The Lakers franchise has been one of the most popular teams in the NBA for decades. The Lakers began their team in the laid-back, quiet state of Minnesota. The team name originated from the nickname of the state, “The Land of the Lakes” thus– Lakers. The team’s first dynasty started in Minneapolis with the great George Mikan.
With Mikan, the Lakers won multiple titles and became the league’s first “powerhouse.” However, the Lakers didn’t stay in Minnesota for long; in 1960 the franchise moved to Los Angeles and was know as the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers then embarked on a new journey that will be filled with championships and legendary names. After the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, they were acquired players like Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlin.
However, their star-studded rosters continued to develop and are still growing today. Laker fans have had the privilege to see players like Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant to name a few.
Several days ago, the Lakers announced that they will unveil a Jerry West statue outside Staples Center; West will join the statues of Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Francis Dayle “Chick” Hearn.
Three great Lakers will have statues of themselves outside Staples, but what player is left out? The Lakers franchise has seen some of the greatest players the league has ever seen, but many of them have not had the honor of a statue. Let’s take a look back at Lakers’ history and see which player or players deserves a statue outside Staples Center.
Next: Mr. Basketball
GEORGE MIKAN
Although every statue currently, and planned to be outside Staples Center is of a Laker based in Los Angeles, George Mikan was the franchises’ original star. Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships and developed the first dynasty the league had ever seen.
Before there was Shaq, before there was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, there was George Mikan. Mikan paved the way for every future star that would shine in the NBA.
Mikan played only seven years of basketball, and he averaged 23.1 points per game. Mikan grabbed thousands of rebounds and blocked a countless number of shots; however, those stats were not recorded during his era.
George Mikan was a both dominant and iconic player for the Lakers and the NBA. Mikan is not remembered by the average person, but his affect on Lakers’ history is something that cannot be described. He paved the way for every star that would wear “Lakers” across their chest.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xEoCsDKXPo
Next: Big Game James
JAMES WORTHY
James Worthy did not play in the Minneapolis era of Lakers’ history, instead he was a star during the “Showtime” period in Los Angeles. Worthy played along side Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and help bring three championships to Los Angeles.
Worthy is most remembered for his performance in the 1988 NBA Finals, as he won Finals MVP. Worthy recorded a triple-double to seal the series against the Detroit Pistons, the 1988 Los Angeles Lakers were the first team to repeat since the Boston Celtics did it 19 years earlier.
“Showtime” would never have existed if it weren’t for the play and skill set of James Worthy. In his 12 year NBA career Worthy played every game for the Lakers, and averaged 17.6 ppg, 3.0 apg, and 5.1 rpg. You can’t mention “Showtime” or Magic Johnson, and not remember the efforts of “Big Game” James Worthy.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHkE2frHbG4
Next: The Big E, The Man With A Thousand Moves
ELGIN BAYLOR
Elgin Baylor was drafted number one overall by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1958 NBA Draft and the team was never the same again. Baylor changed the Lakers from the day he joined the team, and he was an assassin on the court. He once scored 71 point in a game, a record that stood in Lakers’ history until 2006 when Kobe Bryant scored 81.
Although Baylor never won a NBA title, his influence on the franchise is indescribable. In his 14-year basketball career, Baylor averaged 27.4 ppg, 4.3 apg, and 13.5 rpg.
There are very few players who have put up number similar to those of Elgin Baylor. Baylor was a dominant player in the regular season, but he couldn’t find a win to lead the Lakers to a championship. Perhaps the sole reason why Baylor will never enter the conversation of the best Laker ever, is the fact that he does not have a championship ring.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEpS_5Fz19E
Next: The Captain
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did not begin his career with the Lakers, as most of the stars did. Instead, Abdul-Jabbar was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 NBA Draft, and he quickly turned the Bucks into an upper echelon team. Abdul-Jabbar won Rookie of the Year in 1969, but most importantly he was the Finals MVP when the Bucks won the NBA title 1971.
