The Greatest Laker

[LCGATOR]

Kobe 33643, West 25192, Kareem 24176, Baylor 23149

 

[78]

People forget about West and Baylor. That '72 team was great.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

I guess George Mikan gets no love.

 

[78]

Three all-time teams. Which one wins the round-robin?

Lakers
Gasol
Baylor
Jabbar
Bryant
Johnson

Note: You're wondering why no West or Worthy. Bryant beats out West for the #2 and Baylor tops Worthy at SF. Where the franchise is thin is at power forward. Gasol edges Odom. And, yes, Kareem over Wilt by a hair.

Celtics
McHale
Bird
Russell
Havlicek
Cousy

Note: This is as close to perfection as it gets. Not the most athletic team -- too many white guys -- but it could do it all and look good doing it.

Bulls
Rodman
Pippen
Gilmore
Jordan
Rose

Note: You could make a case for Grant over Rodman, but Rodman was perfect for Tex Winter's triangle. People forget Gilmore played for the Bulls in the late '70s to early '80s. Rose plays the first 10 minutes of the opener and tears an ACL. BJ Armstrong subs.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

I guess George Mikan gets no love.

Nor Hot Rod Hundley

 

[stephenPE]

Three all-time teams. Which one wins the round-robin?

Lakers
Gasol
Baylor
Jabbar
Bryant
Johnson

Note: You're wondering why no West or Worthy. Bryant beats out West for the #2 and Baylor tops Worthy at SF. Where the franchise is thin is at power forward. Gasol edges Odom. And, yes, Kareem over Wilt by a hair.

Celtics
McHale
Bird
Russell
Havlicek
Cousy

Note: This is as close to perfection as it gets. Not the most athletic team -- too many white guys -- but it could do it all and look good doing it.

Bulls
Rodman
Pippen
Gilmore
Jordan
Rose

Note: You could make a case for Grant over Rodman, but Rodman was perfect for Tex Winter's triangle. People forget Gilmore played for the Bulls in the late '70s to early '80s. Rose plays the first 10 minutes of the opener and tears an ACL. BJ Armstrong subs.

Russell teams you can take it to the bank

 

[Marine1]

Fifth behind Happy Hairston.

No love for Jim McMillan?

 

[ChiefGator]

Not Kobe, there are several better. West for one, Kareem for another, and Magic for a third perhaps the best and the only one who actually played all five positions in the NBA. I like Wilt but his offense is very suspect, not to mention free throws. How about Shaq as well Kobe would have been less effective without him.

 

[78]

No love for Jim McMillan?

Decent player but definitely not in Baylor's or Worthy's league at SF.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

1966-67 Philadelphia 76'ers. Beat the Bill Russell's Celtics to win the NBA Championship

C Wilt Chamberlain
F Luke Jackson
F Chet Walker
G Wali Jones
G Hal Greer
Sixth Man Billy Cunningham

 

[veroG8tr]

Can’t stand the lakers. Boston Larry Bird fan. After they all left I quit watch the NBA.

 

[gatordad3]

Who was the the big Laker fan that once raved about Smush Parker? I also remember how some of you on GSMB pounced on him every time he mentioned the Lakers. This was about a year or 2 after Shaq left the Lakers for the Heat.

1. Magic Johnson
2. Kareem
3. Kobe

 

[gatordad3]

Can’t stand the lakers. Boston Larry Bird fan. After they all left I quit watch the NBA.

That's when some Laker and Celts, along with Sixer fans became Chicago Bulls fans.

 

[78]

Who was the the big Laker fan that once raved about Smush Parker? I also remember how some of you on GSMB pounced on him every time he mentioned the Lakers. This was about a year or 2 after Shaq left the Lakers for the Heat.

1. Magic Johnson
2. Kareem
3. Kobe

The guy has the most out there resume I think I have ever seen. Still playing at age 36 for the Albany Patroons.

Stops along the way.

Rio Grande
Guangdong
Spartak Saint Petersburg
Guaros de Lara
Indios SFM
Cibona
Peristeri
Back to Guaros de Lara
Mon-Alius Madimos
Etoile Sportive de Rades
Maghreb de Fes

Can you say foreign?

 

[InstiGATOR1]

Kobe, is easily one of the 3 greatest Lakers of all time. He's a top 10 all-time player
1. Magic
2. Kareem
3. Kobe

You do realized this was greatest Lakers of ALL TIME, not the greatest Lakers during the period you can remember. Leaving the Logo off your list is amazing not to mention Mikan and a very good case can be made for Baylor being in the top 5 too.

 

[Marine1]

Decent player but definitely not in Baylor's or Worthy's league at SF.

No doubt....but just playing off your Happy Hairston reference.

 

[Marine1]

People forget about West and Baylor. That '72 team was great.

Keep in mind that Elgin was hurt early in the 72-73 super year and retired. Wilt, Happy, Jim, Gail and Jerry were the starters on this 69-13 team that had a 33 game winning streak. This was my favorite team and the team I believe was the greatest in history. Wilt was all-world defensively, Happy became the first player to ever play alongside Wilt and pull down 1,000 rebounds, McMillan was steady and Jerry West and Gail Goodrich were a phenomenal backcourt. Keith Erickson and Pat Riley coming off the bench.

I also loved the 82-83 76’ers and don’t think they ever get enough love in discussions of top teams in history.

 

[Theologator]

You do realized this was greatest Lakers of ALL TIME, not the greatest Lakers during the period you can remember. Leaving the Logo off your list is amazing not to Mikan and a very good case can be made for Baylor being in the top 5 too.

I’ll hazard my list...although I’m arguing with myself as I write it.

1. Magic
2. Kareem
3. Wilt
4. West
5. Mikan
6. Kobe
7. Baylor
8. Shaq
9. Worthy

 

[InstiGATOR1]

I’ll hazard my list...although I’m arguing with myself as I write it.

1. Magic
2. Kareem
3. Wilt
4. West
5. Mikan
6. Kobe
7. Baylor
8. Shaq
9. Worthy

Not a bad list and I understand the arguing with yourself as you write it. My view is that Johnson is the greats NBA player of all time in a close race with Russell, so to me he clearly belongs on top of the list.

 

[T REX]

No love for Jim McMillan?

Sounds too much like Jim McElwain.