Greatest Laker of All Time?

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Magic Johnson? Kobe Bryant? Jerry West?

[Real14]

http://lakers.topbuzz.com/gallery/d/281051-1/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers.jpg

[G0ATbe]

Easily Kobe, followed by Magic.

[turret]

KAJ

duh

[Sakkreth]

KAJ then Magic.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Made their bones primarily as LAKERS ... didn't come to LA after they made their names as superstars.

1) Magic
2) Kobe
3) West
4) Baylor
5) Worthy

Shaq - Magic, and Heat
Kareem - Bucks
Wilt - Philly
Gasol - Memphis

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Magic

[outbreak]

magic

[KirbyPls]

Jordan. If he wanted to, he had the mental toughness, heart and grittiness to have been the greatest Laker of all-time. Magic, Kobe, West, etc. were suboptimal as Lakers compared to What Jordan could have done if he wanted to.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Jordan. If he wanted to, he had the mental toughness, heart and grittiness to have been the greatest Laker of all-time. Magic, Kobe, West, etc. were suboptimal as Lakers compared to What Jordan could have done if he wanted to.
:oldlol: @ "3ball" parody ... started off so promising as a poster, then revealed himself to be a nut.

[nightprowler10]

It's gotta be between Magic and Logo.

[sportjames23]

Magic
Kareem
Kobe/West/Baylor
Worthy
Shaq
Wilt

I have Shaq and Wilt that low due to them only being with the Lakers for a few years.

[Cold soul]

It's a dead even tie between Magic and Kobe right now. I'll give slight edge to Kobe if he plays at good level the next few years and racks up few more accolades along the way.

[Cold soul]

1A) Kobe
1B) Magic
2) Kareem
3) West
4) Shaq

[PsychoBe]

kobe. even magic himself said kobe bean bryant was the greatest laker of all time.

[SamuraiSWISH]

kobe. even magic himself said kobe bean bryant was the greatest laker of all time.
That isn't being humble or anything ... they're like 1a/1b

[sbw19]

This has been dissected to death. Pick your poison really.

All I can say is, it's truly a luxury when you have 5 of the consensus top 10 all-time greats winning FMVP trophies wearing purple and gold.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

This has been dissected to death. Pick your poison really.

All I can say is, it's truly a luxury when you have 5 of the consensus top 10 all-time greats winning FMVP trophies wearing purple and gold.

Wilt, Magic, Shaq, Kareem and....? Kobe is not a consensus top 10 all-time great...He's arguable but not consensus.

[ArbitraryWater]

:oldlol: @ "3ball" parody ... started off so promising as a poster, then revealed himself to be a nut.

Damn... Even you admitted it.

Is there anyone appreciating his posting? Loki?

[SamuraiSWISH]

Damn... Even you admitted it.
Even me? Just because I'm a Jordan fan, and know he's better than everyone else as a player in history of the game doesn't mean I'm not rational about him. Nothing I say about Jordan is a form, or product of over hyping. Meanwhile, 3ball is crazy, and excessive.

[ArbitraryWater]

Even me? Just because I'm a Jordan fan, and know he's better than everyone else as a player in history of the game doesn't mean I'm not rational about him. Nothing I say about Jordan is a form, or product of over hyping. Meanwhile, 3ball is crazy, and excessive.

To Topic: None are better than Jordan /thread :pimp:

--

How you like that :pimp: :applause:

[bdreason]

Magic and Kobe are the two most important players of all-time to the Lakers franchise.


If you're talking about greatest players to ever wear a Lakers jersey, it's a different discussion.

[SamuraiSWISH]

To Topic: None are better than Jordan /thread :pimp:
Well yea. MJ destroyed their best (Magic) and their next best (Kobe) is a cover band version of him.

[ArbitraryWater]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BudwmUoCEAEJcc6.jpg

Bulls in 0. Laker$ forfeit because Kobe is too terrified of Mike

[HOoopCityJones]

Kobe Bean Bryant.


Wilt, Magic, Shaq, Kareem and....? Kobe is not a consensus top 10 all-time great...He's arguable but not consensus.

