- The Los Angeles Lakers have won 17 championships in their franchise’s history
- The Lakers have had four players win MVP in their franchise’s history
- The Lakers have had eight players win Finals MVP in their franchise’s history including Jerry West in 1969 who did so in a losing effort
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful and storied franchises in NBA history. Over the course of their 76-year history, they are tied with the Boston Celtics with 17 NBA championships. They have been home to some of the greatest players in NBA history, as well as some of the most celebrated role players. Take another journey through Lakers history with us today as we rank the five greatest players to ever play each position in franchise history.
At every position for any franchise in NBA history, there are going to be the ones who stand out above the rest as the clear best to ever wear the uniform. The real fun is how we rank the ones where it is extremely close and the less appreciated players who played a large role in shaping that franchise. As we go down the list, it is important to remember that this is based on what each player did in a Lakers jersey only and the rest of their careers will remain irrelevant to the conversation.
These are the 5 best players at every position in Los Angeles Lakers history.
The 5 Greatest Point Guards In Los Angeles Lakers History
1. Magic Johnson
– 5x NBA Champion, 3x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection
2. Jerry West
– 1x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP, 14x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 12x All-NBA Team Selection, 5x All-Defensive Team Selection
3. Norm Nixon
– 2x NBA Champion, 1x All-Star
4. Derek Fisher
– 5x NBA Champion
5. Nick Van Exel
– 1x All-Star
When it comes to point guards in both Lakers and NBA history, Magic Johnson is the only selection. Magic made the Lakers an instant contender upon arrival in 1980 and they remained so throughout his entire 13-year career. As the leader of the Showtime era for the Lakers, Magic completely revolutionized the point guard position with his furious pace and incredible court vision. As a rookie in 1980, Johnson would win Finals MVP after leading the Lakers to the NBA championship starting at center for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6.
Johnson would add two more Finals MVPs in 1982 and 1987 as well. Magic would also capture three MVP awards during his career as well with wins in 1987, 1989, and 1990. In total, Magic and the Lakers would win five NBA championships from 1980 through 1988 as he finished his career averaging 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game.
Jerry West has somehow become underappreciated over time despite what he means to the Lakers as both a player and executive. West led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals during his career as an incredible two-way point guard who would possibly have 10,000 more career points if he had the benefit of a three-point line. West played his entire NBA career with the Lakers from 1961 through 1974 where he won Finals MVP in a loss in 1969 and an NBA championship in 1972. He is one of the few players to ever be named an All-Star for every season of his career and is forever cemented in NBA history as The Logo.
Norm Nixon is one of the most underrated players in NBA history. Nixon played six seasons at point guard for the Lakers from 1978 through 1983. During this time, he averaged 16.4 points, 7.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game during the regular season. Nixon would help the Lakers win two NBA championships in 1980 and 1982 averaging 17.7 points, 8.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in his Lakers playoff career. Nixon would earn an All-Star appearance in L.A. in 1982 as well with 17.6 points, 8.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 49.3% shooting.
Derek Fisher is a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers during his career. Fisher had two separate stints with the team from 1997-2004 and from 2008 through 2012. During his time with the team, Fisher would come up clutch on numerous occasions such as his playoff winner against the Spurs with 0.4 seconds left on the clock and his game-tying three against Orlando in the 2009 NBA Finals. In his Lakers career, Fisher averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals but his impact remains legendary among franchise point guards.
Coming in at number five for point guards in Lakers history is none other than Nick Van Exel. His career would last just five seasons in Los Angeles from 1994 through 1998 but his legacy remains intact for what he was able to accomplish with the team. Van Exel would earn the only All-Star selection of his career with the Lakers in 1998 averaging 13.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Overall, in his five seasons there, he averaged 14.9 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game and had a lot to do with the building of the foundation of their three-peat teams from 2000-2002.
The 5 Greatest Shooting Guards In Los Angeles Lakers History
1. Kobe Bryant
– 5x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 18x All-Star, 4x All-Star Game MVP, 15x All-NBA Team Selection, 12x All-Defensive Team Selection
2. Gail Goodrich
– 1x NBA Champion, 4x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection
3. Michael Cooper
– 5x NBA Champion, 1x Defensive Player Of The Year, 8x All-Defensive Team
4. Byron Scott
– 3x NBA Champion
5. Eddie Jones
– 2x All-Star, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection
The shooting guard position is a runaway selection for the greatest player in franchise history and one of the greatest players in NBA history. From a young kid out of high school to the global icon he became over the next 20 years, Kobe Bryant grew up before our very eyes with the Los Angeles Lakers. Early in his career, Bryant was one of the greatest second options in NBA history for a team that three-peated as champions from 2000-2002 alongside Shaquille O’Neal
Once the team became his to run alone, we saw him hit roadblock after roadblock only to come out the other side as one of the best to ever do it. He won his only MVP award in 2008 after winning back-to-back scoring titles in 2006 and 2007. He led the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals from 2008-2010 with back-to-back championships and Finals MVP awards in 2009 and 2010. He helped the Lakers grow their international brand off the court as well while delivering some of the most iconic performances ever recorded in the history of the purple and gold. If any player embodies what the Lakers have been about for 76 years, it is Kobe Bryant.
