In the latest episode of the ‘Mark Jackson Show,’ guest Richard Jefferson shared his thoughts on who he believes is the greatest player in Los Angeles Lakers history. Given the franchise's rich legacy, there are plenty of candidates, but one name that frequently stands out is the late Kobe Bryant.
However, R.J. took a different approach. Without much hesitation, he selected Magic Johnson and then explained his reasoning for overlooking Kobe.
“Kobe [Bryant] only had three championships. He might have been the second-best player in the world, but he was the second-best player to Shaq. That's why he (Shaq) has those three Finals MVPs,” R.J. stated .
Being a franchise great
The reasoning of the former NBA forward is clear: a player builds a case for being the greatest in their franchise when they win championships, but this is only valid if they are the standout performer on those teams. R.J. argues that the ‘Black Mamba’ did not truly deserve that prestigious title; instead, it was Shaquille O'Neal who was the driving force behind their legendary three-peat, as evidenced by the big man winning the Finals MVP award each time.
To further illustrate his point, Jefferson, who now works in media, made a comparison to another legendary Lakers duo: Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In their case, unlike the Shaq-Kobe dynamic, it was the guard, not the center, who received the spotlight during their championship runs in the 80s.
“You look back on the dude (Magic) who went to what? Did he go to eight NBA Finals in 11 or 12 seasons and won five of them? Come on, bro. Kareem might have been the most important, especially during those first couple of years, but he (Magic) was, in my opinion, the best player on those teams. He was the engine that made the team run” , remarked the 44-year-old.
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More arguments in favor of Magic
However, a hint of nostalgia likely influenced Jefferson's choice of Magic as the Lakers' GOAT. As a Los Angeles native born in 1980, the retired 6'7" player grew up idolizing the Showtime Lakers and their superstar point guard. Even after moving to Phoenix, Arizona, as a kid, that love never faded, he recalled.
Beyond Johnson being, in Jefferson's opinion, the greatest player on those legendary teams, there were more reasons for his pick. One being, as he put it, that "Magic changed the game of basketball." Indeed, few players have had a bigger impact on the sport than 'The Magic Man.' As an unprecedented oversized playmaker, the Hall of Famer dazzled crowds with his elite passing, ball-handling, and showmanship.
These skills led to countless unforgettable moments, with one performance standing out for the 2016 NBA Champ with the Warriors: Johnson's iconic rookie performance in Game 6 of the 1980 Finals .
In summary, Magic's excellence on championship-winning teams, along with his significant influence on the sport, solidifies his status as the best Laker ever in R.J.'s eyes.
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