Mt. Lakemore: The top 4 lakes of all-time!
No, the Mount Rushmore theme has not been run that far into the ground. This is the top four Lakers of all-time.
I think the Lakers are the only team that even comes close to the Yankees in terms of greatness among pro sports franchises. Their rival, the Celtics, may be third. I wanted to compare how the Lakers squad stacks up against the Yankees best, but first you have to determine who the best of each is.
From The Bleacher Report's Top 25 Players in LA Lakers History:
Kobe Bryant is the greatest Laker of all time.
The Mamba has won five championships in Los Angeles and accumulated some serious hardware along the ride. He was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008, won NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010, made 15 All-Star appearances and is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
Bryant holds the franchise record in field goals, three-point field goals, points, games and minutes played, steals and free throws.
It's been acknowledged by Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal and even Magic Johnson—the Black Mamba is the greatest Los Angeles Laker of all time.
Magic Johnson is the second-greatest Laker of all time.
He’s been in 12 All-Star games, has three MVP trophies, three NBA Finals MVP awards and five titles. His 11.2 assists per game over the course of his 13-year career is the greatest in the history of the NBA.
He holds the franchise record for total assists and assists per game and is fifth in points scored.
As Kenny Smith of TNT pointed out, Johnson was the most dynamic Laker ever. He brought such a diverse set of skills and made every one of his teammates better.
But despite Magic's greatness and all of his accolades, he isn't No. 1.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was unreal.
During his 14 seasons in Los Angeles, he put up about 22 points and won five titles alongside Magic Johnson. He ranks first in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and blocks and ranks second in games and minutes played. Abdul-Jabbar is also the franchise's third-leading scorer.
He helped pave the way for the Lakers to become the dynasty that they are, revolutionizing the game in terms of post play.
"Wilt the Stilt" Chamberlain won just a single championship in L.A., but is the franchise leader in rebounds per game (19.2) and field-goal percentage (60.5 percent).
Chamberlain won four MVP awards and was the NBA Finals MVP in 1971, though none of the regular-season MVPs came with the Lakers. Nonetheless, the "Big Dipper" averaged 30.1 points over the course of his professional career.
There is no question he’s one of the greatest players ever. And even though it wasn't with the Lakers, Chamberlain's 100-point game needs to be shown some love here.
Shaquille O’Neal was unstoppable.
The "Big Diesel" won three championships in L.A. with Kobe Bryant and was named MVP in all three of those title runs. In addition, O’Neal ranks second in franchise history in points (27), rebounds (11.8) and blocks (2.5) per game.
He spent eight seasons in Los Angeles, dominating the league in a way that has yet to be paralleled by another big man since he left the Lakers.
Jerry West is a Lakers icon.
According to NBA.com, West was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points. West won his lone title in 1972 and finished his 14-year career in Los Angeles with 27 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.
West ranks just behind Kobe Bryant as the leading scorer in Lakers history.
Elgin Baylor spent his entire career as a Laker, accumulating the most rebounds and fourth-most points in franchise history.
Baylor was extremely athletic (watch him dunk on Bill Russell here) and was an efficient scorer around the rim.
He never won a championship, but put up 27.4 points per game, which is the best average in Lakers history, and 13.5 boards in 14 seasons.
James Worthy played a huge part in three title runs for Los Angeles.
The first pick of the 1982 draft ranks third in franchise history for steals, sixth in points and seventh in field goal percentage.
"Big Game James" averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 boards and three assists throughout his career in purple and gold.
George Mikan was a member of the Minneapolis Lakers for his entire career. He averaged 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds, winning five championships over the course of his time in the NBA.
Mikan used the hook-shot before it was famous, and did it as well as anyone in the history of the game. Perhaps his most important, and impressive, career accolade is being one of the first players ever inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Mikan ranks third in franchise history for rebounds per game behind Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
During 12 years in Los Angeles, Michael Cooper won five titles with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Cooper was a lockdown defender—he was named first-team All-Defense five times—and efficient shooter (47 percent from the field in his career). He was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1987.
