The Lakers, one of the most popular teams in the NBA with a history of winning the second-most championship titles, boast an impressive roster of players. Half of the top ten players in NBA history have played for the Lakers, including Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Shaquille O'Neal. So, how many legendary stars have graced the Lakers' history?
Today, let's take a look at the Lakers' all-time best player pyramid as ranked by American media outlet FW. We'll explore which stars have contributed to the Lakers and where they stand in the rankings.
Fifth Tier: Norm Nixon, A.C. Green, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Lamar Odom, Robert Horry, Clyde Lovellette, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, Vlade Divac, Happy Hairston, Rudy LaRusso, Bob McAdoo
Successful teams not only have shining superstars but also hardworking blue-collar players. The fifth tier of the Lakers' pyramid consists of players who have made significant contributions to the team but have few individual honors. For example, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Lamar Odom, and Robert Horry are career non-All-Stars who have performed well and helped the team win championships.
There are also some All-Stars in this tier, such as Norm Nixon and A.C. Green, who spent short stints with the Lakers, and Vlade Divac and Bob McAdoo, who were All-Stars outside of their time with the Lakers.
Fourth Tier: Gail Goodrich, Pau Gasol, Vern Mikkelsen, Byron Scott, Jamaal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Anthony Davis
Compared to the 13 players in the fifth tier, the fourth tier has fewer players, mainly those who have been All-Stars and key contributors to championship wins. Pau Gasol and Anthony Davis are familiar to modern players; Gasol was the second-in-command during Kobe Bryant's back-to-back championships, and Davis is LeBron James' co-star and still with the Lakers. The other five players, while not particularly famous, have also helped the team win championships and were All-Stars during their tenure, making their placement in the fourth tier well-deserved.
Third Tier: Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, George Mikan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain
The third tier has only five players: Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, George Mikan, LeBron James, and Wilt Chamberlain. The most controversial is Elgin Baylor, who never won an NBA championship. However, he led the Lakers to eight NBA Finals and dedicated his entire career to the team, justifying his place in the third tier.
The others, like James Worthy, George Mikan, LeBron James, and Wilt Chamberlain, have varying numbers of championships and roles within the team, but overall, their contributions to the Lakers are comparable, so ranking them together is reasonable.
Second Tier: Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West
The second tier has only three players: Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Jerry West. O'Neal, the core of the Lakers' three-peat and a three-time FMVP, would likely rank even higher if not for his relatively short tenure with the Lakers.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won five championships and three regular-season MVPs with the Lakers, though he wasn't originally from the Lakers. Jerry West, like Elgin Baylor, didn't win many championships but dedicated his career to the Lakers and was the only losing side FMVP, making a significant contribution.
First Tier: Kobe Bryant, Earvin "Magic" Johnson
The first tier has only two players: Kobe Bryant, who spent 20 years with the Lakers and helped win five championships, and "Magic" Johnson, who not only won five championships but also promoted the NBA and the Lakers globally. Their placement in the first tier is widely expected and deserved.