THE TOP “10 PLAYERS” OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

First, how lucky and spoiled have the fans been in Los Angeles to watch some of the greatest players that have ever played the game of professional basketball?

I learned a few tidbits of each player that I reviewed. Hope you did too. Especially my many Utah “Apollo 13” Jazz friends.

As mentioned in the get-go, I started watching the Lakers in the early 60s with my Dad on black and white TV. Over the years, I was fortunate to have seen each of the “Top-10” play in live and living color.

Everyone has their take on who their choice is for Number 1. It was hard to choose from. Your personal picks could very well be better/wiser than mine. The top 5 picks were certainly harder and tougher to pick than the bottom 5 was – for me.

All of the Top 10 players are NBA Hall of Famers. All won at least 1 NBA Champion (I include Baylor, though he retired early in that 1972 stellar NBA Championship season).

I considered, of course, the “Basketball Era” in which these 10 stars played in - and the positions they played.

Wilt Chamberlain was “Dominant with Authority” when he played. Understatement of this blog. But he was. No one could guard him – except for Bill Russell and Nate Thurmond - half the time.

Chamberlain’s 100-point game has not yet been broken despite today’s era of the 35-foot 3-pointers of 2019. Consider too the year Wilt averaged over 50 points a game and 25 rebounds a game for one full season. Wilt was just plain awesome and I loved his “Slam-Dunks.”

Like the old E.F. Hutton commercials of years past, Jerry West earned his name as Mr. Clutch. He was a great dribbler, had great hands, and was so smart on the court. He also was a great defender. And could he shoot a basketball off the dribble. His 20-footers would just touch the very bottom of the net time after time. I’ll never forget when West was named the MVP in the 1969 NBA Finals against Boston – and we lost that series. And I can still vividly recall listening to Chick Hearn (with Hot Rod Hundley as his color man) do his play-by-play on my battery operated radio when I was supposed to be sleeping –

“West dribbles down the court left to right across your radio dial – he stops, fakes once, twice 20-footer – - - - - - it’s gooooood! Mr. Clutch, the Zek From Cabin Creek has does it again Ladies and Gentleman as pandemonium rocks the Forum of 17,505 here at the house that Jack (Kent-Cooke) built.”

Emotionally, Jerry West is my favorite Laker – by far. I say this because Jerry West was my idol growing up. I looked up to him. So have many others. A “true-blue gentleman” - with lots and lots of class. He was and still is a role model for many today. Just look for his logo on every player’s uniform.

Need I say more?

Kobe Bryant. What more can be said about this soaring and hard practicing super-conditioned-athletic? Right out of High School right and into the frying pan of Hollywood, Jack Nicholson, and the NBA.

His mental outlook was amazing that was advantageous for him over all the other players – except perhaps – Michael Jordan. Kobe loved challenges and worked harder than anyone in between the televised games. Bryant thrived and blossomed under pressure. It all paid off in the end – 5 NBA Championships and 1 Oscar Gold to boot.

Do you believe in Magic?

I still do. Always will. What a “Super Star” Magic “Earvin” Johnson was. The ultimate “Team Player.” His laser-accurate no-look passes were – well - magical.

Magic could shoot from both the outside and inside. Excellent dribbler/passer and was basketball smart. Magic won 6 NBA Finals. Magic helped me forget the 6 painful NBA finals losses in the 60s to the Celtics. He made other players even better than they were. A 6’9” point guard was unheard of ------ back then (1979).

Finally, who can ever forget when Magic played center with Kareem down with an ankle sprang against Julius Erving and won the NBA title in Philadelphia – as a rookie? What an incredible performance it was. One for the NBA Gods.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The “Sky Hook” was a beauty that just could not be defended by anyone. Kareem was an awesome shot blocker and had great footwork and hands like Jerry West.

Kareem was a winner from High School, College, and the NBA. Having Kareem, Magic, and Worthy on the same team was unfair to the rest of the league. What a “Showtime” it was. Blame Jerry West on his keen basketball IQ for spotting talent and Jerry Buss’ money to pay for it all.

Before I list my “Top - 10 Los Angeles Lakers” here are some “Honorable Mentions” of the past.

1. George Mikan - Though he never played in Los Angeles, Mikan had a successful playing career, winning seven NBL, BAA, and NBA championships, an NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy, and three scoring titles. He was a member of the first four NBA All-Star games, and the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams. Mikan was so dominant that he caused several rule changes in the NBA: among them, the introduction of the goaltending rule, the widening of the foul lane—known as the "Mikan Rule"—and the creation of the shot clock.

2. Michael Cooper - The ultimate “Team Player” who could shoot the three-pointer and was … awesome, awesome on defense. Could he ever jump?

3. Derek Fisher - Ask the Spurs. Fish hit a buzzer-beater with 0.4 seconds left in game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, which the NBA lists as the 18th-greatest playoff moment of all time.

4. Poul Casol – Just ask Kobe. Another Jerry West steal.

5. Robert “Big Shot” Horry - Horry played 16 seasons in the NBA, winning seven (7) championships, the most of any player not to have played on those dreaded 1960s Boston Celtics. He is one of only two players (the other is John Salley) to have won NBA championships with three teams: two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the San Antonio Spurs. He earned the nickname Big Shot Bob because of his clutch shooting in important games; he is widely considered to be one of the greatest clutch performers and winners in NBA history. 

6. Lamar Odom - Super, super talented, but was hurt with drug use.

7. Bob “Can Do” McAdoo - What a smooth shot he owned.

8. Mychal Thompson - Great addition and a Jerry West steal.

9. Byron Scott - Good shooter and perfect for Magic to dish off to.

10. Connie “The Hawk” Hawkins - Cradle that ball and slam it home Hawk.

11. AC Green – Great role model for many and a great rebounder and hustler.

12. Rick Fox - Fit in perfectly with the “Showtime Lakers” and was previously the Captain of the Celtics before coming to the Lakers. Another Jerry West steal.

13. Metta World Peace - What can I say here? Love him or hate him he was good.

14. Norm Nixon - Very good playmaker and a smart point guard.

15. Vlade Divac - Almost won an NBA Title with the Lakers.

16. LeBron James - Too early to qualify.

17. Anthony Davis - Much too early to qualify – can’t wait though…

MY “TOP-10” L.A. LAKERS

1. #33 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Center

2. #8 & #24 - Kobe Bryant - Point/Shooting guard, Swingman

3. #32 - Magic Johnson - Point guard, Power forward

4. #44 - Jerry West - Point guard, Shooting guard

5. #13 - Wilt Chamberlain – Center

6. #42 - James Worthy - Small forward

7. #34 – Shaquille O’Neil – Center

8. #22 - Elgin Baylor - Small forward

9. #52 - Jamaal Wilkes – Small forward

10. #25 - Gail Goodrich – Point Guard

Thanks for reading and for your emails/comments/likes offered on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Now let’s finish filling up that 2019 - 2020 Laker roster and get on to our 17th NBA Title.

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Sources used for all player reviews:

LA Lakers Official Web Site

NBA Giants Book “Big Men Who Shook The NBA – By Willis Reed, Jerry West, and Pete Newell

NBA Official Web site

Sports Illustrated Magazines

Wikipedia