Who's the greatest Los Angeles Laker ever?

[Prodigal Son]

Magic #1. Kobe #2.

Shaq did more for LA then Kareem did. Shaq was much more dominant as a Laker then Kareem was.

Jerry West gets pushed to #5 simply because the Lakers have had so many great players.

Only player that has been left off this list that should be on is George Mikan.

 

[red33]

some of my fav lakers not here

nick van exel, byron scott, ac green, derek fisher.

magic has to be number 1 and no way shaq is above kobe now.

 

[Hasselbeck]

IMO the best pure player ever (at least for the Lakers) is probably Magic, although you could make an argument for Kobe too - especially if gets ring #5 soon.

The most dominant player was probably Shaq though. During his prime, there was literally no one in the league that could stop that man. The only thing that held him back from averaging 50-60 a night was the free throw line.

 

[jeffx]

Shaq did more for LA then Kareem did. Shaq was much more dominant as a Laker then Kareem was.

IMO, Kareem faced better competition at the center position than Shaq did. Just look at the cats he went up against on a nightly basis - Wilt, Nate Thurmond, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens, Wes Unseld, Bill Walton, Dan Issel, Moses Malone, Artis Gilmore, Robert Parrish, etc.

 

[jeffx]

You could make a convincing case that Kareem is the fourth-best player of all time, behind Chamberlain, Jordan and the Big O.....

fixed

 

[packersfan4eva]

In L.A., he won three MVP awards and one Finals MVP and had nine top-five finishes in the MVP voting. Kareem also won five championship rings and made 13 All-Star teams as a Laker.

Why the fuck is he only the 4th best Laker of all time? Sub-par playoff performances shouldn't knock you down 3 rankings.

 

[Irish]

samaki walker anyone?

 

[Vinsane]

Now would be a very good time to reread the list.

Kobe should be #1, 4 titles and 71 points away from becoming the highest scoring laker of all time.

And considered a ball hog through most of his career where it took him 30+ shots to make 30 points. I'm not denying Kobe's talent, far from it. I'm just saying when stacked against Legends it's hard to make a case for guys who are currently playing.

It's like the era argument, the game is always evolving so no one is held to the same standard.

 

[dell71]

Kobe just passed West to become Lakers all-time leading scorer. ESPN busted in to announce it & Digger Phelps said (I'm paraphrasing) 'Where's Magic on that list, he's still the greatest player ever, there.' lol

 

[stevsta]

And considered a ball hog through most of his career where it took him 30+ shots to make 30 points. I'm not denying Kobe's talent, far from it. I'm just saying when stacked against Legends it's hard to make a case for guys who are currently playing.

It's like the era argument, the game is always evolving so no one is held to the same standard.

lol vin gtfo out with the ballhog shit yeah he went into "me" mode but back then he didnt have shit compared to what lebron had and even lebron was a ballhog back when he was younger kobes and lebrons stats in assist are only off by 1 or 2 every year check your facts

btw shooting 30+ shots to get 30 is nothing especially when your avg is above .40 percent some players just have bad nights

 

[NAHSTE]

lol vin gtfo out with the ballhog shit yeah he went into "me" mode but back then he didnt have shit compared to what lebron had and even lebron was a ballhog back when he was younger kobes and lebrons stats in assist are only off by 1 or 2 every year check your facts

btw shooting 30+ shots to get 30 is nothing especially when your avg is above .40 percent some players just have bad nights

:smh:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html

LeBron has averaged at least 5.9 APG since his rookie year (Kobe's career high? 5.9 in 2002) and averaged 7.2 APG his second season. LeBron has averaged fewer FGA than Kobe every season, and has averaged more assists per game in EVERY SEASON OF HIS CAREER than Kobe's career high. LeBron has averaged 3-4 more assists per game than Kobe for the past few years.

But good job comparing Kobe, one of basketball's most selfish superstars ever, to one of the least selfish superstars ever and one of the best passers we've seen since Bird and Magic.

 

[Bear Pand]

And considered a ball hog through most of his career where it took him 30+ shots to make 30 points. I'm not denying Kobe's talent, far from it. I'm just saying when stacked against Legends it's hard to make a case for guys who are currently playing.

It's like the era argument, the game is always evolving so no one is held to the same standard.

^Sounds like a lot of hating to me.

 

[NAHSTE]

^Sounds like a lot of hating to me.

For the record, even though you weren't talking to me, I don't mind Kobe, but when I see moronic shit get posted like "LeBron was a ballhog early in his career" I have to compare him to somebody. I do think Kobe was a selfish player at times during the post Shaq-years, and Phil Jackson would agree.