And who is? Lebron? :rolleyes:

You bron stans always downplay Kobe to further your Bron is Top 5 agenda.


Kobe is acknowledged by most legends as a Top 10 all time great. I think Ive only heard Reggie Miller's salty ass call him Top 15.

[HOoopCityJones]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BudwmUoCEAEJcc6.jpg

Bulls in 0. Laker$ forfeit because Kobe is too terrified of Mike

There you go, confusing Kobe with Lebron again.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Kobe Bean Bryant.



And who is? Lebron? :rolleyes:

You bron stans always downplay Kobe to further your Bron is Top 5 agenda.


Kobe is acknowledged by most legends as a Top 10 all time great. I think Ive only heard Reggie Miller's salty ass call him Top 15.

LeBron is not "consensus" either. neither is Hakeem. They're all arguable for the last 2 spots

[SamuraiSWISH]

You bron stans always downplay Kobe to further your Bron is Top 5 agenda.
Well dude, logic says he's a FREAKISH other wordly durable athlete, with no major injuries ... still only 29 years old with:

4x MVPs, 2x Finals MVPs, and 2x rings. With plenty of time to go ...

Kobe's virtually done now. The next few seasons will see him probably do damage to his all-time career averages. Same way it did for Jordan at ages 39, and 40.

So it comes down to preference.

Kobe's 3 extra rings (1 of them being Scottie Pippen)
or
LeBron's 3 extra MVPs

[HOoopCityJones]

LeBron is not "consensus" either. neither is Hakeem. They're all arguable for the last 2 spots

Kobe is a 5 time champ and in the Top 5 in points scored all time.

I'm pretty sure his and Hakeem's career is solid. See, your agenda is too obvious, just because Bron is still fighting for his spot doesn't mean two other all time greats are on the "bubble". That's pure stanning if Ive ever heard it.

[HOoopCityJones]

Well dude, logic says he's a FREAKISH other wordly durable athlete, with no major injuries ... still only 29 years old with:

4x MVPs, 2x Finals MVPs, and 2x rings. With plenty of time to go ...

Kobe's virtually done now. The next few seasons will see him probably do damage to his all-time career averages. Same way it did for Jordan at ages 39, and 40.

So it comes down to preference.

Kobe's 3 extra rings (1 of them being Scottie Pippen)
or
LeBron's 3 extra MVPs


That's the problem with Lebron's entire career to me, you guys rank him based off hype, since he first came to the league people do this for him. He could be this , or do that , and that's why he'll be Top 5. That's real horse shit imo. Until proven on the court he isn't anywhere near Top 5 all time.

I'll take the rings over a popularity contest anyday.

Lebron stans are like the human equivalent to ESPN.

[ArbitraryWater]

Lebron is statistically a better player.

Lebron is more versatile on both ends.

Lebron is a better leader / teammate.


AND he's already outracing him in major accolades in MVP's/FMVP's...

So I'm going to rank the one higher, who I believe is better. Which is LeBron.

Better player accompanied with similar-superior accolades? Makes a solid point...

And LeBron still has alot of years left...

AND spent a much longer portion of his career with rubbish casts..

I logically come to the conclusion that Lebron is the better player and should be ranked higher.

[SamuraiSWISH]

That's the problem with Lebron's entire career to me, you guys rank him based off hype
Dude ...

http://bunow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/LeBron-James-MVP-trophy.jpg

That is not hype, even if he did get these in a somewhat cowardly fashion:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYsgvj7t4rY/T_W8SQwQmTI/AAAAAAAAAQA/4q2cD8Vnwhk/s1600/lebron-james8.jpg

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2818293/takethathaters.gif

Discrediting this, and you call yourself a basketball fan?

:coleman:

[HOoopCityJones]

Lebron is statistically a better player.

Lebron is more versatile on both ends.

Lebron is a better leader / teammate.


AND he's already outracing him in major accolades in MVP's/FMVP's...

So I'm going to rank the one higher, who I believe is better. Which is LeBron.

Better player accompanied with similar-superior accolades? Makes a solid point...

And LeBron still has alot of years left...

