The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most incredible franchises in the history of the NBA. The Lakers have won 17 NBA championships so far, so arguably this is one of the greatest teams in the league. Over the years, the team has had many fantastic players who always gave their best and led the Lakers to the title. Let’s have a look at the 10 greatest and best players in the history of the LA Lakers franchise.
10. James Worthy
James Worthy spent his entire NBA career playing for the Lakers and created a great legacy. He always used to come through when it mattered the most. Worthy averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is still in the top 10 in total points, assists and steals in franchise history. Big Game won three championships in a four-year period.
9. George Mikan
George Mikan is a legendary player who ruled in the NBA in the 1950s and stood several steps above the rest. He spent seven years with the Minneapolis Lakers and averaged 23.1 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Mr. Basketball won five NBA rings with the Lakers, including a three-peat. His legacy will never be forgotten and will always inspire the youth.
8. LeBron James
LeBron James has been playing for the Lakers since 2018 and his performance has been so amazing that he can already be considered one of the best players in the team’s history. James led the Lakers to the title in the 2019–20 season. Even in the current season, King James has been giving great performances and even scored 35+ points in his last two games. Being a 38-year-old player, James shows no signs of dulling and continues his tremendous form.
7. Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1958 Draft and was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers. He spent his whole NBA career with the Lakers and recorded 26 triple-doubles, something that was not common at the time. “Rabbit” was way ahead of his time and averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. It might be surprising to know, but he didn’t win any championships due to unfortunate luck.
6. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is a legend who has many records under his name. His best years in the NBA were with the San Francisco Warriors, but his stint with the Lakers was also a memorable one. The Big Dipper averaged 17.7 points and 19.2 rebounds per game in his five seasons with the Lakers. He was instrumental in the championship win in the 1971–72 season. Wilt recorded 24 points and 29 rebounds to lead a 114-100 title win over the New York Knicks.
5. Jerry West
Jerry West was the second overall pick by the Lakers in the 1960 NBA Draft. He spent 14 years with the franchise and won the championship ring in the 1971–72 season. He formed a great duo with Baylor and led the team to many victories. Mr. Clutch always stepped up in the big moments and in fact, he is the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP on a losing team.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is another legendary player in the history of the Lakers franchise. He played 13 seasons with the Lakers and earned a 70.1 Value Over Replacement Player rating. “Lew” ranks first in team history in blocks, second in rebounds and third in points. In fact, he was the hero in the five title triumphs of the Lakers that defined his legacy more and made the Lakers the greatest franchise.
3. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal played eight seasons with the Lakers and scored 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. He had a Value Over Replacement Player Rating of 44.2. Shaq won three consecutive championships with the Lakers and the best part is that he was the Finals MVP all three times. He was arguably the most impactful player of all time.
2. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson was such a great asset for the Lakers because he could do everything. He could score, grab rebounds, steal and assist, this is the reason he recorded 138 triple-doubles in his career. Johnson is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists per game and Lakers’ all-time leader in total assists. He won five championship rings with the Lakers and was the face of the team during his prime run.
1. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is without a doubt the best player in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers. He has the highest Value Over Replacement Rating in franchise history, which means he has contributed the most to the team. The Black Mamba won five titles, was a two-time Finals MVP, a two-time scoring champion, a 15-time All-NBA, and 12-time All-Defensive. He is the player with the most points and steals in Lakers history.
