Best of the Best Part 1

Welcome back! This is the first entry for my blog for the 2015-2016 season.

Who’s excited about the new season? I am! 

There's a lot going on with the Lakers’ youth movement, and then there’s the return, and possible swan song, of Kobe Bean Bryant. Does this team have what it takes to get to the post season? My preview of the upcoming season will be coming in about two weeks. This first post is just to get the juices flowing.

Today I will be rehashing a very popular blog theme: the best of the best. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss my choices for the best Laker players that have played each of the traditional positions (center, power forward, small forward, shooting guard and point guard). Today’s post will be part 1 and will cover the forwards and centers. Next week I will post part 2 which will cover the guards. 

My choices are subjective and open for discussion and disagreement. Please feel free to voice your opinions and/or choices in the comments section! My selections are based on 35 plus years of watching the purple and gold, and from years of researching (with books , videos, etc.) the Lakers from yesteryear.

Here are the ground rules, as all lists of these types must have some to be credible:

Karl Malone and Gary Payton 2003

*There will not be any "one and done" players here. The individuals who've made my lists must have been in a Lakers uniform for at least two seasons, and have made a continuous contribution to the team's success. Don't expect Karl Malone, Gary Payton, or Maurice Lucas to make the cut.

Adrian Dantley

*Great players out of, or not quite yet into, their prime, who only spent a two seasons or less on the team also didn’t make the grade. Players like Connie Hawkins, James Edwards, Ron Boone, John Salley, Ron Harper and Adrian Dantley are good examples. They each had fine careers, but none of them stayed very long with the Lakers, or had their best years in the organization.

*The rankings will consist of what I feel are the three best players in each position with one honorable mention.

1952-1953 Minneapolis Lakers

*This favorites list of mine only covers the Los Angeles Lakers, and will not include any of the fine players from the Minneapolis franchise.

In the words of Mills Lane, “let’s get it on!”

CENTERS

 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

#1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The Captain. He is the leading scorer in NBA history with 38,387 points, most of which were scored for the Lakers. For nearly 20 years Kareem had the greatest single offensive weapon in the league: the sky hook. For 14 of those years, he showcased that hook in Los Angeles. His resume includes numerous NBA records, six NBA championships (five with the Lakers), and of course, that hook shot that no one could ever hope to stop. 

Shaq may have been most dominant, and Chamberlain may have been best in his era, but Kareem is arguably one of the best, if not the best, player of all time. I'll throw him in that mix with Jordan, James, Kobe, Magic, Bird, and The Big O anytime. 

Kareem Shooting over Bill Walton circa Late 1970's

Aside from being the NBA career points leader, he finished 5th in total rebounds, and 3rd in total blocked shots. He would have been the all-time shot block leader, but the NBA didn't track that stat until Kareem’s 5th season in the league. He is still the gold standard for the center position as far as I'm concerned. 

Shaquille O' Neal

#2 Shaquille O' Neal

Some players are still nursing their lumps that they received from the original Superman. The man with a many nicknames, many of which he gave himself, Shaq gave no quarter to any opponent. He didn't have the eloquence or finesse of Jabbar, instead he just he used his overwhelming power to rule the paint. Shaq was all meat and potatoes. 

For eight of his nineteen seasons, he dominated the pivot in a Lakers uniform, and he earned three of his four championship rings while in Southern California. When Phil Jackson reigned him in during the 1999-2000 season, Shaq became a legitimate center, and with that, the 2nd great wave of Lakers championships began.

 

 

Wilt Chamberlain Shooting over Willis Reed

#3 Wilt Chamberlain

Known as the Big Dipper, or Wilt the Stilt, Chamberlain is the leading rebounder in NBA history, once averaged 50 points a game during one season, and scored a 100 points in a single game. He came to the Lakers at the tail end of his career spending his last five seasons in LA. 

He had already earned one ring, but added a second one when he helped the Lakers finally break through to win the championship in 1972. The late Mr. Chamberlain was an imposing figure who still holds a few NBA records, and was the most dominating big man on offense in his era. 

Vlade Divac

Honorable Mention Vlade Divac This isn't as much of a stretch as you might imagine, at least in my mind. During the seven years he wore the purple and gold (not including his very brief stint in the 2004/2005 season) Vlade did his best to live up to those who came before him. Unfortunately his years were sandwiched between Kareem and Shaq, so many overlook his reign as the team's big man. 

Despite the lingering criticism of his soft play, he was usually one of the top 20 rebounders and shot blockers in the league, and he consistently averaged double figures in scoring. Oh and one last note: we did eventually trade him for the 15th player picked in the 1996 draft...a young kid by the name of Kobe Bryant.

