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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, Norm Nixon
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Norm Nixon. 23. player. 20. . Point Guard. Los Angeles Lakers

  • 6 seasons with Lakers (1977-83)
  • Averaged 16.4 points and 7.9 assists per game
  • 1x All-Star, 2x NBA champion with Lakers

Norm Nixon ran the point on six consecutive Lakers playoff teams in the late ’70s and early ’80s, including Finals-winning squads in 1980 and 1982.

While an aging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a young Magic Johnson were the best players on those teams, Nixon was the consistent, durable straw that stirred the drink.

Over his six years in Los Angeles, Nixon only missed seven games, playing in 485 of a possible 492 regular season games. He appeared in 58 postseason games, too, bumping up his numbers from 16.4 points per game in the regular season to 17.7 points to go along with eight assists per contest in the playoffs.

Nixon averaged at least 17 points per game in four of his six seasons, only failing to achieve the mark as a rookie (13.7 PPG) and in his final year in purple and gold (15.1 PPG in 1982-83).

After leaving L.A., Nixon played for the San Diego Clippers for one season in 1983-84, averaging 17 points and a career-high 11.1 assists per game. Then, it was off to L.A. again, but this time for the Clippers as they moved up the coast to Hollywood.

Nixon spent two more years with the Clippers and made his second All-Star team before sitting out from 1986 to 1988 due to injuries. He returned to play in 53 games for the Los Angeles Clippers in 1988-89 before retiring at the age of 33.

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