Gail Goodrich is a name for many that flies completely under the radar. Goodrich would also have two separate stints with the Lakers from 1966-1968 as well as 1971-1976. His second go-around with the team would be far more productive as he made four straight All-Star teams and helped them reach three NBA Finals, including a win for the 1972 NBA title. Goodrich averaged 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in his Lakers career and is absolutely their second-greatest shooting guard of all time.
Michael Cooper was a defensive savant for the Lakers during their incredible Showtime run during the 1980s. Cooper earned numerous defensive accolades with the team during the decade, including the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year award and eight selections to the All-Defensive Team. Having played his entire career in Los Angeles from 1979 through 1990, Cooper was a major part of all five championship teams for the Lakers during the 1980s. His defensive play on the likes of Larry Bird, Julius Erving, and other NBA legends is a major reason why they were so successful during his career.
Byron Scott served as Magic Johnson’s backcourt partner for the Lakers from 1984 through 1993. Scott was a member of three Lakers championship teams in 1985, 1987, and 1988. During his 11 seasons with the team, Scott averaged 15.1 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over the course of 846 games played in the regular season. His numbers remained consistent during the playoffs where the Lakers qualified every year he was a member of their squad.
The final top-five shooting guard in Lakers history is Eddie Jones. As a two-time All-Star with the Lakers, Jones averaged 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game from 1995 through 1999. Jones and company made the playoffs all four full seasons he played with the team which included two exits in the second round. During his 1997 and 1998 All-Star seasons, Jones averaged 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game while earning two All-Defensive Team selections.
The 5 Greatest Small Forwards In Los Angeles Lakers History
1. Elgin Baylor
– 1x Rookie Of The Year, 11x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection
2. James Worthy
– 3x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP, 7x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection
3. LeBron James
– 1x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection
4. Jamaal Wilkes
2x NBA Champion, 2x All-Star
5. Lamar Odom
– 2x NBA Champion, 1x Sixth Man Of The Year
In Los Angeles Lakers history, the small forward position is the hardest one to judge. For me, Elgin Baylor remains the greatest small forward in team history for the way he was able to put the franchise on the map and help alleviate the pressures of moving from Minneapolis to a bigger market in Los Angeles. Baylor played his entire 14-year career with the Lakers, where he averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game during that time. Baylor helped the Lakers advance to eight NBA Finals but was unsuccessful in every attempt, which should have no effect on where he stands amongst Lakers legends.
Baylor’s most dominant stretch as a Laker came between 1961 and 1963 when he averaged 35.3 points and 17.3 rebounds per game. Baylor’s numbers were comparable to those of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain during a time they dominated the NBA as centers opposed to Baylor’s position at small forward.
Big Game James Worthy got his nickname from showing up in the biggest moments while wearing a Lakers uniform from 1983 through 1994. Worthy spent his entire career with the team where he helped them win three NBA championships along the way. His most iconic performance would come in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals as he recorded 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists to seal the series for Los Angeles and take home Finals MVP honors. Worthy would average 17.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in his Lakers career and is still one of the franchise’s greatest players by far.
LeBron James ranking third on any list at this stage of his career may seem blasphemous at this point but it isn’t when it comes to Lakers history. James has been with Los Angeles since the 2019 season and has struggled more with injuries than at any other stage of his career. Still among the ups and downs, James would lead the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship in 2020 averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in the series win. He claimed his fourth Finals MVP award as well. In 2023, LeBron would break the NBA’s all-time scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the Lakers’ home court, adding to his Lakers legacy forever.
Jamaal Wilkes is another underrated player in NBA history who spent some of the best seasons of his career in purple and gold. Wilkes would join the Lakers in 1978 and stayed with the team through the 1984 season. In each of the Lakers’ championship-winning seasons while he was with the team, Wilkes averaged over 20.0 points per game in the playoffs to help deliver championships. He earned All-Star selections in 1981 and 1983 as well, averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in six seasons overall.
Lamar Odom is often forgotten when it comes to the success of the Lakers in the late 2000s. Behind Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, Odom was the most impactful Lakers player in both of their championship wins in 2009 and 2010. Odom played seven seasons with the Lakers from 2005 through 2011 and averaged 11.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game over the course of their two championship runs. In 2011, Odom would be named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game in 82 games played.
The 5 Greatest Power Forwards In Los Angeles Lakers History
1. Pau Gasol
– 2x NBA Champion, 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection
2. Vern Mikkelsen
– 4x NBA Champion, 6x All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team Selection
3. Anthony Davis
– 1x NBA Champion, 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection, 1x All-Defensive Team Selection
4. Robert Horry
– 3x NBA Champion
5. Happy Hairston
– 1x NBA Champion
In historical context, the power forward position when it comes to Lakers history is definitely the “weakest” In my opinion, Pau Gasol is the greatest power forward in franchise history for what he meant to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers during two championship runs and three Finals appearances. Gasol played six and a half seasons with the Lakers from 2008 through 2014 where he earned three All-Star selections. His biggest impact came in their back-to-back championship seasons in 2009 and 2010 when he averaged 18.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks over the course of those title runs.
