10 Greatest Players in Los Angeles Lakers Franchise History

#1 Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson

The greatest PG of all time, Magic Johnson is the greatest Laker ever and his impact on the team was unlike any other. With the Lakers failing to get over the hump and win a title, his arrival in 1979 changed everything.

With Magic, the Lakers won 60 games and reached the Finals, where up 3-2 on the Sixers, they seemed to have the title wrapped up, only for Jabbar to be out of Game 6 with an injury. A rookie Magic then played at Center and dropped 45 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had 7 assists as the Lakers won Game 6 and he won Finals MVP.

He would also win Finals MVP in 1982 and 1987, and poor performances in the 1984 Finals are perhaps the only blemish on an impeccable career. Johnson also won 3 regular season MVPs in 1987, 1989 and 1990.

The 1989-90 season, in particular, was special, as with Jabbar retiring in 1989, not many predicted that the Lakers would be successful; instead, they won 63 games. They would suffer an early playoff exit, but in '91, Magic once again led the Lakers to the Finals; but an injury-riddled roster was no match for Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

Johnson, unfortunately, had to retire after that Finals because of HIV. He tried to make a comeback in 1996, but that was short lived. Magic currently ranks 1st in assists and 2nd in steals in franchise history.

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