POWER FORWARDS

Pau Gasol

#1 Pau Gasol

This is an obvious call for me for Pau. The power forward position has always been a bread and butter position in the Lakers organization, mostly manned by defensive and rebounding specialists. Pau brought pizzazz to the position.  He spent five and a half seasons at the 4, and most of them were very productive. 

The team went to three finals in a row during his tenure, and twice brought home the Larry O' Brien trophy. With the exception of his final "D'Antoni" season, Pau was always in the top 15 of the league's rebounders, shot blockers and scorers. And most important, he helped us beat the Celtics in 2010!


  

 

Kurt Rambis, aka Clark Kent

#2 Kurt Rambis

This was a tough one: Kurt Rambis or A.C. Green? I choose Clark Kent, not because he inspired me to wear glasses when I played in high school, but because he played the position with so much heart and soul. At 6'8, he was often smaller then his opponent, but he always had the bigger heart. 

Rambis Scrapping with Larry Bird

He defended and rebounded like a wild man. He often led the league in rebounds per minute, and his toughness helped the Lakers to four Championships during the Showtime era. 

 

A.C. Green

#3 A.C. Green

As I mentioned, choosing between Green and Rambis was challenging. A.C. was every bit the hard worker Rambis was, and he added a bit of a scoring touch when needed. He wasn't as sturdy as Rambis, but he was a scrapper nonetheless. He helped the Lakers to 2 championships in the 80's, and came back in 1999-2000 to man the position for one more championship with Shaq and Kobe. 

 

Happy Hairston

Honorable Mention Happy Hairston

For nearly six seasons in the early 70's, the late Happy Hairston was a workhorse for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a consistent double-double guy in points and rebounds, and was a member of the Lakers’ first NBA championship team in 1972. During that championship run he averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds per contest. I always felt that he never got the recognition he deserved. 

SMALL FORWARD

James Worthy

#1 James Worthy

This was another tough choice. For fans a bit older than me, I'm sure you’d agree that Elgin Baylor could easily be in #1. My primary reason for this selection is, quite honestly, that I grew up watching Worthy during the Showtime era. Had Worthy been on any other team, he would have been the #1 scoring option, and his numbers would have been as gaudy as Baylor's. 

That being said, Big Game James was nearly unstoppable. He shared the court with Kareem, Magic Johnson, Bryon Scott and the Green/Rambis duringone of the greatest decades in Lakers history. When it was all said and done, this top 50 NBA player had earned three rings, appeared in seven NBA finals, and was selected as the 1988 Finals Most Valuable Player.

Elgin Baylor

#2 Elgin Baylor

Watching videos of Elgin Baylor, and reading about his obscene numbers in points and rebounds, it amazes me that the Lakers teams of the 60's never won a championship. He and Jerry West were the marquee players of the decade in LA. 

How does a 6'5 forward average nearly 20 boards per game? He averaged over 38 points and 18 rebounds a game during the 1961-1962 team, and over time he redefined the small forward position with his array of moves and spectacular play. Unfortunately injuries forced him to retire early in the 1971-1972 season, the same campaign that the Lakers finally took home a title.  I hope Baylor received an honorary ring.

Jamaal Wilkes

#3 Jamaal Wilkes

Silk, as good as he was, falls to number 3 here, but don't let that fool you. Wilkes was a key factor in several Lakers championships of the early 80's. His smooth jump shot was a bi tunorthodox, but usually reliable. 

Wilkes was also was a fair rebounder, and played tough defense against the likes of Dr. J, George Gervin, and Larry Bird. He was a perfect fit for running the breakwith Magic, Kareem and Norm Nixon. He earned three rings in LA, and was recently voted into the NBA Hall of Fame.

Robert Horry Nailing the Famous Shot over Chris Webber 2002

Honorable Mention Robert Horry 

I had to find room for him somewhere. Big Shot Rob was more than just a clutch 3-point shooter for the Lakers. He was asked to do a little of everything in his six and a half seasons in Los Angeles. He was a natural small forward who was often asked to play power forward. 

Horry Nailing A Three during the 2001 Playoffs

 Some seasons, Horry was the main guy at the 4 spot. If nothing else, Horry will be remembered as the Laker who hit the big 3 pointer in the 2002 Western Conference Semi-Finals over the outstretched hands of the cry baby Chris Webber. It was a shot for the ages.



Well that's it for today. Next week I will post part 2 of the Best of the Best which will cover the 2 guard positions. In two weeks, I'll post my season preview.

Till next week, keep it together folks!