Vern Mikkelsen is one of the greatest power forwards in Lakers history from his days with the Minneapolis Lakers during the 1950s. Mikkelsen played 10 seasons with the Lakers from 1950 through 1959 averaging 14.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Mikkelsen would help the Lakers win four NBA championships in five seasons from 1950 through 1954 with a three-peat included from 1952 through 1954. Over the course of those playoff runs alongside George Mikan, he averaged 12.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 39.6% from the floor.
Cue all the jokes about Anthony Davis‘ injuries and lack of time on the court you wish but that doesn’t change the fact that he is still one of the best power forwards in team history. Davis arrived in Los Angeles for the 2019-20 season and immediately made a lasting impact on their team. Davis would earn All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team honors in 2020 while helping to lead the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship as a franchise.
On that championship run, Davis would average 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game shooting 57.1% from the field. Although he has struggled with injuries and missed time since that championship run, he has remained one of the best two-way players in the game when healthy and is crucial to any future success the Lakers hope to have on the court.
Big Shot Bob, aka Robert Horry is one of the unsung heroes of the Lakers three-peat as NBA champions from 2000 through 2002. Although he averaged just 6.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in six and a half seasons with the Lakers, Horry’s clutch shooting and aptitude for coming through in the game’s most crucial moments made him forever a Laker legend. From his game-winner against Portland in 2000 to his heroics against the Kings in 2002, Horry will forever be considered one of the most important role players in NBA history and a seven-time NBA champion in his career.
The final power forward on our top-five for the Lakers is Happy Hairston from the 1970s. Hairston came over to the Lakers toward the end of his career in 1970 and remained with the team until he retired in 1975. Hairston would play an enormous role in the Lakers’ run to the 1972 championship with 13.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in 15 games played alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Gail Goodrich. Hairston is not the biggest name in Lakers history but it is important that his contributions are never forgotten.
The 5 Greatest Centers In Los Angeles Lakers History
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
– 5x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 13x All-Star, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 7x All-Defensive Team Selection
2. Shaquille O’Neal
– 3x NBA Champion, 3x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 6x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 8x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection
3. George Mikan
– 5x NBA Champion, 4x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 6x All-NBA Team Selection
4. Wilt Chamberlain
– 1x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP, 4x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection
5. Vlade Divac
– N/A
The center position in Lakers history is easily the most accomplished and most skilled position for the franchise. At the top is the greatest center in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem would spend 14 seasons with the Lakers from 1976 through the end of his career in 1989 where he won five NBA championships and became one-half of one of the greatest duos in NBA history. Along with Magic Johnson, Kareem would lead the Lakers to five NBA championships during the 1980s.
Kareem used his patented skyhook to obliterate defenders while also being one of the best defenders in the NBA at the time. In 1985, Kareem would win the second Finals MVP of his career averaging 25.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while becoming the oldest Finals MVP in NBA history at 38 years old. He retired as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in 1989 and the greatest center in NBA history.
During his eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal became the most dominant player in NBA history. From 2000 through 2002, O’Neal was unstoppable, leading the Lakers to a three-peat as NBA champions and winning all three Finals MVP awards. All three of O’Neal’s Finals performances are among the highest-scoring in NBA history. In 2000, O’Neal would record a near-perfect season winning MVP, All-Star Game MVP, an NBA championship, and Finals MVP. In his Finals career with the Lakers, O’Neal would average 33.6 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.
George Mikan is an icon in NBA history whether you acknowledge the history of the game from his era or not. Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA championships in just seven seasons with the team. During his career, Mikan averaged 23.1 points and 13.4 rebounds per game, winning three scoring titles and two rebounding titles as well. In 31 Finals games in his career, Mikan averaged 23.9 points per game and won five NBA championships in total from 1949 through 1954.
Wilt Chamberlain was also one of the most dominant players in NBA history at his peak which continued for the most part into his later years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Wilt played five seasons with the Lakers from 1969 through 1973 and helped them advance to four NBA Finals during that time. He averaged 17.7 points and 19.2 rebounds per game in his career with the Lakers during the regular season. In 1972, Chamberlain helped lead the Lakers to an NBA championship over the New York Knicks. Chamberlain would earn his first Finals MVP award with 19.4 points per game and 23.2 rebounds per game in the series.
The final center spot was a tough decision to make as all of the obvious selections had already been made. With the fifth spot, we decided to go with an underrated contributor to the team during the 1990s, Vlade Divac. Although his best years in the NBA were ahead of him, Divac was as solid as they come in his seven seasons with the team from 1990 through 1996. During this time, he averaged 12.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game and started every game of the 1991 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls.
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