AND spent a much longer portion of his career with rubbish casts..

I logically come to the conclusion that Lebron is the better player and should be ranked higher.

Well, one for two ain't bad. :cheers:




:oldlol: "Great Leader and Teammate"


Constantly bailing on your Team is a good Teammate and Leader?


Bosh and at least privately Wade don't think so. Neither does Riley.

[sportjames23]

Only at ISH can Lebron be brought into a discussion of the greatest Laker of all time.

:facepalm

[ArbitraryWater]

That is not hype, even if he did get these in a somewhat cowardly fashion:

lol


Only at ISH can Lebron be brought into a discussion of the greatest Laker of all time.

:facepalm


Yeah, I think it happened when that Kobe stan said "Confusing Kobe with LeBron again"

But damn, those dudes are just the worst... "LeBron is based off hype" oh me oh my

[SHAQisGOAT]

Greatest (overall) Laker - Magic

Greatest player that played for the Lakers - Kareem

Greatest peak as a Laker - Shaq very closely followed by Kareem

[HOoopCityJones]

Dude ...

http://bunow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/LeBron-James-MVP-trophy.jpg

That is not hype, even if he did get these in a somewhat cowardly fashion:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYsgvj7t4rY/T_W8SQwQmTI/AAAAAAAAAQA/4q2cD8Vnwhk/s1600/lebron-james8.jpg

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2818293/takethathaters.gif

Discrediting this, and you call yourself a basketball fan?

:coleman:

Wrong.

Never discredited what he did in Miami , even if he is a ****ing chump.

You insisted he could be Top 5 , are you saying he's Top 5 based on what he's done? No. You were insinuating based off potential.

That's bullshit.

Until he proves it again and again, that's the only way he moves up in the ranking or you gonna act like Jordan's 6 for 6 Finals don't mean shit?

IsH and the double standard bullshit , smh.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Kobe
defense matters so no Magic. I might put West over him too, played both ends and did ALOT of offcourt stuff to help the lakers

[G0ATbe]

Only at ISH can Lebron be brought into a discussion of the greatest Laker of all time.

:facepalm
This
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sEeFs2VmD-E/UuHaK9O5e6I/AAAAAAAABdE/lI3ncGvpoR4/s1600/kobe.gif
http://oi60.tinypic.com/21e4tqb.jpg

[HOoopCityJones]

Kobe is better than Magic offensively and defensively.

Yet Magic gets the nod in most peoples eyes because of nostalgia , Jerry West for the same reason over Magic.

Just how it goes.

[chazzy]

Magic. Then Kobe

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Thishttp://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2014/01/24/KOBEFACEPALM.gif?1390578447
http://oi60.tinypic.com/21e4tqb.jpg
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Hey Yo]

Dr. Buss

[ArbitraryWater]

Kobe is better than Magic offensively and defensively.

Yet Magic gets the nod in most peoples eyes because of nostalgia , Jerry West for the same reason over Magic.

Just how it goes.


https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/q71/1477691_10152027614412171_1226410884_n.jpg

[rmt]

Kobe Bean Bryant.



And who is? Lebron? :rolleyes:

You bron stans always downplay Kobe to further your Bron is Top 5 agenda.


Kobe is acknowledged by most legends as a Top 10 all time great. I think Ive only heard Reggie Miller's salty ass call him Top 15.

That must have really stuck in Kobe's craw when Reggie said that in his interview :roll: I'm liking Reggie even more recently since he excused himself from the Next 10

[sportjames23]

Dr. Buss


http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--YASLjmOG--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/18f21u6kxavirjpg.jpg


:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

^ I bet all those bitches got stretched out @ the "Forum club" :oldlol:

[SamuraiSWISH]

^ I bet all those bitches got stretched out @ the "Forum club" :oldlol:
Right?

Magic was in HEAVEN ... Who wouldn't be?

Dios mio.

[wakencdukest]

Magic

[sammichoffate]

Kobe

[Hey Yo]

Right?

Magic was in HEAVEN ... Who wouldn't be?

