The other day on the Lakers Nation forums, there was a topic posted by one of our writers, Ramneet Singh, discussing the Lakers’ all-time starting five. After several comments discussing Ramneet’s selection, a commenter, known as EvenSteven, suggested the Lakers have had so many great players throughout the years, they deserve to have an all-time first, second and third team.
A light bulb then went off in my head. Selecting all-time Lakers first, second, third and honorable mention teams would make a great article.
For the four teams I comprised, each position is represented. So I simply didn’t just slap together the five best Lakers of all-time for the first 
I also didn’t put the teams together with any kind of on-court cohesion in mind. For instance, I didn’t say: I will put James Worthy on the second team because his playing style meshes better with Shaq than it would with George Mikan on the third team.
Enjoy the article. Any and all comments are gladly welcome.
Honorable Mention
Nick Van Exel – PG
Byron Scott – SG
Jamaal Wilkes – SF
Robert Horry – PF
Wilt Chamberlain – C
Jamaal Wilkes, who was just inducted into the Hall of Fame, spent his time with the Lakers overshadowed by teammates Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Here’s a great example:
Wilkes had one of the best games of his career in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Wilkes finished with 37 points and 10 boards, as the Lakers captured their first championship since 1972.
Wilkes’ great performance quickly became an afterthought, seeing how Magic out-shined his teammate, playing one of the great games in NBA history. Magic, who started at center in place of the injured Kareem, finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Wilkes was not only overshadowed by his teammates, but he is also on the bottom of the franchise’s “elite small forward totem pole.” It was impossible to justify placing Wilkes ahead of Elgin Baylor and James Worthy, two other former franchise greats who rocked the small forward position.
The Lakers are going to have a jersey retirement ceremony for Wilkes on December 28th.
Robert Horry beat out Kurt Rambis for the honorable mention power forward selection. Horry’s clutch heroics were more valuable than the energy and hustle Rambis provided the Lakers in the 80s.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIr6zJ-tVjY
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYQDsZljAOY
Next Page: Third Team
Third Team
Derek Fisher – PG
Michael Cooper – SG
Elgin Baylor – SF
A.C. Green – PF
George Mikan – C
When George Mikan and Elgin Baylor can legitimately be designated to the all-time third team, it’s evident why the Lakers are often considered the greatest franchise in professional sports.
At this point, you are probably thinking: how is George Mikan selected for third team honors instead of Wilt Chamberlain.
It’s very easy. Wilt’s best playing days were way behind him when he joined the Lakers in the late 60s. Mikan, who is considered to be the first truly dominant center in league history, played his entire seven-year career with the Lakers, leading the team to the franchise’s first five championships. Mikan ended his career with averages of 23 points, 13 rebounds and nearly three assists.
Wilt did play on arguably the best Lakers team in franchise history, however. Wilt manned the middle for the 1972 team that won a record 33 consecutive games and 69 games overall, the second most in league history (although it was the highest at the time). The 71-72 Lakers would go on to win the franchise’s first title since making the move from Minneapolis.
But all-in-all, Mikan meant more to the Lakers than The Big Dipper ever did. If Wilt had spent more of his prime years with the Lakers, and helped Jerry West win a couple more championships along the way, he would have likely secured a spot on the first or second team.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-3NlzswBxs
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIiSCwfxR0c&feature=related
Next Page: Second Team
Second Team
Norm Nixon – PG
Gail Goodrich – SG
James Worthy – SF
Vern Mikkelsen – PF
Shaquille O’Neal – C
The all-time second team boasts three players currently in the Hall of Fame and one future member, including a combined 13 championships won by the five players while they were in Los Angeles.
The toughest choice here was picking James Worthy over Elgin Baylor. Baylor’s statistics in both the regular season and playoffs were better than Worthy’s. He also made more All-Star and All-NBA Teams than Big Game James did. But Baylor is lacking something Worthy has three of: championship rings.
Almost tragically, Baylor retired nine games into the 1971-72 season, the same season the Lakers won their first title in Los Angeles.
Simply having more championships is not the only reason why I chose Worthy over Baylor.
Worthy is also associated with the “Showtime” era of the 1980s, which is widely considered the best period of basketball in team history.
Worthy would also occasionally outshine Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the biggest stages. The former North Carolina Tar Heel was named MVP of the 1988 NBA Finals, averaging 21 points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 postseason games that spring.
For casual fans, the names Norm Nixon and Vern Mikkelsen may not jump off the page.
Norm Nixon spent the majority of his days with the Lakers sharing the team’s point guard duties with Magic Johnson. Needless to say, many of his accolades while playing with the Lakers often go unnoticed.
Some of his accomplishments include: making the All-Rookie First Team in 1978, making the 1982 All-Star Team, leading the league in total steals (201) in 1978-79 and winning two championships (’80 and ’82).
Nixon led the team in scoring during the 1982 post-season, averaging 20.4 points a contest.
Vern Mikkelsen never once donned purple and gold, but he represented the blue and yellow valiantly. Mikkelsen spent his entire 10-year career with the Minneapolis Lakers, winning four championships and making four All-NBA Second Teams.
Mikkelsen and Minneapolis center George Mikan formed one of the first dominant frontcourt duos.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTISFJ1Jls4
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLOMEmRQ40U
Next Page: First Team
First Team
Magic Johnson – PG
Jerry West – SG
Kobe Bryant – SF
Pau Gasol – PF
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – C
Picking the franchise’s all-time first team was relatively easy. But I did bend the rules a little bit at the small forward position. Instead of having to make the near impossible decision to leave Kobe or West off the team, I slid Kobe to small forward (he has played at the position sporadically throughout his career) to make room for both of the Laker legends.
Both players have legitimate arguments for being the best Laker of all-time, more or less the best shooting guard.
Pau Gasol stands out like a sore thumb with the other members of the first team. But the Lakers don’t’ necessarily have a tradition of great power forwards.
Also, Gasol has been remarkably good in his time with the Lakers. Two championships, three All-Star Teams and three All-NBA Teams highlight the Spaniard’s resume.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeXZY4eVLlo
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rjREaql2U