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The LA Lakers are arguably the most successful franchise in NBA history. They have had some of the finest players in the sport - some of them becoming Hall of Fame members - turn out for them over the years. These players have contributed immensely to the LA Lakers' illustrious history and rich pedigree in the NBA.
The LA Lakers, who won their record-equaling 17th NBA championship last season, already have a few Hall of Fame-worthy players in their current roster. On that note, let's have a look at five current or former LA Lakers players who could be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the future.
NBA - Five LA Lakers players who could get inducted into the Hall of Fame in the future
In the Hall of Fame history, 27 players in the exclusive club have played for the LA Lakers, which is the second-most of any team in NBA history.
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In this article, we will take a look into five LA Lakers players who could walk into the Hall of Fame in the near future. Without further ado, let us get started.
#5 Rajon Rondo
Despite having an inconsistent few years after leaving the Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, who is a role player today, has continued to play with tremendous efficiency and is an absolutely fabulous player in offense.
During the LA Lakers' 2020 championship run, Rondo was easily their third-best player, especially in the NBA Playoffs, where he averaged nine points, seven assists and four rebounds per game, while having 45/40/68 shooting splits.
Rondo is a 14-year NBA veteran and may not be back with the LA Lakers next season, as he could be signed up by any team during the upcoming NBA Free Agency.
Nevertheless, his Hall-of-Fame case is pretty strong, as he has two NBA titles (one each with the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers), four All-Star selections, one All-NBA selection, three assists championships, and four All-Defensive appearances.
Moreover, Rondo was the best player in the NBA Playoffs for the 2010 and 2012 Boston Celtics, as the franchise's Big-Three members - Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen - were all ageing.
Rondo has 7,215 assists and 32 triple-doubles in his career, which is good enough for Top-15 in both categories in NBA history.
#4 Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol won two NBA championships during his stint with the LA Lakers. He has also played a stellar role for his national team Spain, with whom he has won the FIBA World Cup and many other accolades in international basketball.
During his NBA career (which has officially not ended) spanning 1226 games, Gasol has garnered six All-Star appearances and four All-NBA selections; he averages 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game.
Gasol played for five teams in the NBA, but his biggest impact came while he was at the LA Lakers. The Spaniard won two championships (2009 and 2010) with the LA Lakers, doing so alongside the legendary Kobe Bryant (who is part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class), while being the second-best player in the team.
#3 Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard was a great role player for the 2020 NBA champions LA Lakers. Despite bouncing around the league before arriving in Los Angeles for his second stint with the LA Lakers, Howard has had a Hall of Fame-worthy career.
Howard's case is reinforced by his performances for the Orlando Magic, with whom he achieved three NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards (won consecutively - the only player ever to do it), six All-Star selections and four rebounding titles. He also led the franchise to the 2009 NBA Finals, where the Magic lost to the LA Lakers.
Overall, Howard has eight All-Star appearances, eight All-NBA selections, five All-Defensive selections, five rebounding titles and two blocks titles.
Although his prime is arguably behind him, Howard still averages 17 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks per game. He ranks in the Top-50 in both PER and Win Shares in NBA history.
#2 Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is arguably the greatest power forward in the NBA, owing to his versatility in offense and ability to score. He is also one of the greatest defenders in the history of the competition.
Davis has the third-highest Player Efficiency Rating (27.42) in NBA history, which is only behind that of Michael Jordan and LeBron James, the two most-mentioned players in the GOAT debate.
In his first year with the LA Lakers, Davis played a key role in the team's 17th title triumph, leading the team in scoring during both the regular season as well as in the postseason; he also had the highest PER by any LA Lakers player.
Davis, who averages 24 points and ten rebounds per game in his NBA career. is easily a potential first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.
#1 LeBron James
LeBron James, the King, has changed the fortunes of the LA Lakers since he arrived at the franchise in 2018.
With James on the roster, the LA Lakers were one of the frontrunners to win the 2020 NBA championship. The King did not disappoint in this regard, winning his fourth NBA ring and fourth NBA Finals MVP award last season.
With his triumph with the LA Lakers and Finals MVP recognition, James became the first player in NBA history to win four Finals MVP awards with three different franchises.
To be fair, James' legacy as arguably the greatest player of all time had been established long before he arrived at the LA Lakers. Still, his success with the LA Lakers at the age of 35 was remarkable, as it added a new chapter to his already illustrious career.
LeBron James would walk into the Hall of Fame the day after he retires from the NBA. However, that won't happen as there is a rule in this regard which states that a player must be retired for four full seasons before he could be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Also read: 5 superstars who failed to win a ring with the LA Lakers.
