There is no denying that the Los Angeles Lakers is one of the greatest franchises in NBA history. Numerous stars across generations like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James have represented the famous purple and yellow.
Moreover, they have the equal highest amount of titles in NBA history. The Lakers are currently tied with the Boston Celtics, as they both have 17 NBA titles to their names.
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One of the biggest reasons behind the immense success of the Lakers franchise is the leadership behind it. The Buss family has owned the Lakers since 1979 and they have played a huge role in their success.
Dr. Jerry Buss was the first owner of the franchise. Despite his success, he faced criticism for his image outside the basketball world. Buss was accused of being a flashy playboy and womanizer.
Interestingly enough, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently came in support of Jerry Buss. He talked about how Jerry did not care about all the noise and made things work his way.
Abdul-Jabbar wrote, “Doc also had his naysayers. Who was this flashy playboy upstart thinking he could suddenly show up and take over an esteemed institution. There were traditions, precedents, rings to kiss. He didn’t care about any of that. He would do things his way—with charm and a laugh—but his way nonetheless.”
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the biggest star in the Lakers franchise when Jerry Buss was handed over the ownership of the Lakers. Over the years, he established himself as one of the greatest legends in Lakers history.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest Laker ever
Abdul-Jabbar made a name for himself during his time at UCLA. He entered the NBA draft and was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the number 1 overall. Despite having 1 NBA title with the Bucks he is best remembered for his time in the Lakers.
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He has five titles with the Lakers and numerous other individual accolades. Abdul-Jabbar’s partnership with Magic Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever. He retired with an average of 22.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 9.4 rebounds in 14 seasons with the Lakers.
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Do you think Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the greatest Los Angeles Lakers player ever? Let us know in the comments down below.