Remembering The Lakers

LA Lakers

I was 13 when I became a Laker fan. 1985. It was the year the Lakers won their 3rd championship in 5 years. From Magic Johnson's wizardry to James Worthy's soaring glide dunks, to Kareem's elegant skyhook, AC Green's athletic rebounding and fastbreaking, to Michael Cooper's lean tenacious defence and effortless perimeter shooting, to Byran Scott's cold-eye three point shooting and two-way running, to Kurt Rambis' physical presence on defence, to Mychal Thompson's powerfully graceful near post penetration. They were awesome. The Lakers interchanged seamlessly to generate the most dazzling plays ever seen on their way to back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988. When the titles have all been forgotten, the memories of those flamboyant fastbreaking legends in the purple and gold of LA playing the game with joy and abandon, lives eternally. The finest compliment of them all - the Showtime Lakers played the game the way it was meant to be played.

Open, exhilarating and beautiful.


 

Byron Scott Michael Cooper - 1987 NBA Defensive Player

The NBA's tribute to the One and Only Michael Cooper

 

James Worthy

James Worthy

Career Statistics
G Min FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG Stl Blk Pts PPG
926 30,001 .521 .241 .769 5.1 3.0 1,041 624 16,320 17.6

James Worthy is my favourite Laker in the galaxy of superstars to grace the Forum at Inglewood. NCAA MVP in 1982 leading the Tar Heels of North Carolina to victory over Georgetown, Worthy was drafted Number 1 overall. With the talented Lakers, Worthy solidified that reputation with the 1988 NBA Playoff MVP. Worthy was pure magic in the low post. Owner of the most beautiful low post spin move ever seen, Worthy was unstoppable on the turn and glidedunk. It's one of the most challenging of moves in the game and the only other great with that finesse is Hakeem Olajuwon.

Worthy will be remembered for his breathtaking athletic skills-the blinding speed, the smooth effortless glides to the hoop, the one-handed tomahawk jams. And he will be recalled as the ultimate clutch player ...

"I don't think there has been or will be a better small forward than James, and I don't think people appreciated that," said his coach, Pat Riley, to the Los Angeles Daily News upon Worthy's retirement. "He was always such a quiet guy. But when he was in his prime, I can guarantee you, there wasn't anybody who could touch him."

Like Kareem and Magic, James Worthy carried a dynasty on his soaring shoulders.

That is why, no man will ever again...

Jersey Retired. James Worthy

Wear number 42 ...

for the Los Angeles Lakers...

Lakers On Fire

Earvin Johnson

Inventor Of Showtime

RECORDS
Playoff assists, career - 2,320
Playoff steals, career - 358
Assists, playoff game - 24 vs. Phoenix, May 15, 1984
Assists, playoff game, half -15 vs. Portland, May 3, 1985
Assists, NBA Finals game - 21 vs. Boston, June 3, 1984

Assists, NBA Finals game, half - 14 vs. Detroit, June 19, 1988
Assists, All-Star game, career - 106
Assists, All-Star game - 22, 1984

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Number One Overall Draft Pick of 1980.
MVP: 1987, 1989, 1990.
NBA Titles: 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
All-NBA First Team: 1983-1991.
All-NBA Second Team: 1982.
NBA All-Star: 12 times.
NBA All-Star MVP: 1990, 1992
All-Rookie Team: 1980.
Playoff MVP: 1980, 1982, 1987.
Assist leader: 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987.
FT percentage leader: 1989.
Steals leader: 1981, 1982
Olympic Gold Medal: 1992
High School State Championship: 1977
NCAA Title: 1979
NCAA Final Four MVP: 1979

Magic Johnson

The One and Only

Long after the titles have lost their lustre, people will continue to remember the sparkle Magic brought to the game, the selfless charity work he did and his dazzling Showtime Lakers. Most of all, the courage he showed when he faced the world with his HIV announcement, the positive energy he brought to a negative situation, the fact that he led his country to Olympic Gold as a HIV-positive person. Magic was as human, as he was immortal as a basketball legend.

Lakers On Fire

POSITION: Center
FULL NAME: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
AKA: Ferdinand Lewis "Lew" Alcindor, Jr.
BORN:  April 16, 1947 - New York, NY
HEIGHT: 7-2
WEIGHT: 235
COLLEGE: UCLA
DRAFTED: 1st Round, 1st Pick - Milwaukee, 1969
JERSEY#: 33
Played for the Lakers from 1975 to 1989
Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995

Kareem Abdul Jabbar has the strongest case of any player past or present to be hailed the greatest player of all time. Leader of 9 NBA statistical categories, owner of 6 championship rings, the Number 1 college draft pick of 1969, owner of the patent to the only shot in the game that is technically unstoppable, his longevity in playing the game at the highest level for 20 years.

Kareem was the heart and soul of the Laker dynasty. His stature in the game ensured a dominance at center of the highest quality. Kareem was the centerpiece of a dazzling offense that included rock-solid perimeter shooting, unstoppable penetration from the game's greatest point guard, unstoppable penetration from the game's greatest low post threat - James Worthy, and an unstoppable inside shot in Kareem's skyhook. Dunk? Kareem dunked so dominantly in college that they outlawed the shot on his account. It is a testiment to his influence, that the Lakers never won another championship without him after his retirement.

 

Kareem Abdul Jabbar holds the all-time record for most points scored (38,387), most games played (1,560) and most blocked shots (3,189), among others. At 7-2, Kareem is considered one of the All-Time greats of the game.

Career Totals

1560 Games | 57446 Min | .559 FG% | .721 FT% | 11.2 RPG

| 3.6 APG | 1160 Stls | 3189 Blks | 24.6 PPG

 

Lakers On Fire

Dean Oliver has written a superb expose on the Showtime Lakers addressing the back-to-back guarantee by Pat Riley in 1987. Dean examines the legendary Showtime squad block by block and evaluates the strength of Riley's bold promise.

The Heart Of The Show Time Dynasty

Kurt Rambis

Lakers Power Forward and Coach 1998.


AC Green - NBA ALL Time Iron Man 1000 Games ++


Lakers 6 NBA Championship Banners

Read The Back To Back Story on NBA.com

Read The NBA Top Ten Tribute to the 86-87 Lakers

Lakers On Fire

Future Laker Great Kobe Bryant

Kobe is one of 5 players in the last 20 years to jump from High School to the NBA.

Kobe was the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania history with 2,883 points, breaking the marks of NBA legend and Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (2,359 points). Bryant led his high school team to a 77-13 record in last three seasons and was a four-year starter. averaged 30.8 ppg, 12 rpg, 6.5 apg, four spg and 3.8 bpg. He led Lower Merion to Class AAAA state title with a 31-3 record. As a senior at Lower Merion High School, he was selected by USA Today and Parade Magazine as the National High School Player of the Year. He was also named Naismith Player of the Year.

Kobe was drafted 13th overall in the 1996 Draft by the Charlotte Hornets and then traded in a deal that sent him to Los Angeles in exchange for center Vlade Divac.

 

 

Kobe Bryant

Gravity Defying Kobe Bryant

LA Freeway Exit...

Lakers On Fire