LaVar Ball Could Name At Least 90% Of These LA Lakers Legends. Can You?

There’s no question that the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful franchises in all of pro basketball. They started out in 1947 as the Minneapolis Lakers. The nickname is a reference to the 10,000 lakes that exist in the state of Minnesota, which makes more sense than any connection you can make between Los Angeles and lakes.

They found instant success, winning the National Basketball League in 1948, the Basketball Association of America title the following season when the two leagues merged, and four of the first five NBA Championships, including the very first one in 1950. The team relocated to Los Angeles in 1960, after some brief struggles in Minneapolis.

The Lakers would get back to their championship winning ways in 1972, and win five NBA titles during the 1980s. They’d win all three NBA Finals from 2000 to 2002, and win another two titles in 2009 and 2010. They have won 16 titles in all, one behind the Boston Celtics for the most of any NBA franchise.

On each of these championship team’s roster there are at least one, if not three or more of the best players to ever play the game of basketball. There are also other players who may not get attention from passive NBA fans, but Lakers fans know how important they are to the franchise. This quiz will test your knowledge of the most iconic players to wear the Lakers uniform.

Good luck!

Question 1

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

In the 1980s, there were really only two great players in the NBA; the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird, and this man. This Lakers legend was a 6’10” point guard, which obviously created mismatches on both ends of the floor. His career averages are flat out insane: 19.5 points per game, 11.2 assists, 7.2 rebound per game, and 1.9 steals per game. His totals would also be great, if his career wasn’t sadly cut short due to his famous HIV-positive diagnosis in 1991. Thankfully he is still alive, and has worked with the Lakers throughout his retirement.

Question 2

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This Hall of Fame center played 14 of his 20 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, and is the NBA’s all-time leader in points scored with 38,387. He won five championships, all with the Lakers, and all after he turned 32 years old. At the age of 37, he averaged 22 points and 8 rebounds per game, taking home the 1985 NBA Finals MVP award, and at 40 he played 30 minutes per game in the 1988 NBA Playoffs, both of which were won by Los Angeles. Do you know who this is?

Question 3

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

Aside from the answer to question #5 of this quiz, this player might have been the most absurd athlete the NBA has ever seen. You wouldn’t expect “quick” to be an adjective used to describe a 7’1”, 300+ pound basketball player, but he was quick. Quick enough to shake Michael Jordan when they played 1on1 prior to an All-Star Game. This player averaged 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game with the Lakers, winning two titles, and another one after he left the team. Who is this Hall of Famer?

Question 4

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player really is one of the great Lakers on all time. He won five NBA championships in his 20 seasons, all of which he played with the purple and gold. His last game was one of the wildest farewells the Association has seen, and it was something that could only happen in LA. Numerous celebrities came out to the Staples Center to watch this player score 60 points in his last home game, at age 37. It took him literally 50 shots to get to 60 points, but he got there.

Question 5

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player is the only man to ever score 100 points in an NBA game. He accomplished the insane feat in 1962, hitting 36 of 63 field goal attempts, and knocking down 28 of 32 free throws. This was also the same season that this player averaged 50 points per game over the whole season. He’s not only the only person to do that, he’s also the only NBA player to ever average over 40 points per game in a full season. Do you know which player this is?

Question 6

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This was such an iconic player in the early days of the NBA, that they literally designed the NBA’s logo after him. However, even with the stacked Lakers of the 1960s, he struggled mightily to win any titles because of Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics. He was the first ever Finals MVP to not come from the winning team in 1969, when he posted a 42 point triple-double in Game 7. He finally got that elusive ring at the age of 33, although he wasn’t named the Finals MVP that time around.

Question 7

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This is without a doubt the most understated star of the Lakers teams from the 1960s and early 70s. He played in 14 seasons, all with the Lakers franchise (started in Minneapolis and moved to Los Angeles with the team in 1960), and finished with per game averages of 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Although he technically never won an NBA title, the Lakers got him a ring because his knee injuries forced him to retire nine games in to the franchise’s first championship season.

Question 8

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This is probably most talented big man to win a ring with Kobe, aside from Shaq, of course. He won two NBA titles in his seven seasons with the team, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies before LA, and Chicago and San Antonio afterwards. Over his career, this player was a double-double machine, averaging 17.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Although he hasn’t made the Hall of Fame yet (he hasn’t even retired), he’ll surely be there one day. Do you know who this is?

