No other team in NBA history has a star-studded collection like the Lakers. Throughout their history, many of the game’s greatest players have donned the jersey at some point, including Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
On Twitter on Saturday, fans tried to determine which of six Laker greats (Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and LeBron James) would earn the title of greatest Laker of all time – and the result , as expected, were varied.
First, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Shaquille O’Neal. With three title wins as a Laker and a reputation as the most dominant big man in NBA history, it’s pretty crazy that he was left off the chart, and Lakers fans have a right to be upset by this.
Still, it’s unlikely that changed anything. Although there wasn’t a unanimous answer, most fans chose between Magic Johnson or Magic Johnson, and it makes a lot of sense.
For his part, Kobe has been part of the franchise for 20 years and is probably the athlete who has embodied the city/franchise the most. Put that alongside all of his career accomplishments, and it’s safe to say he’s the greatest Laker of all time.
But there is also Kareem, who is 12x All-Star, 10x All-NBA player, 5x champion and Hall of Famer in the first round. He revitalized the Lakers during a dark time in the team’s history and had an impact on the game and the franchise that will never be erased.
Fans may try to defend other players, but these guys are really the ones you think of when you consider the Lakers historically.
But what do you think? Who takes the cake in your mind, and which names deserve to join the conversation? Finding the answer may not be as easy as you think.