Best players in Los Angeles Lakers history
From Kobe Bryant to Magic Johnson, from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Jerry West – know all about the best players in the Lakers history.
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Best players in LA Lakers history
With 17 Championships titles up their trophy cabinet, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful franchises in the NBA. Throughout their rich and glorious history, legends of the sport have donned the gold and purple, dazzling the NBA courts. Today we take a look at the best players in the LA Lakers history, in terms of their individual brilliance and team accomplishments.
From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Wilt Chamberlain, the Lakers have had some of the greatest players in history play for the franchise. All-time greats like LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal have played for the team, while franchise legends like Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson have spent the entirety of their career in purple and gold.
Also Read: Los Angeles Lakers Retired Jersey Numbers: How Many Lakers Jersey are Retired?
Best Players in LA Lakers History
1. Magic Johnson
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson is arguably the greatest player in the Los Angeles Lakers franchise history. The frontman of the Showtime Era Lakers, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, was an utter spectacle to watch on the court. Johnson led the Lakers to a glittering five NBA Championships during his 13 seasons in the league.
A 12-time all-star, Johnson was a beloved persona on and off the courts. He was named Finals MVP in three of the five Championships he won for the franchise and is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards to have ever graced the game.
It is almost incredible that Johnson led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals during the 13 years he played in the league. Magic dazzled the courts from his very first season in the NBA and won Rookie of the Year in 1980. He played for the franchise from 1979 to 1991, and was named regular season MVP thrice. Unfortunately for Earvin, he announced his retirement after contracting HIV in 1991.
Johnson would then return for the 1992 all-star game and later for a short stint with the Lakers in 1996. He has 10 NBA championships beside his name, five as a player and five as a minority owner of the franchise. To date, Magic Johnson remains one of the best players in the history of the LA Lakers.
2. Kobe Bryant
One of the most beloved legends in franchise history, Kobe Bryant, spent the entirety of his professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Black Mamba, as he was widely known, played for 20 seasons with the franchise from 1996 to 2016.
His illustration career saw him win five NBA championships, two Finals MVP and one regular season MVP. An 18-time all-star, Bryant was one of the best individual players in the history of the Lakers. He paired up with Shaquille O’Neal to lead the Lakers to three NBA Championships – 2000, 2001 and 2002 – and later with Pau Gasol, leading the franchise to two more championship titles in 2009 and 2010.
Bryant scored 33,643 points for the Lakers, the highest in their franchise history, and ranks fourth in the NBA all-time scoring chart, ahead of Michael Jordan. Kobe retired in 2016, putting an end to his 20-year long professional career with the Lakers. In a tragic helicopter crash in 2020, the NBA legend left for the eternal with his nine-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s iconic NBA career saw him rake up a record that would go on to stand for about four decades. Abdul-Jabbar scored 38,387 points during his career, and installed himself the highest scorer in the NBA all-time scoring charts until LeBron James finally outscored him earlier in 2023.
Out of the 20 seasons he played in the NBA, Abdul-Jabbar donned the purple and gold from 1975 to 1989. He won five Championships with the franchise, and one earlier with the Milwaukee Bucks. One of the most prolific scorers the league had ever seen, Abdul-Jabbar won the regular season MVP for a record six times.
He was also named Finals MVP in 1971, and with the Lakers in 1985. A 19-time all-star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired in 1989 from the NBA.
4. Shaquille O’Neal
A beloved NBA legend and one of the greatest Centers of all-time, Shaquille O’Neal spent a glorious part of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. During his time with the franchise from 1996 to 2004, Shaq won three Championships – all three as Finals MVP.
He won the regular season MVP in 2000, the same year he won the Championship and Finals MVP, becoming the first-ever player to have achieved the feat. Later, Shaq would go on to play for the Heat, where he won another ring. After playing one season each with the Suns, Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, Shaquille O’Neal retired in 2011.
5. Jerry West
West spent the entirety of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, which sprawled across 14 seasons in the league from 1960-1974. Widely regarded as one of the greatest guards in Lakers history, Jerry West was known as ‘Mr. Clutch’ for his game-deciding performances.
West led the LA Lakers to nine NBA Finals during his career. Unfortunately for him and his team, they only managed to win one Championship in 1972. He won the Finals MVP in 1969, and remains the only player to have won the award despite losing the title. Unbeknownst to many, it was Jerry West’s silhouette that originally inspired the NBA logo in 1969.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)