The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most storied franchises in not only the NBA but all of sports, have had several Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers don the purple and gold. This is a list of the best players to ever play for the team — not the greatest Lakers of all time.
Where does Kobe Bryant fit in on the list?
Let’s count ’em down and find out.
20. Jamaal Wilkes
The Hall of Famer won two titles during his eight years with the Lakers and won another one with the Warriors in his first NBA season, when he was named Rookie of the Year.
19. Gail Goodrich
Goodrich spent a total of nine seasons with the Lakers and was a key part of the 1971-72 title team that won an NBA-record 33 games in a row during the regular season. Teammate Jerry West often overshadowed the five-time All-Star, but he’s a Hall of Famer and had his number retired by Lakers.
18. Dennis Rodman
Rodman, a Hall of Famer, had a brief stint with the lakers in the second-to-last year of his career, playing in just 23 games in the 1998-99 season. He averaged two points and 11 rebounds during that time with the Lakers. Rodman, of course, had his best years with the Pistons and Bulls, winning five NBA titles and being a force on the boards and on the defensive end of the floor.
17. James Worthy
The Hall of Famer spent all 12 years of his career with the Lakers, winning three titles as a key member of the “Showtime” Lakers. You could often find him finishing off a fast break with a one-handed jam thanks to a perfect pass by Magic Johnson. Worthy was a seven-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, and was the MVP of the 1987-88 NBA Finals.
16. Bob McAdoo
McAdoo was a five-time All-Star who led the league in scoring three different years. He spent just four seasons with the Lakers but won two titles during that time. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1973 and won the NBA MVP award in 1975.
15. Dwight Howard
Howard only spent a year with the Lakers, as he never really clicked with Kobe Bryant, before coming back this season for another run at a ring. He’s an eight-time All-Star and All-NBA, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, and has led the league in rebounds five times and blocks two times.
14. Gary Payton
Payton spent just one year with the Lakers and played on a stacked team that was supposed to win the NBA title but then lost to the Pistons in five games in the Finals. The Hall of Famer was a nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defensive, and won a title with the Miami Heat.
13. Anthony Davis
Davis is a seven-time All-Star in his eight seasons and won the All-Star game MVP in 2017. He’s a force on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, leading the league three times in blocked shots. When all is said and done, he could shoot up this list.
12. Steve Nash
Steve Nash joined the Lakers at the end of his career, hoping he could win an NBA title before calling it quits. But that never happened as injuries limited him to 50 games in his first season and 15 in his second and final season in the league. The Hall of Famer won two NBA MVP awards, was an eight-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, and led the league in assists five times.
11. George Mikan
The Hall of Famer spent his entire career with the Minneapolis Lakers and changed the way big men played the game. He was a five-time champion, led the league in scoring three times, and was named MVP once.
1o. Pau Gasol
Gasol spent seven years with the Lakers during his prime and won two titles during his time as Kobe Bryant’s righthand man. He’s a six-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA, and was the Rookie of the Year in 2002.
9. Elgin Baylor
Baylor spent all 14 years of his Hall of Fame career with the Lakers and was named an All-Star 11 of those years. He was named MVP of the All-Star game in his rookie year and went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award a few months later.
8. Jerry West
“The Logo” spent all 14 years of his career with the Lakers and was an All-Star every year. He won one title, was All-NBA 12 times, and was named MVP of the 1969 Finals even though the Lakers lost. West, of course, is a Hall of Famer.
7. Karl Malone
“The Mailman” spent the final year of his career with a Lakers team that was upset by Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals. Malone, who is the second-leading scorer in NBA history, won two MVP awards, was an All-Star 14 times and was an All-NBA selection 14 times.
6. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaq joined the Lakers in the prime of his career, and boy did he deliver, winning three straight titles during his eight-year run in L.A. He later added another championship with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Shaq, who was one of the most dominant centers of all time, led the league in scoring two times, was a 15-time All-Star, and won the NBA MVP award in 1999-2000.
5. Magic Johnson
Magic was the face of the Lakers and the NBA during much of the 1980s when he won five NBA titles and led the “Showtime” teams in legendary showdowns with Larry Bird and the Celtics. The Hall of Famer was a three-time NBA MVP and is regarded as one of the best point guards ever to play the game.
4. Wilt Chamberlain
Chamberlain spent the final five years of his legendary career with the Lakers, where he won a title in 1973. The Hall of Famer led the league in scoring seven times, was named NBA MVP four times, and was top rebounder 13 times.
3. Kobe Bryant
Kobe spent all 20 years of his legendary career with the Lakers, won five championships, and is the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history. One of the fiercest competitors to play the game, Kobe could do it all. His legend in Lakers Nation will live on forever.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer was an All-Star in 19 of the 20 years of his career. He won six NBA titles, including five with the Lakers, and was named NBA MVP six times. His patented skyhook was virtually unstoppable, and it helped him lead the league in scoring two times.
1. LeBron James
LeBron hasn’t won a title with the Lakers yet, but he’s probably the best player they’ve ever had and perhaps the best player ever to play the game. He had been to eight straight NBA Finals, winning three times, and has been the face of the NBA since making the jump straight from high school in 2003. The four-time NBA MVP has three NBA Finals MVP awards and has been an All-Star in all but one season (his rookie year) that he’s played.
