The Debate Rages On: Is Kobe Bryant the Greatest LA Lakers Star of All Time?
It’s no secret that Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest Los Angeles Lakers players in history. His tremendous accomplishments and longevity have earned him a place in the conversation of who is the best Laker of all time. The Lakers have a long and rich history that includes 16 championships and some of the biggest names in the sport who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Acknowledging Kobe’s greatness is an impressive feat, especially when considering the level of talent that has come before him.
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George Mikan is the first NBA legend. He was an incredible big man with unparalleled abilities that enabled the Minneapolis Lakers to win five championships in six years. Although his tenure in the league was limited to just six seasons, he was still a dominant force, leading the league in scoring twice and rebounding twice. Despite the brevity of his time in the NBA, Mikan deserves inclusion in the discussion of all-time greats. His accomplishments in such a short period are remarkable and unforgettable.
Just two years after Mikan’s departure, the Minneapolis Lakers were lucky enough to pick Elgin Baylor in the 1958 NBA draft. His time with the Lakers saw a revolution in the way basketball was both watched and played, as he became the first player in the league to perform above the rim. After moving to Los Angeles in his third season, the team gained a large fanbase due to their radio broadcasts and preseason games against the Celtics, creating a rivalry.
Baylor was enlisted in the armed forces, which meant he had to miss a lot of games due to traveling between the military base and his basketball team. He still managed to perform remarkably well, averaging more than 30 points per game during the regular season on three separate occasions and leading all scorers in playoff points per game four times. In addition, his rebounding numbers were similar to that of Dennis Rodman.
Baylor’s career averages of 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game can deceive people into believing he was a center when in reality he was a small forward. His ability to score, rebound and make plays earned him 10 All-NBA first-team selections. Unfortunately, the numerous losses in the finals of the Lakers dimmed his reputation in the history of the team. Eight losses in the championship with Baylor on the team cannot be overlooked when considering his legacy.
In comparison, Jerry West is one of the most esteemed individuals in Lakers lore. During his playing days, he was widely considered to be the greatest shooting guard the NBA had ever seen and gained the moniker of “Mr. Clutch” due to his play in tight situations.
West was an outstanding scorer, shooter, and passer, as his career averages of 27 points and 6.7 assists per game on 47.4% shooting demonstrate. He was also an imposing defender, routinely shutting down the opposing team’s guards.
His phenomenal offensive and defensive abilities resulted in his regular selection for both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.
West was a truly remarkable player, so much so that he was awarded the 1968-69 NBA Finals MVP award in spite of the Lakers being the losing team. He is still the only player from the losing side to receive the honour. His legacy is such that the NBA has adopted his silhouette for its official logo, cementing him as a basketball icon. Although West has been widely lauded for his achievements, it is worth noting that he took part in nine finals but only won once. This can be contrasted with the impressive record of his fellow Hall of Famer Baylor who was victorious on eight occasions.
The fourteen years spent by a player with the Purple and Gold are arguably the most impressive span of any individual that ever donned a Lakers jersey – even Wilt Chamberlain. The ‘Big Man’ undeniably had a remarkable five years with the team, yet that only accounts for a fraction of the overall time spent by others who have worn the jersey.
It is noteworthy that Chamberlain was still a formidable scorer and tenacious rebounder in the later parts of his career in the NBA. He was a major contributor to the Lakers’ record-breaking 33-game winning streak and the Championship in the 1971-72 season, averaging 23.2 points and 19.4 rebounds per game in the Finals and being named the 1971-72 Finals MVP. However, his long-term presence in the Lakers hinders his legacy as the greatest Laker of all time, along with that of Gail Goodrich and Shaquille O’Neal, both of whom spent nine and eight seasons respectively with the team despite their remarkable achievements.
Shaquille O’Neal’s peak is still considered the most powerful phase in basketball history. It corresponds to the Lakers’ three-peat championship titles in which he was awarded three Finals MVP awards. During those championship celebrations, Bryant was O’Neal’s ally and eventually developed into his partner instead of merely his support.
Bryant’s ability to drive to the basket and make key shots in tight situations was central to the Lakers’ three championships, forcing opponents to devise a more intricate strategy to try and contain him. Even when Shaquille O’Neal left in 2004, Bryant’s knack for clutch scoring and playmaking remained undiminished, allowing him to remain an unstoppable force.
He achieved remarkable successes that most could only imagine, such as outperforming the Dallas Mavericks during three quarters or astonishingly scoring 81 points in one game against the Toronto Raptors. After some unsuccessful playoff beginning rounds, the Lakers gathered a more talented lineup and Bryant managed to guide them to three consecutive finals between 2007-08 to 2009-10. His contribution in terms of play-making and points was invaluable during the period in which the Lakers earned two consecutive championships.