Luckily, the Lakers acquired the dominant big man after he spent six years in Milwaukee. Abdul-Jabbar made an immediate impact on the Lakers, and once he was paired up with Magic Johnson, the league would be changed forever. The dynamic duo brought five championships to Los Angeles in the 1980s, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won his second Finals MVP in 1988.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spent 20 years in the NBA, and currently holds the record for career point total at 38,387 points. Of those 20 years, 14 of them were spent wearing purple and gold. In his stay at Los Angeles, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 20.4 ppg, 3.2 apg and 9.4 rpg.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not only considered a Laker great, but many people believe he is the greatest center to ever play the game.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM2HIUR15s0
Next: The Black Mamba
KOBE BRYANT
Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, but never played a game for the franchise. The young 18 year-old from Lower Merion High School was quickly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, and was paired up with Shaquille O’Neal.
Kobe Bryan struggled early on in his NBA career, but he soon transformed his game and became one of the best players in the league. Kobe Bryant is regarded as perhaps the great Laker of all-time, surpassing Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Bryant has five NBA titles, along with two Finals MVPs. He has set numerous franchise and NBA records, including becoming the Lakers all-time leading scorer, knocking off the “Logo” Jerry West.
Kobe Bryant is also making a case for being the best player to ever play in the NBA, a title which many people give to Michael Jordan. As of 2010, Kobe has spent each and every minute as a Los Angeles Laker.
In his 15-year NBA career, starting at the age of 18, Kobe has averaged 25.3 ppg, 4.7 apg, and 5.3 rpg. What is most astonishing is the fact that Kobe Bryant is still in the NBA and playing for the Lakers.
All the other players in this article are 10-20 years in retirement, and they may not get a statue. Kobe Bryant still has several years left in this league and many people, including myself, think he will be the next Laker player to have a statue outside Staples Center.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuWOLsvICJo
Next: Honorable Mentions
WILT CHAMBERLIN
Wilt Chamberlin joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1968, and spent his last five years with the franchise. When Chamberlin joined the Lakers, he was nearing the end of his career and he was seeing a decline in his game. Wilt helped the Lakers win the 1972 NBA Championship, but that was the only success the Lakers saw during the Chamberlin era. Perhaps Wilt Chamberlin would be in the “statue” conversation if he had produced more for the Lakers, and if he won more titles while in Los Angeles.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY_nMftF_M0
GAIL GOODRICH
Gail Goodrich’s number 25 jersey is hanging from the Staples Center roster, and he is somewhat an unknown player to many fans. Goodrich played for 14 years, and has two stays in Los Angeles. Goodrich played for the Lakers from 1965-1968 and then again from 197-1976. In his time with the Lakers, Goodrich averaged 18.7 ppg, 4.1 apg and 3.0 rpg.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ug-ikmg6Fg
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
Shaquille O’Neal was the most dominant big man when he was in the prime of his career. Shaq helped the Lakers win three-straight titles, and the dynamic duo of Kobe and Shaq was unstoppable. O’Neal was the Finals MVP from 2000-2002, averaged 23.02 ppg, 2.58 apg, and 10.05 rpg in his nine years in Los Angeles. Shaquille O’Neal may have joined the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers’ arch rival, but he brought the franchise to stardom for the early years of the 2000s.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZnq33YreBg
BRYON SCOTT
Byron Scott was drafted fourth by the San Diego Clippers in the 1983 NBA Draft, but he was traded off to the Los Angeles Lakers. Scott spent 11 season in Los Angeles with two stays, one from 1983-1993 and his final stay was in the 1996-1997 season. Scott started and ended his career in Los Angeles, with an average of 15.05 ppg, 3.20 apg and 3.15 rpg. Byron Scott helped Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar win three titles, while he became a fan favorite in Los Angeles.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyIr0puD2Ow