What is your All-Lakers First Team of all time?

Question

Mine Would be:
C- Kareem Abdul-Jabaar- Most total points in the history of the NBA, six championships, six MVP's.

PF- Elgin Baylor- Best scorer other than Wilt in the 60's.

SF- James Worthy- Magic's sidekick in the 80's and his favorite alley-oop connection.

SG- Kobe Bryant- Holds Laker record for most points in a game (81), 3 Championships, 2 scoring titles, '97 dunk champ, best overall scorer in Lakers history.

PG- Magic Johnson- 5 Championships in the 80's, Holds record for most career apg. 6'9" point guard.

Answer 1

G Magic Johnson

G Jerry West (averaged 29 ppg in regular season over an entire career (I don't know what Kobe's is) and averaged 29 ppg in the NBA playoffs over an entire career in 8 NBA Finals unfortunately 6 of those NBA Finals were against Bill Russell's Celtics, and Jerry West only had 1 ring in a 14 year career as all of his prime Jerry West had to compete in the playoffs against either Bob Pettit in the West (1 NBA title) or Bill Russell (11 NBA titles from the East) and Wilt Chamberlain (2 NBA titles including 1 NBA title from the East) during Jerry West's prime of 8 NBA Finals.

F Elgin Baylor (0 NBA rings for the same reason as Jerry West as all of Baylor's 6 NBA Finals were against Bill Russell's Celtics, but Baylor was the most prolific scorer of the Chamberlain era second only to Chamberlain himself)

F James Worthy

C Wilt Chamberlain (led the entire NBA in assists 1 time, led the NBA in scoring 7 times, led the NBA in FG% 9 times (including 72.7% in his last year with the Lakers before jumping to the ABA), and led the NBA in rebounding 11 times)

sixth man Bob McAdoo (3 NBA scoring titles, 2 NBA rings with the "Showtime" Lakers)

head coach Bill Sharman (led the Lakers to 33 straight wins)


Off the bench would be:

G Gail Goodrich
G-F Michael Cooper
F Keith Wilkes
C Kareem Abdul Jabbar (who is a three dimensional player versus Shaq being a one dimensional player; although, Shaq gradually improved with experience but not beyond much of one dimension)

The rest of the team would be role players. Well actually, the above includes a number of role players in Bob McAdoo, Gail Goodrich, Michael Cooper, and Keith Wilkes versus the superstars Magic, Baylor, Worthy, Chamberlain, and Kareem.

Answer 2

I assume you're talking about an All-Laker Starting 5 of All-Time. In that case, here is my starting lineup composed of players who have played for the Lakers throughout NBA history.


PG - Magic Johson
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Elgin Baylor
PF - Karl Malone
C - Wilt Chamberlin


It was a tough choice between James Worthy and Karl Malone but I went with Malone because he was the better defender (made a numerous appearances on the NBA's All-Defensive 1st Team). I picked Chamberlin over Shaq and Kareem because he was the most dominant and the best athlete who could dominate any era. He was literally the MJ and Shaq of his time.

Answer 3

Center: Wilt Chamberlin (Possibly greatest player of all time).
Power Forward: Kareem Abdul Jabbar. (Unstoppable Hook-shot).
Small Forward: Elgin Baylor (Prolific Scorer).
Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant (One of the most clutch players ever).
Point Guard: Magic Johnson (Best Point Guard ever).

Bench:
Center: Shaq (Dominant- but lazy on D at times and liability with free-throw shooting in the clutch). Could also play in him at PF to have a big frontline.
Power Forward: Robert Horry (Big time shooter in the clutch-- good defender). He's not the most talented but in the post-season you want Big Shot Bob.
Small Forward: James Worthy (Big Game James).
Shooting Guard: Jerry West (He's the logo).
Point Guard: Michael Cooper (i put coop on the team- because you can also use him as your defensive stopper- ie: guarding Larry Bird in the '80s).