Dios mio.
Magic never went there. He was to busy smoking peters like his son.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Magic never went there. He was to busy smoking peters like his son.
That was always the rumor ... I thought he went both ways?

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

Wilt, Magic, Shaq, Kareem and....? Kobe is not a consensus top 10 all-time great...He's arguable but not consensus.
Get lost weirdo.

[the mesiah]

6.mike penberthy
5.sasha vujacic
4.nick van exel
3.kurt rambis
2.mark madsen
1.chick Hearn

[SpecialQue]

Magic, then West, then Kobe, though West and Kobe can easily be interchanged. Kobe was clearly more successful than West, but West is the ****ing Logo.

It's really not a debate at all that Magic is the greatest Laker. Everyone else is just fighting for that #2 spot.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Kobe is a 5 time champ and in the Top 5 in points scored all time.

I'm pretty sure his and Hakeem's career is solid. See, your agenda is too obvious, just because Bron is still fighting for his spot doesn't mean two other all time greats are on the "bubble". That's pure stanning if Ive ever heard it.
Has nothing to do with my opinion. My opinion is largely irrelevant to this discussion. It has everything to do with the collective opinion of those knowledgeable about basketball. Kobe is simply not a "consensus" top 10 player among basketball fans. (The word consensus means that it's something everybody agrees to.)

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Get lost weirdo.

Do some of you seriously not know the definition of the word "consensus"?

[T_L_P]

Magic.

[Heavincent]

Kobe

[That_Admiral]

Magic
http://38.media.tumblr.com/47a1e362c85101fe936cb7c895900c5d/tumblr_na9u24Eqrv1s2kuqpo1_500.gif

[KobesFinger]

IMO it goes:

Magic
Kobe
West

Next 3 spots are Kareem/Shaq/Baylor. After that its Worthy/Goodrich/Chamberlain/Gasol

[Smoke117]

Even me? Just because I'm a Jordan fan, and know he's better than everyone else as a player in history of the game doesn't mean I'm not rational about him. Nothing I say about Jordan is a form, or product of over hyping. Meanwhile, 3ball is crazy, and excessive.

No, its just a form of fellatio.

[Stringer Bell]

http://cdn2-www.hoopsvibe.com/assets/uploads/2013/06/file_171067_0_Magic-Johnson-Junior-Hook-1987-NBA-Finals.jpg

Jerry West obviously had a great career and was a great player, but I'm still not sure how to rank him when it comes to the "eye test". He doesn't look as impressive on film (which can be misleading) as others like Magic, Kobe, Shaq, etc...But the footage I've seen is rather limited, and I'm not really sure where to rank him when it comes to peak play. Career-wise, his resume speaks for itself.

I don't buy into Magic's PC crap about Kobe being the greatest Laker ever. Jerry West's opinion of Kobe being the greatest Laker ever holds more ground to me than Magic's humble act. West seems more of a straight shooter than Magic, who seems so contrived and fake once the cameras turn on.

Magic saying stuff like Jordan being the greatest player ever, "there's Jordan and then the rest of us"....I don't believe he actually thinks anyone was better than him. That goes for a lot of great players who say the PC/humble thing publicly, but deep down they think they are the best. At least that's my opinion on things.

Kobe was indeed a better 2-way player than Magic. So apparently was West, who was a perennial choice on the All-Defensive Team. And he played 7 years when they didn't have an All-Defensive Team. So he'd probably have more than his 5 All-Defensive selections (4 1st team, 1 2nd team) if they had been around then. He made 4 straight first teams at the end part of his career.

But Magic's overall impact? He scored, passed, rebounded. He's possibly the best passer ever. He could see the court so well and find teammates open when they didn't even know they were open. He'd throw the ball at their heads during practice to prove that he could get the ball to them and that they were open and could score. He was a great leader who controlled & dictated the offense, he knew where each player was supposed to be.

He became more of a defensive liability later in his career, mainly with quick guards, but he usually wasn't a bad defender. He was okay.

His overall impact and importance to the team was bigger than that of Kobe, and almost any player ever for that matter.