Question 9

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This NBA Hall of Famer played nine seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 20 points per game in the playoffs over those years. In the 1972 playoffs, he shot 45% from the field, 90% from the free throw line, and averaged 23.8 points per game, to win what would be his only NBA championship. His college career also went pretty well, as he won two championships at UCLA under the legendary John Wooden. Do you know who this player is?

Question 10

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player was a very key part of three Lakers championships in the 1980s. Instantly recognizable from the goggles he used to wear, this player averaged 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 12 NBA seasons, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. The small forward was known for his prowess in the big games. In Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals, he scored 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, which solidified himself as the Finals MVP after scoring 28 and 9 in Game 6. Do you know who this is?

Question 11

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

Aside from Kobe Bryant, this was the other player that contributed to all five Lakers championships in the 2000s. This point guard will live forever in a moment in Game Five of the Western Conference semifinals against the Spurs, when he caught and shot the ball within the 0.4 seconds left on the clock in a 1-point game, sending his team to the NBA Finals. This player retired in 2014, but remains the all-time leader in playoff games played, at least until LeBron inevitably breaks it in the coming years. Who is this?

Question 12

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This is another player who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers. His numbers were never too spectacular over his 12 year career, but his strengths lied on the defensive side of the ball, not the offensive side. He’d most often guard whichever player on the other team was the best shooter, and Larry Bird once said that this player was the best defender he ever faced. He won five championships with the Lakers, all in the 80s. Who is this?

Question 13

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player wasn’t an offensive star, but he didn’t need to be. Playing with Magic Johnson on the Lakers teams of the late 80s, all he had to do was play good defence night in a night out, and that’s exactly what he did. He only missed three games due to injury in his entire career, playing 82 games in 11 straight seasons. He won two titles in his first stint with the Lakers, before playing with the Suns and Mavericks, and returning to LA to win another ring in 1999-00 with Kobe and Shaq.

Question 14

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

One word you can definitely use to describe this player’s career is “interesting”. The power forward spent nearly his entire career in LA - five seasons with the Clippers, and seven with the Lakers - although it probably wasn’t for the best. He won two titles with the Lakers, even winning a Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2011, but off-court issues derailed his play towards the end of his career. In the midst of a divorce with one of the Kardashians, he was hospitalized due to drug use, but has since recovered. Which Lakers player is this?

Question 15

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player is one of the reasons so many playoff teams of today value wing defenders who can shoot the three. He participated in 16 different playoffs with three different teams, winning seven NBA championships. Three of those titles he won back-to-back-to-back with the Lakers in their famous 3-peat from 2000-2002. In those three seasons he averaged nearly 30 minutes, 6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks, while scoring just seven points per game. Do you know who this player is?

Question 16

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player wore the Laker uniform for 11 of his 14 NBA seasons, contributing to three NBA championships in the 1980s. The shooting guard’s best playoff season came in 1988, when he scored 19.6 ppg, behind just Magic Johnson and James Worthy on the NBA Finals winning roster. After his playing career he pivoted to coaching basketball, and has been the head coach of the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Do you know who this is?

Question 17

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player personified craziness. His style of defending was extremely physical, aggressive, abrasive, and very effective. He won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004 with the Indiana Pacers, but won his only championship in Los Angeles in 2010. He played for the Lakers for just six seasons, but he made a major impact, just like every other team he played for. If you’re a true Los Angeles Lakers fan, you should definitely know who this is, even if you’re confused by which name he went by.

Question 18

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player may not have played for the Lakers as long as he played for other teams, and he didn’t play as well for the Lakers as he did for other teams, but he was still an important part of two Lakers NBA championships as their sixth man. The center averaged over 32 ppg between 1973-1976 with the Buffalo Braves, earning the MVP honours in 1975, and over 25 ppg with the New York Knicks. He was slowed by injuries, and then by playing time in Los Angeles, averaging just 12.1 ppg. Do you know which player this is?

Question 19

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This is one of the first great players in NBA history, and definitely the first great big man. His professional career spanned from 1946-1956, and his height and ability inspired many rule changes, such as the creation of the goaltending rule, the shot clock, and the widening of the foul lane. He played in the formative years of professional basketball, winning seven championships between the NBL, BAA, and eventually the NBA when those two leagues merged. He went on to coach the Minneapolis Lakers a year after his retirement. Who is this?

