The Lakers are quite possibly the most significant franchise to ever exist in sports history. The diverse capabilities in its players have always brought the Lakers victory. Here, we have listed down the Top Ten Tallest Lakers Players of All Time. Not only did we consider their physique, but their outstanding achievements have landed them on our list. These players have led the Lakers to championships and have set records that have never been witnessed in NBA history.
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10. Andrew Bynum
Andrew Bynum played for the Los Angeles Lakers for most of his career. Andrew was the youngest player to ever play in the NBA. He had a drastic improvement throughout the years he played basketball.
He went from only scoring 18 points and nine rebounds at the start of his career to breaking Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s franchise record of nine blocked shots at the end. The 7-foot center also won two NBA championships with the team in 2009 and 2010. He was named an All-Star and selected to the All-NBA team in 2012.
9. Mel Counts
Mel Grant Counts had a successful 12-year long career in the NBA. He played as an exceptional outside shooter for someone who’s 7 ft. Before playing for the Lakers, he was selected by the Boston Celtics. Even though the wins are not in favor of the Lakers, his performance that led the Celtics into winning the championship in 1965 is still applaudable.
After the Celtics, he was traded for the Baltimore Bullets and then the Los Angeles Lakers. He played about four seasons for the Lakers.
8. Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol changed the entire dynamics of the Lakers franchise with his outstanding performance. Standing tall at 7 feet, Gasol has a record of 17 points and ten rebounds per game as a Laker.
The Lakers got Pau Gasol through trade with Memphis Grizzlies. Their franchise instantly blew up with his arrival. Gasol managed to rise above the ranks and led the team to win two championships in 2009 and 2010.
Apart from this, his remarkable achievements have made us include him at the top of our list. Gasol is a six-time NBA All-Star and a four-time All-NBA team selection, twice on the second team and twice on the third team. He was also the NBA rookie of the Year while playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. Furthermore, Gasol also won loads of international awards.
7. James Edwards
James Edwards had a 19-year long career filled with awards and achievements. He retired with 14,862 career points and 6,004 career rebounds. Edwards possesses a muscular build and a height of 7ft 1 in.
He won the NBA championship thrice and the First-team All-Pac-8 twice.
6. Sam Bowie
Next up we have, Sam Bowie. He played as a center for ten seasons in the NBA. Sam’s height of 7 feet 1 in was of great advantage while playing.
Sam played a total of 92 games in the two seasons he played for the Lakers. Due to his repeated leg injuries, he ultimately had to retire. Out of his entire career, Bowie averaged 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.78 blocks per game.
5. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal was one of the greatest players the Lakers ever had. Ever since he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, he dominated every game and set sky-rocketing records yet to be broken.
The 7-foot-one player won the 1999–2000 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, the 1992–93 NBA Rookie of the Year award, 15 All-Star Game selections, and three All-Star Game MVP awards. He also ranks second in franchise history in terms of points (27) and rebounds (11.8).
4. Elmore Smith
Elmore Smith has brought glory to the Lakers and set records that are still unbeatable. In his first season for the Buffalo Braves, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. He also had the eighth-highest rebounding average as a rookie. Elmore’s height of 7 feet 1 in. was of significant advantage in the court.
After being traded for the Lakers, he averaged 12.5 points with 11.2 rebounds and a league-leading 4.9 blocked shots. Smith still has an unbeatable record of 17 blocks against Portland.
3. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is still the greatest player to be ever witnessed by NBA history. He is about 7 feet 1 inch tall. The “Big Dipper” won four MVP awards and was the NBA Finals MVP in 1971.
In the 1971 season, Wilt led the Lakers into winning their first championship. He also managed to set a few records that are still unbeatable. In his last season, Wilt left the game with the all-time record for field goal percentage, 727%. Throughout his entire career, he averaged 30.1 points.
2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Kareem Abdul Jabbar is the franchise’s third-leading scorer. The 7-foot-2-inch player is the best in the history of the Lakers.
His unique style and skills dominated the court. His trademark “skyhook” was a shot that left fans stunned. He mastered this unique style through years of practice and hard work. His hard work resulted in winning five NBA championships and three MVP awards only in four years.
The Lakers center ranks first in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, and blocks. He played a total of 14 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers. While playing for the Lakers, he scored 22 points and won five titles. His amazing performance has paved the way for the Lakers franchise into multiple championships. Even after his retirement, he continued to study the game of basketball.
1. Chuck Nevitt
Last but not least we have, Chuck Nevitt. Nevitt is the tallest player in the Lakers’ history. The 7-foot-5-inch player played as a center all through his career. His height was his most remarkable feature, along with his basketball skills.
Nevitt played nine different seasons and appeared in 155 games totaling 826 minutes. He was a member of the 1985 Lakers’ championship team. He is still the tallest player ever to win an NBA championship.