The 10 greatest L.A. Lakers of all time -- No. 1: Magic Johnson
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Concluding our countdown of the 10 greatest L.A. Lakers of all time, as chosen by our readers.
No. 1: Magic Johnson (3,594 first-place votes, 69,156 points)
Magic Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers. The Lakers won the NBA title, and Johnson was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in his rookie season. He won four more titles with the Lakers during the 1980s.
Johnson’s career achievements include three NBA MVP awards, 12 All-Star games, and 10 All-NBA first- and second-team awards. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists per game, with an average of 11.2, and is probably the most popular Laker of all time.
On the all-time Lakers list, Johnson ranks fifth in games (906), eighth in field-goal percentage (52%), sixth in free-throw percentage (84.8%), third in rebounds (6,559), first in assists (10,141), first in steals (1,724), fifth in points (17,707), eighth in points per game (19.5) and first in assists per game (11.2).
-- Houston Mitchell
Previously:
No. 10: Jerry Buss
No. 9: Shaquille O’Neal
No. 8: Wilt Chamberlain
No. 7: Chick Hearn
No. 6: James Worthy
No. 5: Elgin Baylor
No. 4: Kobe Bryant
No. 3: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
No. 2: Jerry West