 

[Bear Pand]

Either way though yes Kobe is a selfish arrogant prick, so was Jordan (who averaged like 2-3 extra shots per game over his career). It's not that big of a deal and I don't know why people always try to knock him for it.

It's empty criticism, it's not like the Lakers would be THAT much better if he started shooting less and passing more. He's one of if not the best scorers in the league so I don't see the issue with him taking a lot of shots.

 

[stevsta]

:smh:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html

LeBron has averaged at least 5.9 APG since his rookie year (Kobe's career high? 5.9 in 2002) and averaged 7.2 APG his second season. LeBron has averaged fewer FGA than Kobe every season, and has averaged more assists per game in EVERY SEASON OF HIS CAREER than Kobe's career high. LeBron has averaged 3-4 more assists per game than Kobe for the past few years.

But good job comparing Kobe, one of basketball's most selfish superstars ever, to one of the least selfish superstars ever and one of the best passers we've seen since Bird and Magic.

ah nahste i never said lebron was = to kobe i said 1 to 2 assist is not a major deal if your talking ballhogging every player is going to ballhog at least once kobe tried not to be a ballhog passed to the open man and guess what he missed being a ballhog and being that good teammate who passes the ball when the other guy is open

 

only works when the other guy makes the shot or if you make the shot and with kobes teammates over the years it hasnt been pretty

 

[NAHSTE]

ah nahste i never said lebron was = to kobe i said 1 to 2 assist is not a major deal if your talking ballhogging every player is going to ballhog at least once kobe tried not to be a ballhog passed to the open man and guess what he missed being a ballhog and being that good teammate who passes the ball when the other guy is open

 

only works when the other guy makes the shot

Ok but the team that LeBron was on as a rookie was absolutely terrible, and he averaged the exact same amount of assists that Kobe averaged during his career high, on a team that had Shaquille O'Neal in its prime and was in the midst of winning three straight championships.

To say LeBron was a ballhog in his first few years is preposterous, to be kind. He averaged 7.2 assists his second season, how is 3-4 more assists not a big deal? You tried to say the least selfish NBA superstar in terms of passing ability was a ballhog, and got called on it. You said to check the facts, so I did, and the facts say that your point was completely off base.

 

[stevsta]

For the record, even though you weren't talking to me, I don't mind Kobe, but when I see moronic shit get posted like "LeBron was a ballhog early in his career" I have to compare him to somebody. I do think Kobe was a selfish player at times during the post Shaq-years, and Phil Jackson would agree.

just b/c you have a higher assist ratio doesnt mean your not a ballhog if you think that wow

being a ballhog is calling for the ball all the time no matter what yeah passing the ball when someones open is nice but every star ballhogs some times and lebron earlier in his career was as i compare the standards with how you say kobe was a ballhog

and yes kobe takes an enourmous amount of shots however I would rather have an above .40 shooter shooting those shots than scrubs

 

[Vinsane]

lol vin gtfo out with the ballhog shit yeah he went into "me" mode but back then he didnt have shit compared to what lebron had and even lebron was a ballhog

lol?

Eric Snow and Larry Hughes? Really? Oh you must be talking about the all-star talent of DaJuan Wagner, DeSagana Diop, Darius Miles, Ricky Davis, and Jeff McInnis?

 

[ralaw]

From a pure playmaking for his teammates standpoint comparing LeBron to Kobe is asinine. I’ mean, I’ve seen some horrible comments on this website, but that has to be up there with the very worst. The stats don’t lie and if that isn’t enough for you then watch the games. Kobe is a fantastic scorer who gets the majority of his assist based on the fact that he garners so much attention (double teams). To blame Kobe’s teammates as to why his career assist numbers are down (compared to LeBron’s) is comical. However, I must say a major difference is the offense that both the Lakers and Cavs run. Due to the triangle offense Kobe isn’t required to take his man of the dribble and look for the spot up shooters…..however, this essentially is the Cavs offense. Having said that though LeBron is still the better and more willing passer and probably a more efficient scorer. Yes, Kobe is a more talented scorer, but LeBron is the better overall offensive player.

 

[Senser81]

Kobe's career really isn't close to being over, so its quite possible that he'll end up #1. The MVP voting for the NBA is somewhat political, and I don't think even the most biased Kobe-hater would disagree with the thought that Kobe has either been the best or 2nd best (to LeBron) player in the NBA for the past several years. For the article to rip on Kobe for his relatively low "PER" and his winning "only" 1 MVP is ridiculous. Shaq's PER as a Laker was helped immensely by playing with Kobe. Since leaving LA, Shaq is just an average player, while Kobe has remained at the top of his game.