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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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Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

20. . Shooting Guard. Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant. 3. player

  • 20 seasons with Lakers (1996-2016)
  • Averaged 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game
  • 18x All-Star, 1x MVP, 5x NBA champion with Lakers

Kobe Bean Bryant is another lifelong Laker, notching 18 All-Star appearances and winning five NBA titles in an illustrious career.

The longevity, production, and off-court persona and legendary competitiveness all vault him to this lofty position in Lakers history. Additionally, Bryant won with Shaquille O’Neal (No. 5 on this list), waited through a brief down period as the franchise reloaded, and won again two more with Pau Gasol as his sidekick.

The first time around, O’Neal was the alpha dog, whether Kobe liked it or not. But the second time, Kobe was running the show with Gasol as the second option on offense and Andrew Bynum (No. 30) anchoring the defense and scoring in the paint.

Bryant’s style of shoot and then shoot some more was effective because he was so incredibly good. He carried massive usage rates, leading the league three times, including a career-high 38.7 percent in 2005-06 — a 45-win year that saw the Lakers lose to Phoenix in the first round.

That was also the season during which this happened:

Bryant’s career wound down with injury issues, including a torn Achilles’ tendon, and the final three seasons were entirely forgettable. But that doesn’t change the fact that Kobe was one of the best pure scorers that the league has ever seen.

And again, placing third on a list of All-Time Lakers is far from a bad spot to be — especially when you see who’s in the top two spots.

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