Every great basketball team has unsung role players who play integral roles in winning championships. Sure, the superstars usually get all the shine for their large contributions, but their supporting casts are just as important. Oftentimes, the third-best player on a championship team is forgotten in history, unless they stamp their name down with a clutch moment or game.
For the early 2010s Miami Heat, it was Chris Bosh. For the LeBron James-led Cavaliers after that, it was Kevin Love. Whoever the third guy on the Chicago Bulls 1990s three-peats was, they were left in Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s shadow.
With the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasty, this man was James Worthy, who was the starting small forward in Hollywood from 1983-1994. In his 12 years with the franchise, Worthy amassed seven All-Stars, two All-NBAs, three championships, and won the 1988 Finals MVP.
“Big Game James” may have been the third wheel for the Showtime Lakers behind Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but he earned his nickname by being a cold-blooded playoff performer. Worthy’s 22.0 points and 4.4 assists per game in the 1988 NBA Finals saved LA against the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons as Jabbar declined in his late 30s.
In Game 7 of that series, Worthy dropped 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists on 15 of 22 from the field to help LA capture their fifth championship of the 1980s. It’s one of the most legendary performances in league history and sealed Worthy’s Hall of Fame case.
Even with that incredible Game 7, Worthy is still forgotten among the endless array of Lakers legends. They seem to have had every top-20 player ever suit up for the purple and gold at one point, making it impossible to list just five. Well, on fellow former Laker Byron Scott’s podcast, Worthy gave it his best shot, naming the top five Lakers ever.
Worthy snubbed many notable legends, like LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, but his list certainly shouts out five deserving Lakers.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
James begins his list with a guy who doesn’t get enough credit for his illustrious basketball career, from Lakers fans or NBA fans in general. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the greatest total basketball life of any NBA player, including LeBron James, but somehow isn’t considered for the GOAT title for reasons unknown.
Before his incredible 20-year NBA career, Jabbar won three high school state championships and three NCAA titles at UCLA. In the pros, he capped off his crazy resume with 19 All-Stars, 15 All-NBAs, 11 All-Defensive Teams, six league MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and six championships across six years with the Milwaukee Bucks and 14 seasons in Los Angeles.
As a Laker, Kareem truly wrote his legacy, capturing five of his six titles, a Finals MVP, and three league MVPs. He, alongside Magic Johnson, built the Showtime Lakers in the City of Angels with a team playstyle so entertaining it helped save a dying NBA in the early 1980s.
Jabbar has the most unstoppable shot ever, his sky-hook. He was the league’s all-time leading scorer from 1984 to 2023, when LeBron James finally broke his mark, spending 39 years atop the NBA mountain. Kareem is arguably the greatest Laker ever, and every list like this should include him.
Magic Johnson
Next up is Worthy’s other teammate with the dynastic 1980s Lakers, the architect of the Showtime Lakers, Magic Johnson. Johnson, whose rivalry with fellow ascending superstar Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics drove the league back to popularity after its struggles in the 1970s, is one of the most influential players of all-time.
Magic’s up-tempo, unselfish, team-first approach to basketball is what galvanized the Lakers to become “Showtime” and truly embodied the Hollywood culture of fun and entertainment. Johnson, Jabbar, Worthy, and the crew made the purple and gold iconic forever with their highlights and dominance in the 1980s.
Beyond his infectious personality and bright smile, Johnson was also arguably the best point guard ever. He’s a 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, has four assists titles, three Finals MVPs, and five NBA championships. Though his career was cut short at just age 31 due to an AIDS diagnosis, Johnson is one of the most accomplished players in league history.
He’s a consensus top-ten player ever, and is certainly the only choice for Lakers PG royalty.
Kobe Bryant
Next, Worthy went with the most popular player in Lakers franchise history, Kobe Bryant. “Bean” as he was affectionately called, played all 20 seasons of his career with the purple and gold, and will go down as the most beloved Laker ever. Everything, from his satisfying playstyle to his competitive fire to his clutch moments, was storybook for Kobe Bryant.
Kobe was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, and 12-time All-Defense member. He won five titles, two Finals MVPs, and the 2008 league MVP, though he should’ve won that honor many more times. Bryant was the second option to Shaquille O’Neal for the last three-peat in the NBA, the 2000-2002 Lakers.
However, later in his career, Bryant won two of the most impressive back-to-back championships in league history without a top-75 NBA teammate. Those 2009 and 2010 Lakers rosters were talented, and Pau Gasol was an excellent player, but Kobe dragged those teams through a brutal Western Conference to hoist the trophy.
Kobe’s NBA Finals Game 7 win against the Boston Celtics in 2010, as well as his 60-point game in his career finale, are two of the greatest moments in Lakers lore.
Jerry West
Ah, the NBA logo. The first three choices Worthy made were obvious ones, but his next two are a little more controversial. However, Jerry West undoubtedly deserves his spot on the list, as the original legendary Laker. There’s a reason West is now the silhouette of the NBA’s logo; he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game.
In his 14 seasons, West was a 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, and five-time All-Defense member. His statistical output was prolific, averaging 27.0 points (seventh all-time), 6.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds for his career.
Unfortunately for West, he was the epitome of second-place, having the unluckiest career that any NBA player has endured. West was 1-8 in the NBA Finals, losing four Finals Game 7s despite incredible performances in nearly every one. He was a victim of the dynastic Boston Celtics of the 1960s.
West also never won a league MVP, but placed in the top-five eight times and finished second a heartbreaking four different seasons. Although he was so close to even further greatness, West is a Lakers and NBA legend.
Elgin Baylor
Worthy’s last pick is his only truly controversial one: choosing Elgin Baylor over Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, or even Pau Gasol or Wilt Chamberlain. All of those players were superstars for the Lakers and won at least one championship with the franchise, while Baylor is one of the best players to never hoist the Larry O’Brien.
*Technically, Baylor was part of the 1971-72 Lakers, who won the title, but he only played nine games and retired before the season ended.
Still, Baylor is a very valid choice, as he’s one of the best scorers in franchise and league history. His 27.4 PPG ranks fifth all-time ahead of Jerry West and Kevin Durant, as Baylor was an original pure bucket-getter in the 1960s. He could score from anywhere on the floor as a shooter from any range or a driver of the basket.
Baylor was an 11-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA player. He’s a Hall of Famer and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. He may not have won a title in the purple and gold, but he’s certainly one of the very best to suit up for the franchise.