No, the Mount Rushmore theme has not been run that far into the ground. This is the top four Lakers of all-time.
I think the Lakers are the only team that even comes close to the Yankees in terms of greatness among pro sports franchises. Their rival, the Celtics, may be third. I wanted to compare how the Lakers squad stacks up against the Yankees best, but first you have to determine who the best of each is.
From The Bleacher Report's Top 25 Players in LA Lakers History:
1. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is the greatest Laker of all time.
The Mamba has won five championships in Los Angeles and accumulated some serious hardware along the ride. He was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008, won NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010, made 15 All-Star appearances and is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
Bryant holds the franchise record in field goals, three-point field goals, points, games and minutes played, steals and free throws.
It's been acknowledged by Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal and even Magic Johnson—the Black Mamba is the greatest Los Angeles Laker of all time.
2. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is the second-greatest Laker of all time.
He’s been in 12 All-Star games, has three MVP trophies, three NBA Finals MVP awards and five titles. His 11.2 assists per game over the course of his 13-year career is the greatest in the history of the NBA.
He holds the franchise record for total assists and assists per game and is fifth in points scored.
As Kenny Smith of TNT pointed out, Johnson was the most dynamic Laker ever. He brought such a diverse set of skills and made every one of his teammates better.
But despite Magic's greatness and all of his accolades, he isn't No. 1.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was unreal.
During his 14 seasons in Los Angeles, he put up about 22 points and won five titles alongside Magic Johnson. He ranks first in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and blocks and ranks second in games and minutes played. Abdul-Jabbar is also the franchise's third-leading scorer.
He helped pave the way for the Lakers to become the dynasty that they are, revolutionizing the game in terms of post play.
4. Wilt Chamberlain
"Wilt the Stilt" Chamberlain won just a single championship in L.A., but is the franchise leader in rebounds per game (19.2) and field-goal percentage (60.5 percent).
Chamberlain won four MVP awards and was the NBA Finals MVP in 1971, though none of the regular-season MVPs came with the Lakers. Nonetheless, the "Big Dipper" averaged 30.1 points over the course of his professional career.
There is no question he’s one of the greatest players ever. And even though it wasn't with the Lakers, Chamberlain's 100-point game needs to be shown some love here.
5. Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O’Neal was unstoppable.
The "Big Diesel" won three championships in L.A. with Kobe Bryant and was named MVP in all three of those title runs. In addition, O’Neal ranks second in franchise history in points (27), rebounds (11.8) and blocks (2.5) per game.
He spent eight seasons in Los Angeles, dominating the league in a way that has yet to be paralleled by another big man since he left the Lakers.
6. Jerry West
Jerry West is a Lakers icon.
According to NBA.com, West was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points. West won his lone title in 1972 and finished his 14-year career in Los Angeles with 27 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.
West ranks just behind Kobe Bryant as the leading scorer in Lakers history.
7. Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor spent his entire career as a Laker, accumulating the most rebounds and fourth-most points in franchise history.
Baylor was extremely athletic (watch him dunk on Bill Russell here) and was an efficient scorer around the rim.
He never won a championship, but put up 27.4 points per game, which is the best average in Lakers history, and 13.5 boards in 14 seasons.
8. James Worthy
James Worthy played a huge part in three title runs for Los Angeles.
The first pick of the 1982 draft ranks third in franchise history for steals, sixth in points and seventh in field goal percentage.
"Big Game James" averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 boards and three assists throughout his career in purple and gold.
9. George Mikan
George Mikan was a member of the Minneapolis Lakers for his entire career. He averaged 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds, winning five championships over the course of his time in the NBA.
Mikan used the hook-shot before it was famous, and did it as well as anyone in the history of the game. Perhaps his most important, and impressive, career accolade is being one of the first players ever inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Mikan ranks third in franchise history for rebounds per game behind Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
10. Michael Cooper
During 12 years in Los Angeles, Michael Cooper won five titles with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Cooper was a lockdown defender—he was named first-team All-Defense five times—and efficient shooter (47 percent from the field in his career). He was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1987.
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