From the very start of the National Basketball Association until today, the Lakers have featured at the center of the story. All the way from George Mikan, who led the Minneapolis Lakers to the first championship in 1949-50, to LeBron James, still playing at the highest level of the game in the 19th season of his remarkable career.
The league announced its 75th Anniversary Team last week, and it featured 18 players who wore the Purple and Gold, including 12 that played at least three seasons for the Lakers:
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LAKERS ON THE NBA 75
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Carmelo Anthony; Elgin Baylor; Kobe Bryant; Wilt Chamberlain; Anthony Davis; LeBron James; Magic Johnson; Karl Malone; Bob McAdoo; George Mikan; Steve Nash; Shaquille O’Neal; Gary Payton; Dennis Rodman; Jerry West; Russell Westbrook; James Worthy
There is a big difference between what players like Magic, Kobe, West and Worthy – all of whom spent their entire careers in Los Angeles – produced for the Lakers compared to some of the players on shorter stints, like Rodman (23 games), or ‘Melo and Russ, who just put Laker gear on for the first time in October.