LA Lakers: 5 Greatest Players at Every Position in Franchise History

Have you ever wondered who the top five power forwards in Los Angeles Lakers history are? What about the top five point guards?

This article will look at the five greatest Los Angeles Lakers at every position in franchise history.

So, let’s go to the slides and see which Lakers made the cut at each position.

Power Forward: 5. Kurt Rambis

Kurt Rambis never averaged 10 points or 10 rebounds in his nine seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.

But his hustle and penchant for doing “all of the little things” proved to be vital to the Lakers winning four championships in the 1980s—even if it meant getting blown up by Kevin McHale in the process.

4. A.C. Green

A.C. Green helped Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar win two championships in the 1980s, in addition to helping Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant win one in 2000.

Green, who was drafted by the Lakers out of Oregon State in 1985, spent nine of his 16 NBA seasons with the Lakers, missing only three total games in those nine seasons.  

While Green’s numbers never jumped off the page, he proved to be a tough, consistent role player for two different Lakers dynasties.

Green was selected as a Western Conference All-Star in 1990.

3. Robert Horry

Robert Horry spent parts of seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping the team win three consecutive championships (2000-2002).

While Horry’s overall statistics are largely average, the Alabama alum earned his keep by hitting clutch shots. His penchant for hitting big shots earned him the nickname “Big Shot Bob,” while playing for the Lakers.

2. Vern Mikkelsen

Vern Mikkelsen spent his entire 10-year NBA career with the Minneapolis Lakers. In his 10 years in Minneapolis, Mikkelsen made six All-Star teams and helped the team win four championships.

In addition, Mikkelsen made four All-NBA Second Teams in the 1950s. Mikkelsen and George Mikan were the most devastating frontcourt duo of their day—and one of the best of all-time for that matter. 

Photo courtesy of lakerstats.com

1. Pau Gasol

Since Pau Gasol joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the 2008 season, the team has been to three NBA Finals and won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.

Before Gasol arrived, the Lakers were struggling to stay relevant, reeling from Shaquille O’Neal’s departure in 2004.

Since joining the team, Gasol has been selected to three consecutive All-Star teams, in addition to being named to two All-NBA Third Teams and one All-NBA Second Team.

Small Forward: 5. Rick Fox

Rick Fox spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, picking up three championship rings along the way.

At 6’7’’, 230 pounds, Fox was a “big” small forward, who often shutdown opposing teams’ perimeter threats.

I personally remember Fox giving the likes of Scottie Pippen and Peja Stojakovic fits, en route to the team winning three consecutive championships.

4. Jim Pollard

Jim Pollard helped lead the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships. In his time in Minneapolis, Pollard made four All-Star teams and an All-NBA First Team.

Pollard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

Photo courtesy of hickoksports.com

3. Jamaal Wilkes

Jamaal Wilkes spent eight seasons in Los Angeles, making three consecutive All-Star teams in the early 1980s. In addition, Wilkes helped the Lakers win championships in 1980 and 1982.

2. James Worthy

James Worthy proved to be the perfect third banana for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ successful run in the 1980s.

Worthy made seven All-Star teams, and he was named the 1988 finals MVP, as the Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons in seven games.

James Worthy was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

James Worthy scored 16,320 points as a member of the Lakers, good for sixth best in franchise history.

1. Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor spent parts of 14 seasons in the Lakers’ organization, dating back to the franchise’s days in Minneapolis.

In his time with the Lakers, Baylor made 11 All-Star teams and ten All-NBA first teams.

Baylor was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Baylor ranks fourth all-time in franchise scoring, with 23,149 points.

Photo courtesy of barrystickets.com

Point Guard: 5. Nick Van Exel

Nick Van Exel spent the first five seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 14 points and seven assists.

In 1997-98, Van Exel made the All-Star Team, the only Lakers point guard since Magic Johnson to do so.  

4. Derek Fisher

Yes, Derek Fisher has arguably been the Los Angeles Lakers’ weakest link the last couple of seasons, but it’s hard to argue Fisher’s 12 years spent with the team have been anything but an overall success.

Fisher has played a substantial role in the team winning five championships. Who knows, without Fisher’s timely three-point shooting in past postseasons, the team may not have won some of those championships.

3. Slater Martin

Slater Martin, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982, spent seven seasons with the Minneapolis Lakers, winning four championships and making four consecutive All-Star teams.

Photo courtesy of tshof.org

2. Norm Nixon

Norm Nixon spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning two championships in 1980 and 1982.

In his six seasons with the Lakers, Nixon averaged 16 points a contest and never averaged less than six assists a season.