Question 20

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This Serbian native played the first eight seasons of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the fact he was 7’1”, he had great hands, and a good eye for the floor, which led to him averaging over 3 assists per game as a center over his career. Although he never won a championship with the Lakers, or any other team, he still had a fantastic career. He also made a big impact off the court with his humanitarian efforts in Serbia and Africa. He is currently president of basketball operations and general manager of the Sacramento Kings.

Question 21

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This Canadian-born basketball player was a perfect fit to play in Los Angeles, given he fashioned himself out a decent acting career as well as a decent basketball career. He played seven seasons with the Lakers, and was a part of all three championship teams between 2000-2002, starting all 82 regular season games, and all 19 playoff games in the 2001-2002 season. Since retiring from basketball, he’s made some good business moves, such as becoming a partner of Vision Venture Partners, and owning the Esports franchise Echo Fox. Do you know who this multi-talented former Laker is?

Question 22

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player was a point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers between 1977-1983, winning two championships over that period of time. His stats were great, with averages of 16.4 points and 7.9 assists per game in the regular season, and 17.7 points and 8 assists per game in the playoffs. He also averaged over a steal per game in every season he played in the NBA except for the last one. He finished out his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he also posted some good numbers. Do you know who this player is?

Question 23

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This forward won his first of four NBA championships in his very first season in the league, also winning NBA with the team that drafted him, the Golden State Warriors. His time in Oakland wouldn’t last long, as he’d play just two more seasons before joining the Lakers. He averaged 20 ppg during two of the Lakers’ championship runs, and although he didn’t see the floor in the 1985 playoffs, he still earned a ring because he reached the threshold of games played in the regular season. Which player is this?

Question 24

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player’s arrival in LA in 2012 was supposed to be the creation of a new super team, but it just never panned out. Despite this player averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds per game, the team finished with a record of 45-37, and were swept in the first round. That would be the only season he played in LA. He is kind of a Lakers legend, but definitely not in a good way. Do you know which player this is?

Question 25

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player may have been a bench warmer for the majority of his career in Los Angeles, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t remembered fondly by Lakers fans. Any player who sticks with a team for nine seasons is going to be remembered positively, especially if he’s on the roster of a championship winning team, which he was twice in 2009 and 2010. Another more important reason Lakers fans hold him in high regard is because he’s currently the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Who is this?

Question 26

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player will unfortunately likely be remembered as the guy who Kobe Bryant replaced, or just not remembered at all because he was replaced by Kobe Bryant. He left the Lakers one season before they began their three-peat of NBA championships, as he was traded for Glen Rice, and BJ Armstrong. A two-time All-Star with the Lakers, he acted as a mentor to Kobe, who joined LA right out of high school. In six seasons in purple and gold, he averaged 15.2 ppg, 3 rpg, and 3 apg. Who is it?

Question 27

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player played for the Lakers for nine seasons, seven at the start of his career, and two at the end of his career. He won a total of four NBA championships, all in the 1980s. This lanky Greek was a fan favourite due to his willingness to do anything for the team, and playing well above his assumed talent level. Like other players, he transitioned to coaching after his playing career, and even got the opportunity to coach with the Lakers. Do you know who this is?

Question 28

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This player was an extremely talented young center that helped the Lakers win two titles in 2009 and 2010. Although he averaged less than 10 points in each of those playoffs, it looked like he’d have a great career in front of him. But, in the middle of his best season, where he averaged 18 points and 11 assists, he dislocated his kneecap, and never truly recovered. He was involved in the trade that brought Pau Gasol to LA, and played in just 52 games before retiring. Who is this?

Question 29

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This is another player that will live in Lakers infamy. He was brought in along with Dwight Howard, and the Lakers were expected to challenge for the NBA title. However, chronic back injuries ended up derailing his season, and he played in just 65 games in a Lakers uniform, averaging 11 points and 6 assists, when the Hall of Fame point guard averaged 16 points and 10 assists over the prime of his career. Do you know who this Lakers disappointment is?

Question 30

Which Los Angeles Lakers player is this?

This point guard was the Los Angeles Lakers #2 overall pick in 2017 NBA Draft, but despite being the most highly touted rookie in the Lakers’ class, he wasn’t the most effective. And it wasn’t just Utah’s Donovan Mitchell that outshone this rookie, it was guys on his own team. A lot of the hype surrounding this player has been sparked by his outspoken dad, who claimed this player would be better than Jordan. Nobody actually believes that, but this isn’t a bad player either.

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