- Multiple All-Stars have tried to win a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers after their prime ended
- LeBron James helped a four-time All-Star win his second title of his career in his second year with the Lakers
- Many All-Stars have failed to win a ring with the Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. They are tied with the Boston Celtics for the most championships in NBA history with 17. Many Hall of Famers have played for the Lakers, who have retired 12 jerseys.
Several All-Stars have joined the Lakers after their prime ended since winning in Hollywood is appealing for several reasons.
With that said, let’s take a look at some All-Stars who joined the Lakers in an attempt to win a ring.
Dennis Rodman – 1998-99
Stats with Lakers: 2.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.5 blocks
After helping the Chicago Bulls win the 1998 championship, Dennis Rodman signed a one-year contract with the Lakers. The two-time All-Star appeared in 23 games during the 1998-99 lockout season. The Lakers went 17-6 with Rodman in the lineup.
Los Angeles finished the 1998-99 season with a record of 31-19. Rodman was waived by the Lakers on April 16 due to his bad behavior. The Hall of Famer showed up late to practices and refused to go into a game, citing injuries.
The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 1999 playoffs but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round in four games.
Did Dennis Rodman win a title with the Lakers? No.
Mitch Richmond – 2001-02
Stats with Lakers: 4.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.1 blocks
Six-time All-Star Mitch Richmond joined the Lakers in the summer of 2001. The 1989 Rookie of the Year was looking to win a title after failing to win a ring with the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards.
Richmond appeared in 64 games during the 2001-02 season. The Lakers went 58-24 in the regular season and defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Kings in the Western Conference playoffs to advance to the 2002 Finals.
The Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets in the 2002 Finals to capture a three-peat. Richmond played in two games in the 2002 playoffs and retired from the NBA as a champion.
Did Mitch Richmond win a title with the Lakers? Yes.
Karl Malone – 2003-04
Stats with Lakers: 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks
After a legendary run with the Utah Jazz, Karl Malone joined the Lakers in the summer of 2003. The 14-time All-Star and two-time MVP was excited to play with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
The Lakers went 56-26 during the 2003-04 season. They beat the Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Minnesota Timberwolves to advance to the 2004 NBA Finals. Malone was set to play in his third Finals.
Unfortunately for The Mailman, the Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 Finals. Malone finished his Hall of Fame career 0-3 in the Finals.
Did Karl Malone win a title with the Lakers? No.
Gary Payton – 2003-04
Stats with Lakers: 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Like Karl Malone, Gary Payton joined the Lakers in the summer of 2003 to ring chase with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Payton put up solid numbers in his one season in Los Angeles.
But The Glove wasn’t able to win a championship with the Lakers. He did, however, win a ring with the Miami Heat in 2006.
Did Gary Payton win a title with the Lakers? No.
Dwight Howard – 2012-13, 2019-20, 2021-22
Stats with Lakers: 10.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 blocks
The Lakers acquired Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic in August 2012. Los Angeles fans were thrilled about the trade since Kobe Bryant had another superstar big man to play with.
However, Howard and Bryant didn’t have a good relationship during the 2012-13 season. Even though Howard averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds in 2012-13, Bryant and Howard were never able to get on the same page.
After stops with the Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Wizards, Howard returned to the Lakers in 2019-20 to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He averaged 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds and helped Los Angeles win the 2020 title over the Heat.
Howard played for the Lakers again in 2021-22. Los Angeles didn’t make the playoffs that season.
Did Dwight Howard win a title with the Lakers? Yes.
Steve Nash – 2012-14
Stats with Lakers: 11.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
The Phoenix Suns traded Steve Nash to the Lakers in the summer of 2012. Los Angeles had Nash, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol as its Big 4. Many pundits picked the Lakers to win the 2013 title.
However, the purple and gold went only 45-37 in 2012-13. To make matters even worse, Bryant tore his left Achilles tendon on April 12 versus the Golden State Warriors and was lost for the season and playoffs.
The Lakers got swept by the Spurs in the first round of the 2013 playoffs without Bryant. The team then missed the playoffs in 2014 and Nash retired from the NBA in the summer of 2014.
Did Steve Nash win a title with the Lakers? No.
Rajon Rondo – 2018-20, 2021-22
Stats with Lakers: 7.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks
Rajon Rondo joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018. It was very strange to see him become teammates with LeBron James since the two stars were intense rivals when Rondo was on the Celtics and LeBron was on the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
The Lakers missed the playoffs in 2019. However, they reached the NBA Finals in 2020 and beat the Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble.
Rondo played for the Lakers again in 2021-22, but he didn’t finish the season in Los Angeles. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Did Rajon Rondo win a title with the Lakers? Yes.
Marc Gasol – 2020-21
Stats with Lakers: 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.1 blocks
Marc Gasol joined the Lakers before the start of the 2020 season. He was looking to help Los Angeles win its second straight title.
Gasol averaged a career-low 19.1 minutes with the Lakers, who went 42-30 in 2020-21. Los Angeles needed to beat the Warriors in the play-in game to make the 2021 playoffs. Gasol didn’t play versus the Warriors and averaged only 5.2 points against the Suns in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. The Lakers lost to the Suns in six games.
Did Marc Gasol win a title with the Lakers? No.
Andre Drummond – 2020-21
Stats with Lakers: 11.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks
Andre Drummond was waived by the Cavaliers on March 26, 2021. The two-time All-Star signed with the Lakers two days later.
Drummond appeared in 21 games with the Lakers. While he did average a double-double, Los Angeles wasn’t able to win the title.
Did Andre Drummond win a title with the Lakers? No.
Russell Westbrook – 2021-23
Stats with Lakers: 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks
The Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook from the Wizards in the summer of 2021 in a blockbuster trade. Los Angeles fans were excited to watch Russ play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
However, the Lakers were only 56-74 with Westbrook in the lineup. The UCLA product wasn’t a good fit next to Davis and James since he’s not a reliable shooter. Westbrook shot only 29.7% from 3 as a member of the purple and gold.
During the 2021-22 season, Westbrook was second in the league in turnovers and his effective field goal percentage of 47.6% was sixth-worst in the NBA. The Lakers traded Westbrook at the 2023 February trade deadline and got much better, reaching the Western Conference Finals.
Did Russell Westbrook win a title with the Lakers? No.
Carmelo Anthony – 2021-22
Stats with Lakers: 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.8 blocks
Carmelo Anthony signed with the Lakers in the summer of 2021. He was finally teammates with LeBron James. Los Angeles had a roster made up of Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, and Anthony Davis.
Unfortunately for Anthony, his one season with LeBron and the Lakers was a disaster. Los Angeles went 33-49 and missed the playoffs. Anthony, one of the best scorers in NBA history, retired from the NBA after his season with the purple and gold.
Did Carmelo Anthony win a title with the Lakers? No.
