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The Lakers are one of the most historic franchises in all professional sports.
They have had a lot of talented basketball players wear a Lakers jersey, which makes it hard to name the top seven players in the history of their franchise.
However, the top seven players in Lakers franchise history are as follows in no particular order:
1. Jerry West
Jerry West has been the silhouette for the NBA logo for as long as anyone can remember. Not only is he one of the best players in the history of the league, but he is one of the best Lakers of all time.
Jerry West played 14 seasons for the Lakers. In those 14 seasons, he averaged 27 points per game 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. He also won an NBA Championship with the Lakers in 1972.
There were plenty of players worthy of this spot, but Jerry West gets the nod at number seven.
2. James Worthy
James Worthy is another all-time great for the Lakers. His athleticism stood out when he was on the floor in a Lakers uniform, and his athleticism led him to perform many highlight dunks.
James Worthy played 12 seasons with the Lakers and in those 12 seasons, he won three NBA Championships. He averaged just under 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. The signature James Worthy glasses will never be forgotten in Los Angeles.
3. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal must be on this list. Shaq was one of the most dominant big men in the history of the NBA. His size and athleticism made him nearly impossible to guard, and it made it very difficult for opponents to score in the paint.
Shaq won three NBA Championships alongside another player that is later on this list. He is one-half of the greatest duo in Lakers’ history, which helped him get to number five on this list.
There are always a lot of Lakers rumors, but unfortunately, rumors may have led Shaq to part ways with the Lakers. If he had stayed on the Lakers, we may have seen the Lakers dominate the 2000s even more than they already did.
4. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain comes in at number four. Wilt is the most dominant big man in Lakers’ history averaging a shade over 30 points per game. Wilt shot over 50% from the floor and he was dominant on the glass. Wilt averaged well over 20 rebounds a game, which means he averaged a double-double every game.
Wilt only played five seasons with the Lakers, but he was able to win an NBA Championship for the franchise in 1972. Wilt has the shortest tenure as a Laker on this list, but his dominance must be noticed.
5. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson was a one-of-a-kind player when he was playing in the NBA. Traditionally, point guards are smaller/quicker individuals that can pass well and score if needed. Magic Johnson is 6’9″ and he is one of the best point guards to ever play basketball.
He presented a challenge to his opponents, and he averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. Magic was forced to retire due to health concerns, but he was still able to play 14 seasons and win five NBA Championships.
6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the NBA. To be the best scorer in a game that prioritizes scoring the ball, you must be one of the best to ever play the game.
Kareem played 14 seasons for the Lakers and was able to win 5 NBA Championships for the franchise. Kareem is a very close second to the number one player on this list, and most would agree with that statement.
7. Kobe Bryant
Kobe is undoubtedly the best Laker of all time. Kobe was a Laker his entire career and is arguably the best basketball player of all time. Kobe played 20 seasons in the purple and gold, and over the course of those 20 seasons, he averaged 25 points per game.
In addition to the 25 points per game, Kobe averaged just over 5 rebounds a game and just under 5 assists a game. Kobe is known to have a killer mentality and is often referred to as the “Black Mamba”.
Kobe’s recent passing was incredibly tragic, but even though he is gone his legacy will never be forgotten.
Conclusion
There may be some controversy behind LeBron James not being on this list, but you must remember that LeBron has only been a Laker for four seasons. There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but he does not have the same resume as these individuals while wearing purple and gold and it’s all about the magic tricks on the court.
