Because they’re in the Finals again, and because they’re the first basketball team I ever really even cared about (but I never loved them like I loved the Knicks), here are my top 10 LA Lakers, in some semblance of an order.
1. Magic
2. West
3. Kareem
4. Shaq
5. Kobe
6. Worthy
7. Wilt
8. Baylor
9. Cooper
10. Rambis (not really, but I just liked seein the horn rims come off the bench.)
This is not so much in order of overall basketball greatness, merely their level of play as a member of the purple and gold.
And while I’m on it, I cannot stand the Lakers’ white uniforms. Their gold home uniforms are classic. I grew to accept the newer version, but the Magic version (without the hot pants) was probably one of the best jerseys in all of sports history.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Dude, you put into words what I’ve been thinking about for the past couple weeks: where in the damn are their gold unis? I loved those.
And that list is pretty much on-point. I assume Rick Fox is No. 123, followed by Sedale Threatt and Smush Parker.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Okay, I’m working on an essay I intend to post at digitalsoulbrother that I have entitled “Notes from a Laker Hater.” Without letting too much out of the bag, I was a lifelong Laker fan until Kobe Bean Bryant told Jerry Buss that as it regarded Shaquille O’Neal (my favorite current active player, mind you), it’s him or me, and Dr. Buss shipped Shaq out. Since that time, I have only ill feelings toward the Lakers, although I do believe I could be a Laker fan again once Kobe retires. The only thing I’m waiting for before I post it is the end of this series. If it ends the way I hope it does, I’ll have one intro already written, if it goes the other way, I’ll have to do some re-writing. But my bottom line is that a true Laker Lover resents how Kobe has besmirched the Laker brand, and the the real Laker Haters are the ones who scream MVP when Kobe goes to the line
As it regards my 10-ten favorite all-time Lakers, in order (keep in mind I’ve been a fan since 1967):
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Shaquille O’Neal
Elgin Baylor
Jerry West
Wilt Chamberlain
Jim McMillan
Norm Nixon
Magic Johnson
Robert Horry
Gail Goodrich
June 10th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Regarding the Unis, I like the whites, but they wear them too frequently; every sunday home game and if they play home on xmas day, that means maybe 10 out of 41 home games. They should wear them twice a year at the most, but it’s all about jersey sales. You occasionally see a black uni around town but they have never worn black in a regular or post season game.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Avery Tooley on Top 10 Lakers…
The moderate-conservative blogger writes: “Because they?re in the Finals again, and because they?re the first basketball team I ever really even cared about (but I never loved them like I loved the Knicks), here are my top 10 LA Lakers, in some semb…
June 13th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
1. Magic
2. Worthy (allmost a 1.b. dude had the fastest first-step in the nba)
3. Coop
4. B. Scott
4. Kareem (never really warmed to him tho i respect him)
Ambivalent re the rest, ‘cept Shaq who I’ve strongly disliked since he left Orlando.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Not that I like…or EVER liked the Lakers, but I’m suprised Byron Scott’s not on your list. As much as I dig my beloved Pistons, had he been in the lineup during the 1989’s series, LA would’ve avoided a sweep or possibly even won the series.
And why is Nick Van Exel NOT on this list? *Joke people. Geez*
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I agree with you, wholeheartedly. I love those Magic-era uniforms. I even started a petition to get the Lakers to wear them again.
The website is newlakersuniform.blogspot.com
I’ve been in touch with Tim Harris, the Lakers’ Senior Vice President of business operations, and he said if enough people express their desire to bring the old school duds back, it might happen.
It already happened in Phillly with the Sixers. Check it out:
http://www.kyw1060.com/76ers-Return-to-a-Red–White–and-Blue—Retro—L/4659503
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