10 Greatest Players in Los Angeles Lakers Franchise History

#2 Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

The Black Mamba comes in at #2 and quite frankly there wasn't much to separate him and #1. The leading scorer in Lakers franchise history, Bryant torched defenses throughout the league for much of his 20-year career with the Lakers. Drafted by the Hornets in 1996, Jerry West pulled off a trade to bring Kobe Bryant to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac.

Bryant had a solid but unspectacular rookie year, but he was suddenly pushed into center stage in the playoffs with Shaq having fouled out and he shot 4 airballs late in the game as the Lakers lost to the Jazz. Bryant has pointed out how this game gave him the drive and motivation to become the player that he became eventually.

He shook off the disappointment and then during the three-peat, became the closer for the team. Tensions with Shaq, however, were at an all-time high and after O'Neal was traded in 2004, the Lakers struggled despite Bryant putting up monster numbers.

All that changed when Pau Gasol joined the team. With an able supporting cast alongside him, Bryant won 2 more championships in 2009 and 2010 and famously said: "I just got one more than Shaq." He would also win his only MVP award in 2008. Kobe finished his career, as the franchise leader in games played, and steals as well.