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#4 Bill Russell
The LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics are two of the most successful franchises in NBA history, and it's no surprise that most of the players on this list are from the two teams. Bill Russell won the NBA championship a whopping 11 times with the Boston Celtics, and played in the league for 13 seasons.
Although he was not the most prolific of scorers, averaging only 15.1 points through his NBA career, Bill Russell was known for his defensive prowess. With his huge frame, Russell was the centerpiece of a brilliant Boston Celtics team, as well as a 12-time NBA All-Star and 5-time NBA MVP.
#3 Larry Bird
Two-time NBA Finals MVP and 3-time league MVP Larry Bird is one of the best Power Forwards ever. He led the Boston Celtics to three NBA championships through his 13-season stint. Larry Bird was known for his shooting and scoring prowess and maintained a 49.6% field-goal percentage while averaging 24.3 points throughout his NBA career.
Larry Bird is also the only player in NBA history to be named as the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, NBA Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. The Coach of the Year award came in 1998, when he led the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals.
#2 Magic Johnson
Another LA Lakers legend, Magic Johnson is also regarded as the greatest point guard ever. Earvin Johnson played in the NBA for 13 seasons, including a 3-year retirement hiatus. Magic is a 12-time NBA All-Star and led the LA Lakers to five NBA Championships.
Magic Johnson is considered to be the best passer to have played in the NBA, and averaged a sensational 11.2 assists throughout his career. He enjoyed a celebrated rivalry with another NBA great in Larry Bird, and his philanthropic contributions after his basketball career have also been well-documented.
#1 Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is regarded as one of the best basketballers to have ever graced the NBA. The five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star is the biggest LA Lakers legend, and did not play for any other team throughout his illustrious 20-year career.
Kobe Bryant is the leading scorer in the Lakers’ history. He was also the first guard to play at least 20 seasons in the NBA and has the second-highest number of all-star appearances. Top things off, he also holds the record for the most number of consecutive starts in the NBA.
After his tragic death in 2020, at the age of 41 in a helicopter accident, the NBA All-Star MVP award was renamed in Bryant’s honor. He is a regular part of the “Greatest of All Time” debate and his 81-point performance in 2006 is the second-highest points total scored in an NBA game by a single player.
