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Los Angeles Lakers: Top 10 point guards in franchise history

By Jason Reed

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)
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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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 28: The jersey of Jamaal Wilkes (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 28: The jersey of Jamaal Wilkes (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

4. Slater Martin

If Slater Martin played his entire career with the Lakers organization, he likely would be the third best point guard of all-time and would sit on the upper echelon with the top two guys on this list. However, some of Martin’s best years came after he left the Lakers, although, his legacy still lives on and he more than deserves the fourth best point guard slot on this list.

In his 12-year career, Martin was a five-time NBA Champion, a five-time All-NBA Second Team member and a seven-time all-star. With the Lakers, Martin took home four of his championships, four of his all-star appearances and two of his All-NBA Second team inclusions. All in all, Martin spent seven seasons with the Lakers from 1949-1956 and was a true pioneer of the game.

During his seven seasons with the Lakers, Martin averaged 9.9 points, 4.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. While those numbers are weak by today’s standards, for his time, Martin was one of the best in the game. Martin finished in the top ten for assists seven times in his NBA career and managed to be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

While at any other time period Martin would have simply been an average point guard, especially with his five-foot-ten height, his play in the Lakers’ twilight years set the precedent for greatness. Every other point guard on this list should look to Slater Martin as the one that started it all.

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