That era is widely regarded as the most successful period of both personal and collective accomplishments for Bryant. He earned himself an MVP title as well as two Final MVP awards. With O’Neal no longer in the team, his status was further elevated and this contributed to the building of the legendary aura that surrounds him. As a result, other great Lakers from the Hall of Fame such as James Worthy, Jamaal Wilkes, and Bob McAdoo are seen to be less significant than Bryant.
The fact that he has been around for so long gives him an outstanding grasp of the Lakers organization in comparison to earlier players. His career stats and where they fit in the Lakers’ all-time rankings are incredible:
- 31,617 points (most in franchise history)
- 1,239 games played (most in franchise history)
- 45,390 minutes played (most in franchise history)
- 11,024 field goals made (most in franchise history)
- 24,301 field goals attempted (most in franchise history)
- 1,637 three-point field goals made (most in franchise history)
- 4,879 three-point field goals attempted (most in franchise history)
- 7,932 free throws made (most in franchise history)
- 9,468 free throws attempted (most in franchise history)
- 1,430 offensive rebounds (seventh in franchise history)
- 5,145 defensive rebounds (second in franchise history)
- 6,575 total rebounds (third in franchise history)
- 5,887 assists (third in franchise history)
- 1,828 steals (most in franchise history)
- 619 blocks (seventh in franchise history)
Given Bryant’s fantastically impressive showings during his 17-year run with the Lakers, it’s no surprise that his name is featured prominently in the team’s record books. His skill and dominance have been undeniable ever since he became an essential part of the side, and thus puts him in the same category as very few others as the ‘greatest Laker of all time’.
Kobe Bryant’s achievement of winning the 2010 NBA Finals against the Celtics was a feat that tied him with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in terms of the number of championships won with the Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson is regarded as the benchmark for point guards, and his all-encompassing skill has put him at the top of all-time greats. His ability to snatch rebounds, run the length of the court and distribute accurately to his teammates was unparalleled. He was a master in the half court, able to flawlessly direct the offense and dissect opposing defenses.
Johnson proved to be a formidable scoring force with scarcely any deficiencies. His considerable height combined with his two-handed skill set meant he found success in the paint, regularly making hook shots. He was consistently able to find the basket and was an intimidating figure when multiple defenders tried to contain him. Above all else though, Johnson’s teams were invariably successful; over the course of his 13-year NBA career, he featured in nine championship showdowns.
Johnson revolutionized basketball, transforming it into an exciting and captivating form of competition. His teams frequently pushed up the court in transition and performed powerful dunks whenever possible. He electrified the game with his stunning no-look passes, setting up his teammates for easy scores.
The success of the Lakers in the 1980s earned them the nickname “Showtime”. Johnson was a formidable threat on offense, pacing the NBA in assists per game and also scoring consistently.
His electrifying play on the court combined with his stellar playoff performances led to him claiming three MVP awards and three Finals MVP honors. Johnson is widely considered to be one of the best Lakers ever and is in the top five greatest players of all time in many people’s eyes. His powerful game and remarkable achievements, with the exception of a few others, are unparalleled. One of those other players is the terrific shooter and one of his former teammates, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
One may ponder if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s time with the Milwaukee Bucks was enough to justify him as the most outstanding athlete in the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. The answer is simple: yes. Abdul-Jabbar devoted 20 years to the NBA, 14 of which were with the Lakers. Given his remarkable performance throughout his entire career, his name is prominent in the team’s annals. He was influential from the moment he joined the Lakers up until his retirement at the age of 41.
Standing at 7’2”, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was an unstoppable force on the offensive end for the Lakers. While Johnson was the engine for the team’s exciting plays and fast breaks, Abdul-Jabbar provided a reliable scoring option. When the Lakers needed points in the half-court, they often turned to the center and he rarely disappointed. As the all-time leading scorer with a career field-goal percentage of 55.9%, Abdul-Jabbar was a reliable source of points. In addition to his scoring, he was also a great rebounder and rim protector earlier in his career. While his production in these areas declined as he aged, his numbers would still be enough to earn an All-NBA selection if he played today.
Between the ages of 34 and 41, the player averaged an impressive 19.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game, and a 56.6 percent shooting rate from the field, according to Basketball-Reference. Furthermore, he was the recipient of a Finals MVP award. It should be noted that this was all achieved in the later stages of his career.
For context, only 34 players have achieved such numbers or more over the course of their entire careers. In other words, his decline as a Laker was still better than the prime of most players. During his time with the Lakers, he was a formidable scorer and his iconic skyhook shot is a landmark of the sport.
Abdul-Jabbar was blessed with amazing talent, poise, and accuracy when shooting near the basket. For him, it was a simple and efficient process to put the ball through the hoop.
His remarkable ability earned him three MVP awards, a Finals MVP title, and numerous choices for All-NBA and All-Defensive teams while playing for the Lakers (in total, he has six MVPs and two Finals MVPs).
Due to the lack of showiness in his game, Abdul-Jabbar is often overlooked when considering the greatest players of all time. Yet, his accomplishments speak for themselves and place him among the most elite Lakers.
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