Every NBA team’s Mount Rushmore
By Ian Levy
Los Angeles Lakers
Magic Johnson is an easy decision for a team filled with historical greats. One of the games most prolific passers and most easily identifiable faces, Johnson averaged 19.5 points and 11.2 assists per game across his Hall-of-Fame career with the Lakers. Magic won five titles with the Lakers and three league MVP Awards, as well as three NBA Finals MVP awards.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and was a dominant force for the Lakers for 13 seasons. Ultimately, it is his longevity that gives him the edge over some of the franchises’ other famous centers. Kareem won three MVP Awards with the Lakers and five titles — the final coming in a season where he played in 80 games and averaged 14.6 points per game at the age of 40.
Jerry West is the model for the NBA’s logo and one of the most beloved players in Lakers history. He played 14 seasons for the franchise, averaging an eye-popping 27.0 points, 6.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game. West was an All-Star in every one of his 14 seasons and was the last player to win NBA Finals MVP for the losing team — in 1969. He finally won a title with the Lakers in 1972.
Kobe Bryant is a divisive figure around the league because of his intense and ball-dominating style of play. However, he is nearly universally adored by the Lakers’ faithful. Kobe was an 18-time All-Star and won five titles in Los Angeles. He is third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, trailing only Kareem and Karl Malone.