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Los Angeles Lakers: Top 30 greatest players of all-time

By Ben Beecken

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the first half while taking on the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the first half while taking on the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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. Power Forward. Los Angeles Lakers. Rudy LaRusso. 19. player. 20

  • 8 seasons with Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1959-67)
  • Averaged 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game
  • 3x All-Star with Lakers

Rudy LaRusso was a second-round draft pick by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 and spent his first season in the NBA as part of the Lakers’ last season in Minnesota.

LaRusso jumped right in with two feet, averaging 13.7 points per game as a rookie. He made his first All-Star team in 1961-62, his third year as a pro. The Lakers fell in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics that season — one of three times that L.A. lost to the Celtics in the Finals during LaRusso’s career.

The 6-foot-7 forward was always somewhere between the second and fourth-leading scorer on the team as a member of the Lakers. The team was a consistent playoff contender but wasn’t able to bring home any titles during the 1960s, despite LaRusso being about as consistent as they come.

LaRusso himself averaged a double-double for three consecutive years, from 1961-64. Over that span, he averaged 14 points and 10.1 rebound per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and being named to two All-Star teams.

He made his third career All-Star team in 1965-66, a season in which he put up 15.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest.

LaRusso finished his career with the San Francisco Warriors, averaging over 20 points per game for the only two times in his 10-year career, he rounded out his career in style. He was named an All-Star in each of two seasons in a Warriors uniform, bringing his career total in All-Star appearances to five.

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