Nickster

Answer 4

That's a rather fantastic and very accurate list of players you put together. However, I'd remove Elgin Baylor and make Kareem your PF (a bit tall for PF but keep reading), then I'd put Wilt the Stilt at C. I think that's the best starting up for an All-time Lakers team. I'd also encourage you to find a spot for Jerry "the Logo" West, but he just doesn't fit in the starting line up. So if you wanted to make a team and not just a starting line up, this is how you should construct your roster:

Starting Line-up

C - Wilt Chamerlain
PF - Kareem Abdul - Jabbar
SF - James Worthy
SG - Kobe Bryant
PG - Magic Johnson

Bench (5 reserves)

6th man - Jerry West
7. Elgin Baylor
8. Shaquille O'Neal (When he was in his prime)
9. Bob McAdoo (a very under-rated NBA player)
10. George Mikan

And that's about all I can say. You compiled a very nice starting line up though, so credit to you.

Answer 5

Wilt Chamberlain - Rookie MVp is a good resume
Kareem Abdul Jabbar - Scoring Leader
Kobe Bryant - Future hall of Famer
Jerry West - The shooter in the NBA ( is the 3 point line is formalize by his era he should have been the leader in 3 pont made)
Magic johnson - Its showtime in LA

Answer 6

All-Lakers 1st crew PG: Magic Johnson SG: Kobe Bryant SF: Elgin Baylor PF: Karl Malone (i understand this is way lower priced coz Malone sucked whilst he performed for the Lakers, yet he's probably going certainly one of the superb PFs of all-time so I placed him right here) C: Wilt Chamberlain All-Lakers 2d crew PG: Gail Goodrich SG: Jerry West SF: James worth PF: George Mikan C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar All-Lakers shielding crew PG: Derek Fisher SG: Michael Cooper SF: James worth PF: George Mikan C: Wilt Chamberlain (blocks weren't recorded, yet you may wager he grew to become into between the superb)

Answer 7

i agree but change elgin balyor cuz he's a PG

here's some more picks

C- Wilt Chamberlain- Helped Lakers to a championship

PF- Shaquille O'Neal- 3 Rings & some MVP Trophies

SG- Jerry West- Awesome Shooter

Answer 8

I would only put Kobe on my team if it's that 2001 Kobe, because Kobe embraced the sidekick role then, and after that, Kobe was a jealous Kobe.

C - Shaq. Kareem is great, don't get me wrong, but Kareem never established a dominance in the middle like Shaq has. And Kareem's 6 championship can be credited to Magic Johnson. Shaq rings can be credited to himself during his years with the Lakers.

PF - If Shaq is playing center then Kareem is power forward. Kareem got that skyhook that has a reputation of being hard to block. So Kareem don't have to be in the middle.

SF - Robert Horry.... Yup, that's right. Robert Horry. Horry is a good defender, and if all else fails, just "hip-check." LOL. And Horry is absolutely clutch when other players carry him. With Shaq and Kareem, Horry doesn't have to worry much. Horry will make shots.

G - Jerry West. I'm going to use 2 point guards. I don't care. Jerry West will be awesome with both Kareem and Shaq on his team.

G - Magic Johnson. Magic is the greatest point guard of all time. And Magic draws double and triple teams.

I have Shaq in the middle, Kareem at middle and short range, Magic inside and outside, Jerry inside and outside, and Bob outside in offense. And in defense, Kareem is excellent, Jerry should be Okay by today's standard, Shaq will stop all shots around the hoop, and Magic and Bob will be guarding whoever. They will make one awesome zone defense.

In conclusion:
C - Shaq
PF - Kareem
SF - Robert Horry
G - Jerry West
G - Magic Johnson

Answer 9

I noticed you didn't put Smush Parker in your lineup.

I don't think I can make a compelling case against that list.

So many good guards, but I probably would try to find a place for "The Logo" Jerry West. He only managed one ring, so perhaps he can be a reserve.

Answer 10

I agree with you completely!

Those are some of the greatest players in NBA history and would make a great First team.