5 Greatest players in Los Angeles Lakers' franchise history

The Los Angeles Lakers have been in the forefront of every conversation this summer leading up to the new 2018/19 NBA season. After signing Lebron James in free agency, everyone is questioning whether or not they will be able to improve their 16 NBA titles to tie with the Boston Celtics as the most successful franchise in basketball history.

While they enter a new era led by one of the greatest players of all time in LeBron James, we take a look back at the best to ever put on a Lakers jersey.

#5 Jerry West

Career Averages:

27.0 Points

5.8 Rebounds

6.7 Assists

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'The Logo', picked 2nd overall in the 1960 draft for the Lakers, Jerry West quickly showed why he was taken so high in the draft.

10 time All-NBA first team, 14-time All-Star, 1972 NBA Champion and the first and last person to ever win Finals MVP in a losing Championship run as they lost to the Celtics in a 7-game series in 1969.

Also known as "Mr. Clutch" for his knack of scoring clutch baskets to win crucial games, most famously a 60-foot buzzer beater to tie in game 3 of the 1970 finals series against the New York Knicks.

Not only a one of a kind player, West also took over as the head coach of the Lakers for three years, getting into the playoffs each year and earned a Western Conference Finals appearance. West was also named General Manager of the Lakers in 1982 and managed to win six championships under his reign.

#4 Shaquille O'Neal

Career Averages:

23.7 Points

10.9 Rebounds

2.5 Assists

The 7'1 center was taken with the first pick in the 1992 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. While Shaq dominated in his time with Orlando, he failed to find substantial team success which he believed he could find at the Lakers, moving in 1996.

The 15-time All-Star won four titles during his time in the league, with a three-peat with the Lakers between 2000-2002. In those title runs Shaq managed to win all three NBA Finals MVP awards, and winning the regular season MVP in 2000.

After having a well documented feud with co-star Kobe Bryant, Shaq was forced to move away from the lakers in 2004, but not before he cemented his place as one of the greatest to ever play for the Los Angeles team.

The two-time scoring champion has gotten his proclaimed #34 jersey retired by the organization.

#3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Career Averages:

24.6 Points

11.2 Rebounds

3.6 Assists

Born April 6th 1947, the New York native was taken pick #1 in the 1969 NBA Draft after enjoying a superb time at UCLA.

Drafted for the Milwaukee Bucks, Kareem used his trademark skyhook to establish himself as one of the most unstoppable offensive units anyone has ever seen. The seemingly unguardable post move helped Kareem to win the 1971 championship, Finals MVP and regular season MVP with the Bucks.

After winning two more MVP's with Milwaukee, Kareem took his talents to Los Angeles where he became the star in the famous "Showtime Lakers", largely considered one of the greatest teams of all time. Here Kareem won another five championships along with three Finals MVP in that time.

The 19-time All-Star usually ranks in the top five of most greatest of all time lists, and his time with the Lakers, epitomizing his unique ability to dominate on a basketball court.

#2 Kobe Bryant

Career Averages

25.0 Points

5.2 Rebounds

4.7 Assists

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Nicknamed "The Black Mamba" and known for his killer instinct or "mamba mentality", Kobe Bryant was and still is one of the greatest scorers the NBA has ever seen.

The story of Kobe Bryant could well and truly have been completed differently. It seems almost unbelievable that 12 players were taken over Kobe in the 1996 NBA Draft, but what makes this story even worse is that he was picked by the Charlotte Hornets and then traded on draft day in what may go down as the worst trade in history.

18-time All-star, five times NBA Champion, winning two finals MVP's, and two time scoring champion, Kobe was very much the face of the Lakers for almost all of his 20 year stay in Los Angeles, becoming the only person to have two numbers retired for a single club, 8 and 24.

With 33,643 career points, Kobe ranks 3rd on the all-time scoring list, many people believe Kobe is the closest player we will ever see to the G.O.A.T Michael Jordan and it is hard to argue that he is one of the greatest Lakers in history.

#1 Magic Johnson

Career Averages:

19.5 Points

7.2 Rebounds

11.2 Assists

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. drafted at the top spot in the 1979 draft, went on to enjoy a 13- year career with the Lakers, one that has made many consider him the greatest point guard of all time.

At 6'9, Magic towered over most of his direct defenders, combined with his excellent court vision, Magic used to run the court for years. Teaming up his amazing passing skills with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring expertise, saw the creation of the "Showtime Lakers", a team that became famous for their stylish fast past "run and gun" style of play, winning them five NBA titles.

Magic Johnson is considered to be one of the top three greatest players to ever set foot on an NBA court by many, and his resume backs up any claim. 12 time All-Star in only 13 seasons, along with three Finals MVP's and three regular season MVP's.

Magic led the league in assists four times throughout his career and led the league for steals twice. His famous #32 jersey has now been retired by the Lakers.

Going into the new era for the Lakers, Magic Johnson was the main contributing factor for securing the acquisition of LeBron James. With Lebron running things on the court and Magic running everything off it, it is exciting times for Laker fans who believe another NBA title is just around the corner.