The LA Lakers are undoubtedly one of the greatest teams in NBA history having won 17 championships. They’re a franchise that has had more than their share of great players take the court wearing the purple and gold. But here we’re going to take a look at who were the cream of the crop, who are the top 10 all time Lakers players in history.
10. Micheal Cooper
12 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 9 ppg / 3 rpg / 4 apg
5 championships
0 All NBA
Coop was loved by fans and was a defensive fury. He was a part of 5 NBA championships with the Lakers, as a key part in their “Showtime era.” His stifling defense made him an 8x NBA All-Defensive Team member including 5x on the first team. He was a competitor that played even better in the playoffs.
9. Elgin Baylor
14 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 27 ppg / 14 rpg / 4 apg
0 championships
10x All NBA
The legend was before my time, but his rebounding and scoring finesse are remembered with great appreciation in the history of the NBA. He was a gifted shooter, and an excellent rebounder. He was known for his hanging jump shot which helped put him 40th on the NBA scoring list. The SF is the leader in career rebounds in Lakers franchise history with 11,463.
8. James Worthy
12 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 18 ppg / 5 rpg / 3 apg
3 championships
2x All NBA
“Big game James” was a huge player in the NBA for the Lakers for 12 seasons. His smooth play made him a 7x NBA All-Star, and 2x All-NBA. He helped the Lakers to win 3 NBA championships, including the Finals MVP in 1988, where he averaged 21 ppg, 6 rpg and 4apg. Worthy thrived in their high-octane “Showtime” offense, his baseline spin showcased him as one of the best post players at his position.
7. Lebron James
7 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 27 ppg / 8 rpg / 8 apg
1 championship
6x All NBA
Like him or dislike him, there is absolutely no question that James is one of the most dominant players of his era if not the most dominant player. Having led the NBA in assists in 2019, his ability to still play the game at such a high level at his age, is a genuine pleasure to watch.
6. Jerry West
14 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 27 ppg / 6 rpg / 7 apg
1 championship
12x All NBA
The legend is known simply as “The Logo.” His overall game and scoring touch easily make him one of the greatest guards in NBA history. He had a deadly jump shot that ended him 29th on the NBAs list at 25,192 pts. He played tenacious defense, and carried himself with fiery confidence for a reason.
5. Shaquille O’Neal
8 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 27 ppg / 12 rpg / 3 apg
3 championships
7x All NBA
Shaq was one of the most dominant Cs ever in NBA history. He is rightfully regarded as one of the greatest bigs of all time. The 7-1 center was the 1999–2000 regular season MVP, where his utter dominance ended him just one vote short of becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. With 5 seasons averaging 26+ ppg and 11+ rpg, he was something special at the 5.
4. George Mikan
7 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 23 ppg / 13 rpg / 3 apg
5 championships
6x All NBA
The OG creator of “The Mikan.” He needs to be on this list, without question. Respect for this 6-10 legend is definite. He was the NBA’s first superstar, leading the Minneapolis Lakers to 5 titles from 1949-54. The league at the time was dominated by small, quick players until he took over and changed everything. He was the guy who changed the NBA into a game ruled by the big in the middle.
3. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
14 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 22 ppg / 9 rpg / 3 apg
5 championships
10x All NBA
His scoring and leadership were vital components in the “Showtime era” of the Lakers basketball. In his first season with the Lakers, in 1975 – he had an MVP season, hanging 27.7 /game and leading the league in rebounding at 16.9 and blocked shots at 4.1.
2. Kobe Bryant
20 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 25 ppg / 5 rpg / 5 apg
5 championships
15x All NBA
“The Black Mamba” is often regarded as one of the greatest SGs in the history of basketball. He led the NBA in scoring 2x in 2005 and 2006 with 35.4ppg and 31.6ppg, respectively, and ranks 4th in all-time regular season scoring with 33,643 points. Bryant led the Lakers to consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, being named NBA Finals MVP on both occasions.
1. Magic Johnson
13 seasons as an LA Laker.
Career LA average; 20 ppg / 7 rpg / 11 apg
5 championships
10x All NBA
The addition of Johnson to the Lakers paved the way for the Showtime dynasty of the 1980s. His big smile and flashy no look passes were the epitome of the team. He led them to the finals 8x, winning 5 NBA championships.
The 6-9 PG was known for his phenomenal court vision, and passing abilities, which led to exciting easy buckets for his teammates on fast breaks. His leadership on the court was legendary, as Magic was one of the most dominant players of his era. His 10,141 assists is 7th all time and his 11.1 apg is tops all time.