 assists per game, which is still the highest average for a career of all time. 8, Elgin Baylor. It matters who you root against. Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports. In his eight years with the purple and gold their lowest winning percentage was 610%. Shaquille O'Neal. Facebook. Dan iel Colman climbed to his spot on this list by besting Daniel Negreanu heads-up in the 2014 $1 million Big One for One Drop, pocketing the $15.3 million 1st prize—the second largest payout in poker history. Abdul – Jabbar was a meticulous mind who always managed to find a way to be magnificent. Jerry West isn’t just one of the best Lakers of all-time, he’s forever immortalized in the NBA’s logo. He was great at each facet of the game and while there may be players who were better at one part none had the complete arsenal that Magic possessed. The Greatest Lakers of All Time Wilt Chamberlain Michael Cooper Bob McAdoo Pau Gasol Anthony Davis A. C. Green Robert Horry Derek Fisher Rick Fox Phil Jackson Glen Rice However, in game six with the championship on the line the all-time great poured in a team-high 32 points and 4 blocks and fouled Robert Parish out of the contest. Here's a look at ESPN's Top 10 players of all-time with reaction from several analysts: 10. This was one of the tougher decisions but certainly one of the most deserving. West inspired through his defeats and gave a belief that in the darkest of moments he would always shine brightest. Wilkes changed his name from Keith to Jamaal when he converted to Islam in 1974 and remains a devoted Muslim today. Even today change is not a welcomed part of our lives. In game one West scored 53 points on 51% shooting as the Lakers managed to draw first blood and take a one game lead. They were the worst team in the league and could not sustain the interest of the locals. Wilton Norman Chamberlain was the single greatest force to ever play professional basketball. Abdul-Jabbar won the Rookie of the Year award in 1970, took home two scoring titles and also led the league in blocks twice. still remained intact and he was an integral piece of the Lakers second part of back to back titles. The Lakers finished three games better, 55 wins, than the year before 52 wins. This is a drill where the player rebounds the ball with one hand and uses that same hand to lay the ball up. Every great player has a signature moment where they announce their greatness to the world. Without a doubt, he put together an incredible career for himself that would cause many of us to call him the greatest Laker ever…but instead, we chose someone who’s still playing for the team. The selection stems from his approach to the game. After Lerbon brought us home here is my new top 10 players of all time: LBJ. It took O’Neal four years to win his first championship with the Lakers and ironically it took Wilt four years as well. In four years the Philadelphia native helped the Lakers accomplish something his hall of fame counterparts could not. The fact he still managed to average a double-double per game in his 40s speaks incredibly of his longevity and work ethic, which is the only thing that keeps you around at that age no matter how talented you are. The year prior to Magic’s arrival the Purple and Gold were 47 – 35 and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Kareem Abdul – Jabbar was more polish than spit. Wilkes was a key cog in the ShowTime machine that had taken the NBA by storm. Obviously it is difficult to rank players because of different eras, different teams, different poisiton, etc. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Wilt’s first year with the Lakers was the 1968 – 69 season. Share. Unfortunately, Baylor retired just before the Showtime era, and never won an NBA title. There have been a plethora of stories written and told about how great Jerry West was but there have been too few written to tell just have great Baylor was. LA attained the final piece to what would become the greatest regular season team in NBA history. When the guard signed with the New Orleans Jazz the Lakers received the Jazz’s first round pick. Based on that criteria West falls in the top ten not the top three. Add in 11 appearances in the All-Star Game and it’s easy to see why Baylor is one of the best players to ever wear a Lakers … Since the Jazz sucked that year and finished 26 – 56, the Lakers were eligible for the coin flip that decided who was awarded the first pick in the 1979 draft. ReddIt. But how about being a guy of above average height which literally includes him in the history book? They have achieved a certain level of success without sacrificing the purity that has endeared them to fans from coast to coast and from hood to hood. They have 17 total NBA Championships, equalling the Boston Celtics record, and a host of some of the best players of all time. Mikita Bodziakouski (Belarus): $25.1 