The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, having won 17 championships – one behind the Boston Celtics all-time record – and built their legacy on decades of dominance.
From the Showtime era of the 1980s, which brought five titles in the span of a decade, to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s three-peat from 2000 to 2002, the Lakers have produced not only some of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport but also a plethora of the biggest superstars basketball has ever seen.
Deciding who ranks among the greatest Lakers of all time is always a difficult task, and GIVEMESPORT have asked ChatGPT to help name and rank the 10 best players to ever wear the purple and gold uniform.
Although the AI picked the very best based on Lakers success and overall impact, a few legendary names did not make the top 10 – including the likes of Gail Goodrich, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, A.C. Green and Anthony Davis, who all appear among the honourable mentions.
Without further delay, here are the top 10 greatest Lakers of all time – named and ranked by AI.
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10 Pau Gasol
2x NBA Champion, 3x All-Star (with Lakers)
Pau Gasol
Acquired in a 2008 trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol played an important role in the Lakers’ back-to-back championship wins in 2009 and 2010 and formed a dominant partnership with Kobe Bryant.
Gasol averaged 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 429 games during his time in Los Angeles, earning three All-Star selections and cementing his place as one of the finest power forwards in league history.
ChatGPT named Gasol as Kobe’s ‘perfect sidekick’ in the late 2000s and praised him for changing the trajectory of the franchise after arriving from Memphis in 2008:
“Kobe Bryant’s perfect sidekick in the late 2000s. Intelligent, unselfish, and clutch in big moments. His acquisition changed the trajectory of the franchise in 2008.”
9 James Worthy
3x NBA Champion, 1x Finals MVP
James Worthy
Selected No.1 overall in the 1982 NBA Draft, James Worthy spent his entire 12-year professional career with the Lakers and was a key player during their Showtime era.
He was a vital part of a team that included Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and helped the Lakers win three NBA championships, including in 1988, when he was named Finals MVP.
According to AI, Worthy always lived up to his ‘Big Game James’ nickname and was crucial to the Lakers’ success in the 1980s, averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 926 games:
“‘Big Game James’ lived up to the nickname. Crucial to the Showtime Lakers with his slashing style and postseason heroics.”
8 Wilt Chamberlain
1x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 1x Finals MVP
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain spent the final five seasons of his legendary career with the Lakers and helped lead them to the 1972 NBA championship – the franchise’s first since moving to Los Angeles.
The dominant center was a key defensive anchor and rebounder during his time with the Lakers, and this is why ChatGPT placed him eighth on the greatest Lakers ever list:
“Not at his statistical peak with the Lakers, but still dominant. His 1972 championship team set a then-record 69 wins. He was a key defensive anchor and rebounder.”
Chamberlain averaged 19.2 rebounds, 17.7 points and 4.3 assists in 339 games for the Lakers and was named Finals MVP in 1972.
7 LeBron James
1x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 1x Finals MVP
LeBron James
LeBron James joined the Lakers in 2018 and ended their 10-year title drought by leading them to an NBA championship in 2020.
That year, he guided the Lakers to victory inside the Orlando bubble and was named Finals MVP, becoming the first player in league history to win the award with three different franchises – Miami, Cleveland and Los Angeles.
In 2023, LeBron broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record while wearing a Lakers jersey, and ChatGPT claims his ‘elite play’ well into his late 30s has earned him a spot as the seventh-best Laker of all time:
“Though most of his legacy was made in Cleveland and Miami, he brought a title to the Lakers in 2020 and has continued elite play well into his late 30s.”
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6 Elgin Baylor
11x All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team
Elgin Baylor Bailey Howell
Elgin Baylor joined the franchise in 1958 when it was still based in Minneapolis and became one of the Lakers’ original superstars and a true pioneer of modern basketball.
His athleticism, hang time and scoring ability were particular standouts at that point in time and helped him become the cornerstone of the team’s early success after the move to Los Angeles in 1960.
Baylor averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 843 games for the Lakers and holds the record for most points in an NBA Finals game with 61, while ChatGPT called him a pioneer of above-the-rim play:
“Pioneered above-the-rim play. Though he never won a title, Baylor was ahead of his time in athleticism and scoring. Consistently carried the Lakers in the early days.”
5 Shaquille O’Neal
3x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 1x MVP
Shaquille O'Neal
Arguably the most dominant NBA player of all time, Shaquille O’Neal joined the Lakers in 1996 as a free agent and immediately transformed the team into a title contender.
Shaq led the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 alongside Kobe Bryant and won three straight Finals MVP awards during that period.
His 2000 season was one of the most dominant in league history, as he was named regular season MVP and led the league in scoring, while, according to AI, his and Kobe’s duo was one of the most unstoppable in NBA history:
“Most dominant big man of his era. Shaq and Kobe formed one of the most unstoppable duos in NBA history. Peak Shaq (2000–2002) was nearly unstoppable.”
4 Jerry West
1x NBA Champion, 10x All-NBA First Team
Jerry West Los Angeles Lakers
Jerry West was the face of the Lakers throughout the 1960s and early 1970s and spent his entire 14-season career with the franchise, averaging 27.0 points, 6.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 932 games.
Despite reaching the Finals nine times as a Laker, West only won the title once in 1972 alongside Wilt Chamberlain, while ChatGPT praised his clutch performances and 'unmatched' leadership:
“‘The Logo’ was a model of consistency and clutch performances. Despite multiple Finals losses, his talent and leadership were unmatched. He also became a successful executive for the Lakers post-playing.”
West’s silhouette became the inspiration for the NBA logo, while his legacy as a Laker extends beyond his playing days – he spent three seasons coaching the team from 1976 to 1979 and later worked as a general manager for almost two decades.
3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5x NBA Champion (with Lakers), 3x MVP
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined the Lakers in 1975 after a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks and went on to cement his legacy as one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
Known for his signature skyhook, he helped lead the Lakers to five championships in the 1980s and was named MVP three times – adding to his collection of six (including three with Milwaukee):
“Dominant for over a decade with the Lakers. His skyhook and consistency made him an anchor during the Showtime run. Had more MVPs than any other Laker.”
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 1,093 games for the Lakers and was also named Finals MVP in 1985 at the age of 38.
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2 Kobe Bryant
5x NBA Champion, 1x MVP
Kobe Bryant-1
Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers and became one of the most iconic figures in the history of sport.
He developed into a relentless competitor and an elite scorer during his time in Los Angeles, winning five NBA titles, earning 18 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA selections and a league MVP in 2008.
Kobe averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 1,346 games in the purple and gold uniform and scored 81 points in a single game in 2006 – the second-highest in league history.
“Spent entire 20-year career with the Lakers. His work ethic, killer instinct, and iconic moments (like 81 points vs. Raptors) made him a legend. No Laker has scored more points in purple and gold.”
1 Magic Johnson
5x NBA Champion, 3x MVP
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
Ultimately, AI named Magic Johnson as the greatest Lakers player of all time and praised him for revolutionising the point guard role with his size and unmatched vision:
“The face of the "Showtime" era, Magic revolutionized the point guard position with his size and vision. His leadership and clutch performances defined the 1980s Lakers dynasty. Arguably the most important Laker in terms of branding and winning.”
Johnson is regarded as arguably the greatest point guard in NBA history and was a leader of the Lakers during their iconic Showtime era, winning five championships, three league MVPs and a Finals MVP as a rookie in 1980.
He spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Lakers, averaging 19.5 points, 11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 906 games.
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Statistics courtesy of Statmuse . Correct as of 30-06-25.