The Los Angeles Lakers are arguably the NBA’s most storied franchise, tied with the Boston Celtics for the most championships of any team in the history of the game. They have enjoyed multiple eras of dominance, notably in the 1980s and early 2000s. Any team that has won many championships is set to have several legends and the Lakers are no exception.
Players like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal have all played for Los Angeles, winning MVP awards and NBA championships. When the NBA released their 75th-anniversary team, it featured 20 players that have appeared for the Lakers. Of course, some superstars like Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone were just rentals, but there are plenty of long-time Lakers on the list.
Bleacher Report recently asked the question that Lakers fans have likely been debating since the list first dropped, which Laker legend from the NBA75 would they select first? There were several answers, with shouts for Kobe, Magic, and Kareem among the strongest.
Which of these LONGTIME Lakers are you taking first? 👇 pic.twitter.com/lzWpeVVMx2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2022
Quil: “Kobe but I’m biased, second choice is Magic though.”
Kushal Dave: “Kobe is the only right answer.”
Paper Route Frank: “MAGIC JOHNSON!! THE GREATEST LAKER EVER!”
Dre Siri: “It comes down to Kareem and Kobe Bryant, but it’s Kareem not even close.
Beni-Bachi: “Kareem or Magic, 2 solid foundations.”
FolushoOdufeso: “Most definitely going with the late great Kobe Bryant!”
Mr. Jerry Nealy: “Man ain’t too many people scoring 100 points a game I got to go with the big man Will Chamberlain.”
ZackDownBad: “Kobe. Don’t get me wrong they all great, but Kobe was just different. That’s just my opinion.”
Jamaal Street: “It’s blatantly obvious… I’m going with the Magic Man.”
Seyi Ogunleye: “That answer will always be Kobe.”
Gojo: “People disrespecting Magic. Taking Magic any day.”
Miriah49Lee: “Shaq was my fave basketball player ever.”
Monk Fanatic: “Kobe Bryant is the best Laker of all time.”
C.K Dexter Haan: “Magic. No one better to run the ‘Showtime’ Lakers; he made almost all of his teammates better; he WON…pretty consistently; knew when to take over and when to take a back seat.”
Ricky Rodriguez: “Definitely Shaquille O’Neal is the perfect choice to build around!”
The Lakers fanbase seems split on the issue, with all of their legends on the list having a great argument for being selected first to start a team. Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson seem to have the greatest support but Kareem and Shaq aren’t too far behind. In any case, this is an incredible problem for fans of any franchise to have as the debate itself is a marker of the incredible success the Lakers have enjoyed.