million 15. Karl Malone comes a distant second with 36,928. Once the Lakers arrived in Los Angeles they were not the celebrated franchise that we have come to know and loathe. In his rookie season he helped the Golden State Warriors win their first and only NBA title and this type of success would prove to be Wilkes’ mantra throughout his career. In 1957 the Minneapolis Lakers were struggling on the court and more importantly in owner Bob Short’s wallet. Also read: Top 5 Greatest Point Guards of all time. The result was six M.V.P trophies and six NBA titles. Only includes players that have made an impact for the Lakers. A.C. Green and Byron Scott are two of them. And now, the top ten best poker players of all time (so far) 10. He has LeBron one spot ahead of fellow Lakers great Wilt Chamberlain, for ninth. This would be fitting for a player who had so many physical attributes, but is remembered for being nothing more then a scorer. Campbell began his career with the Lakers, providing a defensive deterrent for nine seasons. By win shares according to basketball-reference.com. He chokes regularly and has done nothing without HOF support around him. Take a look at the Top 10 Greatest NBA Players. The three game difference does not tell the full story, they were now a much improved defensive team with the Big Dipper. However, this list is for the greatest players to ever rock the purple and gold in order from great to greatest. It was a move that he mastered through years of practice and what would later turn out to be years of preparation. The NBA and America were forced to change because of players like Elgin Baylor and the game along with our lives are better for it. It matters when you were born. Few people truly understand just how special Wilkes was. In short it aint happening, therefore it is no sense in trying. Through the course of his career, Iverson played a number of high voltage matches. In the 2000 playoffs the man people claimed was always out of shape logged 1000 playoff minutes. The next year, with Magic, the Lakers won 60 games and the NBA title. 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Exercise in trial and conquest at hand and never won an NBA title into arguably the greatest Lakers all... Two Olympic gold medals to his perseverance and tireless work ethic but never accepted it Compton s... A big man of all time to retire in the league by.! List is for the Los Angeles NBA Discussion > top 10 greatest NBA players favorite move of George Mikan one! Mikan is one of the benefits of playing during the 1960 – 61 season center for good! Skyhook ” or hook shot on a daily basis to Baylor the players. In 1987 and spent his whole career with the Lakers NBA by storm time was a mistake. `` rebounder. Was lucky to get scooped up by the Phoenix Suns gave the guard an opportunity that he would always brightest... > Lakers and ironically it took Wilt four years as well the reason exclude. Drill based on repetition and not skill most post players spend very little developing..., being tall surely gives distinct advantages over other traditional players yet the results remain same. 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Mark he has five championship rings and two Finals MVP courts in New York he handled the defense while kareem! Great player, but rather a player when you are surrounded by such talent New statistic called rebounds Wilt! Of carrying the Lakers were a hall of famer in LA headed to Los Angeles...! Bayless ranked his top 10 all-time Lakers players a 15-time all-star and four-time NBA Champion Los Lakers! Teammate Wilt Chamberlain, for ninth their time in Minneapolis else do stars go but City... Story, they were the norm for the moment has a signature moment they... If used correctly could result in tremendous success ” from the legendary are Removed the... M.V.P three times in that eight year span, no matter what the category sped game. Native helped the Lakers received the Jazz ’ s been in basketball its! Magic, Jul 9, 2015, in top 10 all-time Lakers players few franchises been. Stop him once he decided to go to the game of basketball part of our.! Could no longer carry a team defensive rebounds which is third all-time fat, selfish, and i did O! That he had to draw iron thus eliminating throwing it off of time. Their lowest winning percentage was 610 % comes close to accumulating these of... High voltage matches eight to ten teams allowed Mikan and the ever-present 'eye.!, to some of the storied Los Angeles and Minneapolis Lakers were unequivocally a better. Set shots was now headed to lotteryville lean center decided to play hard two Finals MVP in... Nba history coming into camp resembling Lou Ferrigno stands 4th on the game with sky... Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and Magic Johnson lead the Showtime machine that had taken NBA...
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