L.A. Lakers: Ranking the 10 Least Favorite Lakers Since 2000

In 2000, the Lakers won the NBA championship for the first time since 1988.

Since that championship season, the Lakers have had many great players who have captured the hearts of their fans.  

They have also had a handful of players who will not be remembered as fondly. This list ranks the top 10 least favorite Lakers since 2000.

10. Travis Knight

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17 Feb 1999: Travis Knight #40 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks on the court during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 101-88. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /A

Many might not remember Travis Knight. Knight was a seldom-used backup to Shaquille O'Neal and had a reputation of routinely getting into foul trouble.

During the 1999-2000 championship season, Knight averaged a foul every 4.6 minutes. 

Like many other Lakers, Knight stepped up his game for the playoffs. 

During the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals, Knight set an NBA Playoff record for the quickest disqualification, fouling out in just six minutes.

9. Brian Grant

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LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 22: Brian Grant #55 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the New Orleans Hornets on December 22, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 101-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Brian Grant had several great seasons with the Portland Trailblazers and Miami Heat. 

Unfortunately, when he was traded to the Lakers in 2004, he didn't have much left in the tank. 

When Grant joined the Lakers, he had three years and $42 million left on his contract. Grant only played 69 games while with the Lakers, averaging just under four points and four rebounds a game. 

While Brian Grant has always been a classy and charitable man, his bloated contract weighed down the Lakers for several years.

8. Tyronn Lue

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6 Jun 2001: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers steps over Tyronn Lue #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers in game one of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The 76ers won 107-101. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule/

For the most part, Tyronn Lue was well-liked during his three seasons with the Lakers. Lue routinely came off the bench to defend quicker guards and always hustled.

During the 2001 NBA Finals, Lue went too far when he did his hair in cornrows to match his opponent, Allen Iverson. 

Iverson annihilated him in Game 1. Following a fadeaway jumper that caused Lue to fall over, Iverson embarrassed him further by stepping over him as he ran back on defense. 

Link to video of Iverson stepping over Lue

7. Brian Cook

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LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 17: Brian Cook #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the Utah Jazz on January 17, 2005 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Jazz won 102-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees th

On the best of days, Brian Cook was a knock-down shooter. The other 99 percent of the time, he was dead weight.

Cook was a huge liability for the Lakers because he couldn't pass, rebound or defend.

He was a backup player during the dark years (2005-2007) and was the antithesis of Mark Madsen—decent level of talent, but no hustle. 

6. Sasha Vujacic

Where do we start with Sasha? 

The hair net that was given to him by a Laker girl?

His self-given nickname, "The Machine?"

Or the time he cried on the bench after getting bullied in the 2008 finals? 

Vujacic does receive partial redemption for sinking two big free throws in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, but even that is not enough to compensate for the hair net. 

5. Isaiah Rider/Mitch Richmond

Isaiah Rider and Mitch Richmond share a slide because they were pretty much identical players while with the Lakers.

Both played with the team for one season (Rider in 2000-2001, Richmond in 2001-2002).

Both joined L.A. at the twilight of a solid career with the sole purpose of winning a championship.

Both added little to no value.

Both got a ring. 

4. Vladimir Radmanovic

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14: Vladimir Radmanovic #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers moves the ball upcourt while taking on the Utah Jazz in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 14, 2008 in Los Angel

Vladimir Radmanovic was never a favorite of Phil Jackson. Phil referred to him as "my favorite Martian" and "space cadet" because Radmanovic was routinely out of position and took wild three-point shots.

But that's only part of the reason why he makes this list.

Following the 2007 All-Star break, Radmanovic announced that he would be sidelined eight weeks due to a separated shoulder.

He initially said that the injury occurred when he fell on a patch of ice in Park City. Less than a week later, he admitted that he actually hurt his shoulder while snowboarding, an activity that his contract banned.

Radmanovic was fined $500,000 and earned an additional nickname—half-pipe.  

3. Karl Malone/Gary Payton

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LOS ANGELES - MAY 11: Karl Malone #11 and Gary Payton #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during warmups before Game four of the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2004 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 11, 2004 in

Similar to Rider and Richmond, Malone and Payton joined the Lakers for only one reason—to win a title.

They were both on the Lakers for the disappointing season that ended with a finals loss to the Detroit Pistons. 

When Shaquille O'Neal and Phil Jackson left town after that season, Malone and Payton followed.

While neither of them earned a title with the Lakers, Gary Payton eventually got his ring with the Miami Heat. Karl Malone retired without winning a championship.

Seeing them in Lakers jerseys still doesn't look right. 

2. Kwame Brown

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LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 27: Kwame Brown #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes after a loose ball against the Golden State Warriors on January 27, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 106-105 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User express

Few players in the NBA have taken as much criticism as Kwame Brown. 

Rather than go through all the reasons why he is No. 2 on this list, I simply direct you to Stephen A. Smith's rant following the Kwame Brown/Pau Gasol trade.  

Link to video

1. Smush Parker

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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 26: Smush Parker #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a play in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Phoenix Suns during the 2007 NBA Playoff at Staples Center on April 26, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.

Smush Parker played with the Lakers for two years. He often showed flashes of brilliance but was very inconsistent. 

While Smush's inconsistency was frustrating, his attitude was the main reason why he lost his starting job with two games left in 2006-2007 season.

Following his two-year stint with the Lakers, Smush allegedly struck a valet parker after a dispute over a $12 parking fee.

Smush was never really loved while with the Lakers, but he made matters worse.

In 2009, a video surfaced of Smush saying that playing with the Lakers was overrated and that the problem with the team starts with Kobe and ends with Kobe. 

For me, that's a good enough reason to earn the No. 1 spot.