In addition, Nixon was the team’s leading scorer during the 1982 postseason, in which the Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers for the NBA championship.

1. Magic Johnson

In his 13-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson won five championships, three MVP awards and was named the NBA finals MVP three times.

In addition, Johnson was named to nine All-NBA first teams and 12 All-Star teams.

Johnson ranks fifth all-time in franchise points, with 17,707 and ranks first in assists with 10,141.

In addition, Johnson’s 11.2 career assist average is the highest in league history.

Shooting Guard: 5. Byron Scott

Byron Scott spent eleven seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 15 points a contest.

Scott led the team in scoring during the 1987-88 season, averaging 21 points a contest.  

Scott continued to prove his worth during the playoffs that season. He averaged 19 points a contest, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons to claim their second consecutive championship.

4. Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper was the designated “defensive stopper” for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s, helping the team win five championships.

Cooper was usually designated with trying to stop the opposing team’s best shooter, which included Larry Bird.

Cooper was named the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to eight career All-Defensive Teams (five first team, three second team).

3. Gail Goodrich

As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Gail Goodrich made four All-Star teams and made the All-NBA first team in 1974.

In addition, Goodrich was part of the franchise’s 1972 championship team.

Goodrich ranks eighth all-time in Lakers scoring, with 13,044 points.

The UCLA graduate was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996.

Photo courtesy of nopactalent.com

2. Jerry West

Jerry West spent his entire 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping the franchise win the 1972 championship—the franchise’s first since moving from Minneapolis.

West was named to 13 All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA first teams and four All-Defense first teams.

West was the only player to be named NBA Finals MVP (1969) as a member of the losing team.

West has the second most points in franchise history, with 25,192 points.

1. Kobe Bryant

Since joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, it’s safe to say Kobe Bryant has established his place on the Los Angeles Lakers’ Mount Rushmore, along with Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Chick Hearn.

Kobe has helped the franchise win five championships, been named to the All-NBA first team nine times, the All-Star team 13 times, All-Defensive first team nine times and finals MVP in 2009 and 2010.

Kobe was named the 2008 NBA MVP, averaging 28 points, six rebounds and five assists.

In February 2010, Kobe became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Kobe currently has 27, 868 career points, including an 81-point affair against the Toronto Raptors in January of 2006.

Center: 5. Clyde Lovellette

Clyde Lovellette spent four seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Minneapolis Lakers, helping the team win the 1954 championship.

Lovellette made the 1956 All-Star team as a member of the Lakers, and he would eventually make two more All-Star teams in 1960 and 1961 as a member of the St. Louis Hawks.

Lovellette was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Photo courtesy of lakerstats.com

4. George Mikan

George Mikan led the Lakers to five championships during the team’s tenure in Minneapolis.

Mikan’s 1952-54 Lakers were the first team to win three-straight NBA championships.

Mikan made six career All-NBA first teams and four career All-Star teams.

Also, George Mikan was selected as one of the 50 greatest players of all time in 1996 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959.

George Mikan is widely recognized as the first dominant big man in professional basketball.

Photo courtesy of hoophall.com

3. Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain spent the last five years of his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chamberlain helped the Lakers win the 1972 championship.

As a member of the Lakers, Chamberlain made four All-Star teams and was the 1972 finals MVP.

For his career, Chamberlain averaged 30 points, 23 rebounds and four assists.

Chamberlain was selected to 13 All-Star teams, seven All-NBA first teams and two All-Defensive first teams.

In addition, he won four MVP awards, seven scoring titles, 11 rebounding titles and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996.

Chamberlain was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Oh yeah, he also scored 100 points in a game on March 2, 1962, in Hershey Pennsylvania.

2. Shaquille O'Neal

From 1996 to 2004, Shaquille O’Neal manned the painted area for the Los Angeles Lakers. O’Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

In his eight seasons with the Lakers, O’Neal averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds.

In 122 playoff games with the organization, O’Neal averaged 27 points and nearly 13 rebounds.

Over his 18-year career, O’Neal won one MVP award, three finals MVPs, four career championships and was selected to 15 All-Star teams and eight All-NBA first teams.

Additionally, O’Neal won two scoring titles, was named the 1992-1993 Rookie of the Year and finished his career in fifth place on the all-time scoring list.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spent 14 of his 20 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping the team win five championships in the 1980s.

As a member of the Lakers, Jabbar won three MVP awards and was named the finals MVP in 1985.

Jabbar averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds and three assists over his 20-year career en route to winning six MVP awards, two finals MVPs and six championships.

In addition, Jabbar was named to 19 All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA first teams and five All-Defensive first teams.

Jabbar is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.