Throughout the history of the NBA, the draft has helped struggling teams return to glory. Teams would depend on their young players to blossom into superstars, and bring championships to the franchise. The Lakers have been very successful in terms of drafting talented players from high school and college. Although Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started their careers with different teams, the Lakers have selected many hall-of-fame players.
The Lakers’ draft picks have brought glory to the franchise, and some of them have had unforgettable careers. The special players have impacted the Lakers in a positive way the second their name was called on draft night. Let’s take a look at the top ten draft picks by the Lakers’ franchise.
Next: The Yugoslavian
10. Vlade Divac.
In the 1989 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected the seven-foot Vlade Divac from Yugoslavia. Divac had a successful career overseas, and the Lakers were confident that he would see the same results in the NBA. Divac fit in great with the team, and he was enjoying his time in Los Angeles with Magic Johnson. Divac had to back-up Kareem Adbul-Jabbar but he learned a lot from the future hall-of-famer.
Vlade Divac spent his first seven seasons with the Lakers and he also played his last season in the league with the purple-and-gold. As a Laker, Divac averaged 12.2 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game. Divac edged out Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones for the spot due to a longer career in Los Angeles and his statistics were more impressive than both Exel and Jones.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fapUaUaRt-Q
Next: Ninth Best Draft Pick
9. A.C. Green
Green had the luxury to win championships with both Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. Green helped the Showtime Lakers win two titles, and his veteran leadership brought glory back to Los Angeles in 2000.
A.C. Green took care of all the dirty work for the Lakers, but his efforts never showed up on the box score. Green made the hockey assists and his quick hands allowed for second-chances opportunities for his team. While wearing the purple-and-gold, Green averaged 10.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg.
Next: The Big Man
8. Andrew Bynum
The Los Angeles Lakers were not very successful during the middle years of the 2000s. Kobe Bryant was in the prime of his career, but the rest of the team was not performing at the same level. The Lakers had won three consecutives titles earlier in the decade, but they failed to make the playoffs in 2005.
In the 2005 NBA Draft the Lakers had the 13th pick, and they decided to select a seven-foot high school player. Andrew Bynum, from St. Joseph High School (NJ), provided the Lakers with size and length at the center position. However, it took Bynum a few years to get situated with the Lakers and the NBA style of play. Kobe Bryant had been caught on tape criticizing the big man, and it seemed as though Bynum might have been traded.
Nevertheless, Bynum developed his skills and he has helped the Lakers win two straight titles. Bynum’s length and defensive presence is something the Lakers cannot replace, and he has been playing great along side Pau Gasol.
Andrew Bynum is currently in his sixth NBA season, and he has averaged 15.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIKdjarkpSs
Next: The Seventh Best Draft Pick
7. Norm Nixon
Norm Nixon also helped the Lakers win the 1980 and 1982 NBA championships, and he was selected as in all-star in 1982. Nixon averaged 16.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 7.9 apg with his time in Los Angeles.
Next: Kobe’s Draft Partner
6. Derek Fisher
Derek Fisher is a consummate professional, and he is loved by every Laker fan. Fisher entered the league with Laker- great Kobe Bryant in the 1996 NBA Draft. Fisher was selected with the 24th pick and he spent his first eight season with the in Los Angeles. In those early years, Fisher worked along side Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal and he won three titles with the Lakers. Fisher is most famous for his game-winning shot vs. the Spurs with .04 seconds left in the game.
However, Fisher left the Lakers in the 2004-2005 season, and he stayed away for three seasons. After his daughter had been diagnosed with a serious illness, Fisher decided to rejoin the Lakers in order to be closer to his child.
Derek Fisher is currently in his 12th season with the purple-and-gold, and he helped the Lakers win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. As usual, Fisher hit clutch shots in the playoffs and he was an important player in the Lakers’ championships.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVPGcKD5NhE
Next: “Coop”
5. Michael Cooper
Michael Cooper was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 60th pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Cooper spent his entire 12-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he quickly became a fan-favorite in the Forum.
Cooper played during the Showtime era with Magic Johnson and Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, and he won five NBA titles. In the 1986-1987 season, Cooper was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the only player to win the award in Lakers’ history. At the end of his career, Cooper averaged 11.8 ppg, 5.6 apg and 4.2 rpg.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZkIGYtCegY
Next: Big Game James
4. James Worthy
James Worthy was the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1982 NBA Draft. Worthy played at the University of North Carolina, and he had a successful career as a Tar Heel. However, Worthy would be paired up with Magic Johnson and the duo won three NBA championships together.
Worthy spent his entire career with the Lakers, and he was an explosive offensive player; Worthy could create his own shot, and he won the 1988 NBA Finals MVP. In his twelve season with the Lakers, Worthy averaged 17.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 3.0 apg.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHkE2frHbG4&feature=related
Next: The Big E, The Man With a Thousand Moves
3. Elgin Baylor
In the 1958 NBA draft, the Lakers selected Elgin Baylor with the first overall pick. Baylor made an immediate impact on the Lakers, and his offensive abilities were breathtaking. Baylor had the ability to score 30 points on any given night, and he could make baskets from every where on the court.
Baylor played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he never won a NBA championship. Baylor had hall-of-fame numbers, but the only item missing from his resume was a championship ring. Elgin Baylor averaged 24.4 ppg, 13.5 rpg and 4.3 apg with his time as a Laker.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEpS_5Fz19E
Next: The Logo
2. Jerry West
Jerry West was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers the 2nd pick of the 1960 NBA Draft. West was an amazing player, and he was the face of the franchise during the era. West also spent his entire career with the Lakers, but he was only able to win one championship.
Despite the fact that West was playing along side Wilt Chamberlain, he did not experience a lot of success in the Finals. West retired the game as the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer, and in 1980 he was inducted into the basketball hall-of-fame. The current NBA logo is designed after Jerry West, and many believe West was one of the greatest players to every play in the league.
In his illustrious 14-year NBA career, Jerry West averaged 27.0 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game and 6.7 assists per game.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FCoifWtapc
Next: Magic
1. Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Magic Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. Johnson had a remarkable career in Michigan State, and his success carried over to the NBA. Johnson had charisma, and his bright smile had the ability to light up a room. He was the catalyst to the Lakers Showtime era, and he was the ultimate NBA point guard.
Johnson ran the show for the Lakers, and he brought five championships to Los Angeles. The Great Western Forum cherished Johnson, and he is regarded as the greatest point guard in NBA history. There would have not been Showtime without the play and skill set of Magic Johnson. Lakers fans should thank Magic Johnson for the glory and success he brought to the Lakers in the 1980s.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson spent 13 season with the Lakers, and he averaged 19.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 11.0 apg. As for individual accolades, Johnson was a two-time all-star game MVP, two-time regular season MVP and a three-time Finals MVP.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cEYGS8rc3I&feature=related