5 Greatest players to have played for both Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks

At the halfway point of the 2019-20 NBA regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers find themselves on top of their respective conferences. Fueled by reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks currently boast the NBA's best record (40-6), and Mike Budenholzer's team are currently on track to post a franchise record for wins in a season.

Meanwhile, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have struck up an excellent partnership to propel the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference standings with a 36-10 record. Over the next 10 weeks, the Bucks and Lakers will fight it out to post the best record of the regular season, and it is possible that the two teams could eventually meet in the 2020 NBA Finals. So, with the Bucks and Lakers currently dominating the NBA, here we will take a look at the five greatest players to have played for both sides.

#5 Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley during his spell with the Milwaukee Bucks

Michael Beasley was selected by the Miami Heat with the second pick of the 2008 NBA draft, and while his career never reached its early potential, He proved to be an above-average role player for more than a decade. His best campaign came during the 2010-11 season as he averaged 19.2 points with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and following two spells in China, Beasley returned to the NBA in 2016 and played for both the Lakers and Bucks.

Beasley spent the 16-17 season in Milwaukee, and despite playing just 16.7 minutes per game - the forward managed 9.4 points on 53.3 percent shooting from the field. Two seasons later, Beasley found himself as part of a new-look Lakers team featuring LeBron James, and while he never found himself in favor under Luke Walton, the veteran contributed 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in just 10.7 minutes per game.

#4 Brook Lopez

After spending his first nine seasons in the league with the Nets, Brook Lopez joined the Lakers during the 2017 offseason. As an All-Star caliber performer, Lopez was viewed as a significant acquisition for the Western Conference strugglers, although Lopez managed a career-low 23.4 minutes over 74 appearances.

Magic Johnson decided to let Lopez walk away after just one season and the Bucks moved quickly in free agency, and the center has become an essential part of Mike Budenholzer’s team. With size and ability to stretch the floor, Lopez has proved to be an excellent fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and while his numbers have dipped since his days with the Nets, Lopez’s value is at an all-time high.

#3 Gary Payton

Gary Payton enjoyed brief spells with the Lakers and Bucks

During his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics - Gary Payton established himself as one of the best point guards of his generation. The California native was named as an All-Star on nine occasions, while he was made the NBA All-Defensive First Team the same number of times. Payton also took home the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year award as he became one of the greatest to play for the SuperSonics.

Payton was traded to Milwaukee during the 2002-03 season and he went on to average 19.6 points and 7.4 assists over 28 appearances. After entering free agency in the summer of 2003, Payton joined the Lakers and played an essential role as the team reached the 2004 NBA Finals. Payton was traded to the Celtics following LA's Finals defeat to the Detroit Pistons, although the Hall-of-Famer went on to win his only title with the Miami Heat in 2006.

#2 Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol enjoyed a memorable spell with the Los Angeles Lakers

Pau Gasol was signed by the Bucks in March 2019 - with the Spaniard expected to play a prominent role in the team’s postseason plans. However, a left ankle injury meant that Gasol played just three regular-season games before being ruled out for the remainder of the season. Nevertheless, despite his brief spell, Gasol was one of the best big men to ever pull on a Milwaukee uniform thanks to his memorable spell with the Lakers.

Between 2008 and 2014, Gasol struck up a notable partnership with Kobe Bryant as the Lakers won championships in 2009 and 2010 - and Gasol was undoubtedly one of the NBA's premier bigs during his prime. A six-time All-Star, few European exports have enjoyed more success in the NBA, and it is a shame that Gasol never got to make a greater impact during his brief time with the Bucks.

#1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best to ever grace the NBA (Picture Credit: NBA.com)

One of the greatest to ever play the game, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar split his legendary career between the Bucks and the Lakers. Drafted first overall by Milwaukee in 1969, Abdul-Jabbar quickly established himself as one of the NBA's biggest stars, and he was named Finals MVP as he led the Bucks to their first (and only) championship in franchise history in 1971.

Abdul-Jabbar was named regular-season MVP in three of his first six seasons in the league, and despite having great respect for the Bucks, the center eventually outgrew Milwaukee - and was granted a trade to the Lakers in 1975.

Abdul-Jabbar was already 28 when he signed for the Lakers, although he went on to play 14 seasons in the purple and gold, winning five championships. He also picked up three more regular-season MVP awards, while winning a second Finals MVP award in 1985 - a full 14 years after his first. Upon his retirement at the age of 42 in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar led the league in points scored, games played, career wins, and field goals made - and the New York native is widely regarded as one of the top three players in NBA history.