Was Magic the greatest Laker ever?
Sometimes you get caught up in the moment. I can understand it. You experience something awesome and you blurt it out.
You’re starving and suddenly that pizza you just devoured is the greatest you’ve ever had. You walk out of a movie that was average but the moment is fresh and everybody is raving about it so you declare that it’s the greatest movie ever made.
But after taking some time to think about it you realize that the pizza you had was on par with one that you could find in the frozen foods section at Ralphs. You realize that the movie, although entertaining, certainly wasn’t Oscar material and the one you received last month from Netflix was better.
It’s human nature to remember the most recent event. You know out of sight, out of mind. Janet Jackson once sang “What have you done for me lately?” and in sports there has never been a line that was more appropriate.
So I can’t blame Laker announcer Joel Meyers for getting caught up in the moment Monday night. When Kobe Bryant scored on break away dunk late in the third quarter Meyers gushed “The greatest player in Laker franchise history has now scored the most points in Laker history.”
It was true. Well part of it was anyway. Bryant’s basket gave him 25,193 points, one better than Jerry West, and the most in Lakers history. Despite the game being played on the road in Memphis, it was a dramatic moment. The Memphis fans even stood and roared their approval for a moment or two.
Bryant had just achieved a feat that might not ever be equaled. He has worked hard for every point he has scored and he also has four championship rings to brag about it.
But to declare that Bryant is the greatest player in the history of the Lakers was a stretch. If Bryant had played for the Blazers, Warriors, Hawks or well the Clippers, he would be the greatest player in franchise history- no question. But this is the Lakers.
Of the top 10 players in NBA history there are probably five that played for the Lakers. Franchise greats? Kobe is competing with the best players to ever play in the league.
Was Kobe better than Wilt Chamberlain? Here’s a guy that once scored 100 points in a game and averaged over 50 per game one year. He scored over 31,000 points and pulled down over 23,000 rebounds.
He was considered the most dominant offensive force to ever play the game. Detractors will say that Chamberlain had his biggest years with other teams including the Philadelphia Warriors, the team he was with when he scored 100. But he spent five seasons with the Lakers averaging nearly 20 points and led the Lakers to an NBA title in the 1971-’72 season. Wilt could pass too dishing out 702 assists one year.
Elgin Baylor spent his entire 14 year career with the Lakers and scored 23,149 points. He was an 11-time All-Star and averaged over 13 rebounds per game for his entire career. He would have an argument.
Was Bryant better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? The NBA’s all time scoring leader with 38, 387 points spent 14 of his 20 year career wearing the purple and gold. He won six MVP awards including three with the Lakers. Although not the rebounder that Wilt was he still managed to pull down 17,000 in his career.
Jerry West finally got the monkey off his back when he won the championship in 1972. West averaged over 27 points in his 14 year career on his way to 25,192.
And oh yeah there was Magic Johnson. Magic made an immediate impact his rookie season as he led the Lakers to the first of his five championships. The Magic Man scored over 17,000 points and handed out over 10,000 assists. Nobody was better at getting his teammates involved. And he had the best smile.
Kobe’s great. He’s a certain hall of famer-the best Laker player in the last decade. But he wasn’t the best Laker ever.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com.
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