Los Angeles Lakers: Top 10 point guards in franchise history

By Jason Reed | Sep 28, 2017

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Former Lakers champions Jerry West, Norm Nixon, Jaamal Wilkes, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson, A.C. Green, Rick Fox and Robert Horry stand on the court during the 2009 NBA Championship ring ceremony for the Los Angeles Lakers before the season opening game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on October 27, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 99-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

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6. Nick Van Exel

Nick Van Exel took over the starting point guard gig from Threatt during the 1993-94 season and would hold down the job for five seasons. Van Exel would just miss out on the Laker three-peat from 2000-2002 as he was traded to the Denver Nuggets prior to the 1998-1999 season. If Van Exel would have remained a Laker, the team still would have won the titles and he would be a three-time champion.

What makes the trade of Van Exel to the Nuggets so interesting is it was following his lone trip to the NBA All-Star Game. That season, Van Exel averaged 13.8 points, 6.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. In his five-year stint with the Lakers, Van Exel averaged a total of 14.9 points, 7.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.

In terms of franchise leaders, Van Exel has the third best assists per game total of players with at least one full season played and has assisted the tenth most scores in Lakers history. If Van Exel were to remain in Los Angeles during his prime years, which were instead spent with the Denver Nuggets, he would fall just shy of 5000 assists and own the fourth spot in Lakers history.

However, the trade did happen and there is nothing to do to go back in time and change it. On a positive note, Van Exel was traded for Tony Battie and the draft rights to the 23rd overall pick, Tyronn Lue. Lue played for the Lakers for three seasons, winning two championships, and is now the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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