He also had some of the best finals performances ever. Obviously game 6 against Philadelphia his rookie year when he stepped it up when Kareem was hurt and put up 42/15/7. There were others, like 87'. Not only did he put up 26 PPG, 8 RPG, 13 APG, 2 SPG, 54% FG in the 87' Finals against Boston, but he committed just 13 turnovers in 6 games. His assist ratio was 6 to 1!! Even when he "choked" in the 84' Finals and had some mess ups in games 2 and especially game 4, and one in game 7 (which they were likely to lose anyway) he played excellent throughout the 7 games. 18 PPG, 8 RPG, 14 APG, 2 SPG, 56% FG. Worthy was the real goat of game 2, his error was much bigger than Magic's. Both of them actually had been playing great in that game.

In 8 Finals appearances, as well the 89' finals when injuries limited him to playing just a game and a half (thank Pat Riley for overworking the Lakers with a mini training camp before the Finals), he never played poorly in any of them. He also usually played well in elimination games (check out how he played in the 88' postseason when the Lakers went 4-0 in elimination games). Which is a lot more than I can say for Kobe, who in 2004 had one of the worst finals performances ever for a great player, and played mediocre in a couple of others.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1980_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1983_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1984_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1985_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1987_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1989_finals.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1991_finals.html

[riseagainst]

lebr0n

[Doranku]

Kobe or Magic. Can't go wrong with either guy.

[Nike D'Antoni]

Where does Davis/Lebron fit in?

[Honor Boost]

lebr0n

This mans saw into the future from 2014

[Airupthere]

This mans saw into the future from 2014

That is not seeing the future. These bransexuals are just so fanatic that they want lebron to be mentioned in every possible category there is

[Vino24]

lebr0n

How tf did this guy know?

[HunterSThompson]

magic and kobe are about the same. tied for #1. both top players of their era.


then west. then Kareem. then shaq. then wilt

[Vino24]

magic and kobe are about the same. tied for #1. both top players of their era.


then west. then Kareem. then shaq. then wilt

Then Odom then Shannon brown then LeBron

[Baller789]

lebr0n

Eh, no.
Better player, arguable.
But greatest Laker?

:yaohappy:

This ain't Cleveland son.

[Micku]

Magic and Kobe are the two kings of LA. Then there is everyone else I think. You can't go wrong with either. It might be whoever you watched first or grew up with. But then again, I knew some ppl who would take Kobe even though they watched Magic. And some would say Magic is the better team player even though Kobe was the better "individual player".

Jerry West is up there or Kareem. I would say it's proper to give the nod to Jerry West, but a lot of ppl got love for Kareem. Especially the ppl who watched him play. They knew he was the cap.
After that, I'm not too sure. Probably Shaq.

I think that's how it usually goes in LA.

[Full Court]

That is not seeing the future. These bransexuals are just so fanatic that they want lebron to be mentioned in every possible category there is

Exactly. They'll try to argue that Lebum is the greatest Raptor of all time too.

[Round Mound]

Magic. Magic is the reason why there are so many Laker Fans. Showtime was Magic!

[000]

Lebron james

[Thenameless]

As a player only, Magic is the correct answer.

If we include both playing and executive careers, then it becomes a tie between Magic and Jerry West. West was so good for the Lakers after playing that even when he was a managing other teams, he was helping us out.

[Chick Stern]

The answer is Chick Stern

Players:
Kobe
Magic
West
Kareem (Kareem is the goat, but he wasn’t a Laker his whole career.)
Baylor

[John8204]

1. Jerry West (if we include his entire career not just on the court)
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Magic Johnson
4. George Mikan
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
6. Shaq
7. Elgin Baylor
8. Wilt Chamberlain
9. Lebron James
10. James Worthy
11. Gail Goodrich
12. Pau Gasol
13. Derek Fisher
14. Anthony Davis
15. Byron Scott
16. Bob McAdoo
17. Michael Cooper
18. Vern Mikkelsen
19. AC Green
20. Jamaal Wilkes

[marLeY baLL]

mi ded

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/f2/fe/a6/f2fea628a2b80b8bb0a51b97c1b450d7.jpg