The Greatest Los Angeles Lakers Players of All Time

Facts verified June 2026.

Who is the greatest Los Angeles Lakers player of all time?

By the measure of championships, individual honors, and lasting impact, Magic Johnson tops most all-time Los Angeles Lakers rankings. The full top 5 follows.

1. Magic Johnson PG \u00b7 1979–1991, 1996

   Five-time champion, three-time MVP, and the engine of Showtime. Redefined what a point guard could be at 6'9" and is central to the greatest era in franchise history.

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar C \u00b7 1975–1989

   The NBA's all-time leading scorer for nearly 40 years, a Lakers champion five times over, and owner of the unstoppable skyhook.

3. Kobe Bryant SG \u00b7 1996–2016

   Five-time champion, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, and the only player with two numbers retired by the team. Twenty seasons, all in purple and gold.

4. Shaquille O'Neal C \u00b7 1996–2004

   The most dominant force of his era — three straight titles and three Finals MVPs alongside Kobe, anchoring the early-2000s three-peat.

5. Jerry West G \u00b7 1960–1974

   "The Logo" — the silhouette of the NBA's emblem, a Finals MVP, and a franchise cornerstone whose number 44 hangs in the rafters.

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