Los Angeles Lakers' All-time starting 5
The Los Angeles Lakers are the second most successful franchise in the NBA trailing by one to the Boston Celitcs’17 championships. While 11 of the Celtics’ 17 titles came in the late 1950’s and the entire decade of the 60’s, the team from Los Angeles has won 16 by succeeding in building dynasties consistently over a period of time.The Lakers have won NBA championships in every decade since the league was formed. Over the course of all these years, numerous superstars and hall of famers have dressed in the purple and gold jersey of the franchise and shouldered the city’s hope and dreams of multiple championships.Given that there are Hall of Famers that need to be considered it should ideally be tough to build an All-time starting line-up for this team, but fortunately the stars that shined under the spotlight of Los Angeles have all spent their careers playing at different spots on the floor.Each of these players have made it to the team based on their performance during their time with the Lakers. Here how is the ideal all time starting five for the Lakers would look like:
#5 Center: Shaquille O\'Neal
In a battle between Chamberlain and O’Neal for the No. 5 spot on this team, the latter comes out on top simply on the basis of the success achieved as a Laker by either player. Chamberlain spent 5 seasons with the team and won a single championship, while on the other handc O’Neal spent 8 seasons with three championships to his name.
During his time in Los Angeles, O’Neal was a complete beast especially during the Playoffs of the championship years, averaging 30+ points and 15+ rebounds. “The original Superman” was unstoppable during the years that the Lakers completed a three peat. No other center in the league could compete head to head with him.
O’Neal and Kareem form a unique dream front court duo in the paint which would be lethal on both ends of the floor. A major portion of O’Neal points come off power moves in the post or off lobs from his guards.
He was the most recent Laker, less than a year and a half ago to have his jersey retired to the raptors in Staples Center.