Last call: Greatest Lakers

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As we start the countdown of the 10 greatest L.A. Lakers of all time, this is just another reminder to send in your picks for the 10 greatest L.A. Lakers of all time, via e-mail to houston.mitchell@latimes.com or via the comment field below. I’ve received about 200 ballots so far, and there is basically a four-way tie for the lead.

And now, without further ado, the 10th and 9th greatest L.A. Lakers of all time, as selected by a commitee of one:

#10

Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper is the greatest defensive player in Lakers history. It is a testament to how good the Lakers were in the 1980s that Michael Cooper came off the bench. He would have started for almost any other team in the NBA. He also was an excellent three-point shooter and inventor of the Coop-a-Loop. And it is high time that the Lakers retire his number.

#9

Gail Goodrich

Even though Goodrich is in the Hall of Fame and has had his number retired, he has become sort of the forgotten player in Lakers history, overshadowed by his teammates and the Showtime Lakers. But, he averaged 25.9 points a game in the 1971-72 title season, and averaged 19.5 points a game in his Lakers career. And when the Lakers traded him to the New Orleans Jazz, they parlayed one of the draft picks they received into Magic Johnson.

Next Friday, the 7th and 8th greatest Lakers of all time.

-- Houston Mitchell