The Los Angeles Lakers traded up for the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft where forward Adou Thiero was selected out of Arkansas. Let’s take a look at the Lakers best NBA draft picks in franchise history. It’s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. Only time with the team is credited. Their time as the Minneapolis Lakers is included. Remember, Kobe Bryant was acquired in a draft-day trade, thus wasn’t drafted by the team. Some honorable mentions include Clyde Lovellette, Rudy LaRusso, A.C. Green, Vlade Divac, Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and Andrew Bynum.
10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Los Angeles Lakers History
10. Slater Martin (32nd overall, 1949)
Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982, Slater Martin won four championships with Minneapolis. In seven seasons for the team, he made four All-Star teams and received two All-NBA second team nods. His career-high of 35 points came in 1954 against the Boston Celtics.
9. Derek Fisher (24th overall, 1996)
While he never put up gaudy numbers, Derek Fisher was a key member of five championship teams. He hit countless big shots during his 915 regular season and 193 postseason outings with LA. Fisher is third in franchise history with 846 made three-pointers.
8. Norm Nixon (22nd overall, 1977)
Spending his first six seasons with the Lakers, Norm Nixon was an All-Star in 1981-82. The 6-foot-2 guard was a starter for both the team’s 1980 and 1982 championships. Nixon averaged at least eight assists four times and seventeen points on three occasions.
7. Vern Mikkelsen (11th overall, 1949)
A territorial pick, Vern Mikkelsen’s 10-year career was all spent with Minneapolis. The six-time All-Star won four championships in the early 1950s. The 6-foot-7 forward made the All-NBA second team four times.
6. Gail Goodrich (10th overall, 1965)
The Lakers were certainly glad they used a territorial pick on Gail Goodrich in 1965. The 1972 NBA champion had two stints for the team totaling nine years. He was named an All-Star in four of them and made the All-NBA first team in 1973-74.
5. Michael Cooper (60th overall, 1978)
Michael Cooper definitely overachieved as to where he was drafted in the third round. A 12-season career (all with the Lakers) saw him win five championships and earn a reputation as one of the game’s all-time best backcourt defenders. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1986-87 and also earned a spot on eight All-Defensive teams.
4. James Worthy (1st overall, 1982)
Known as ‘Big Game James’, James Worthy won three championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. In the last of the three (1988), the 6-foot-9 forward was named Finals MVP. Worthy was named an All-Star in seven straight seasons spanning from 1985-86 until 1991-92.
3. Elgin Baylor (1st overall, 1958)
Unfortunately for Elgin Baylor, he helped the Lakers reach eight NBA Finals, but they didn’t win any. That shouldn’t take away from the magnificent career that the 11-time All-Star had in the league. The 1958-59 Rookie of the Year averaged more than 30 points three times and is the franchise’s all-time leader in rebounds (11,463).
2. Jerry West (2nd overall, 1960)
Playing 14 seasons all with the Lakers, Jerry West was an All-Star in every one of them. He won a title in 1972, made nine NBA Finals appearances, and was the only player to win Finals MVP in a losing effort (1969). ‘The Logo’ finished his career with stellar averages of 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.
1. Magic Johnson (1st overall, 1979)
Still seen as the GOAT point guard by many, Magic Johnson won five championships with the Lakers. He was named Finals MVP three times, regular season MVP three times, and made nine straight All-NBA first teams. He was a league leader in assists (4X), steals (2X), and free-throw percentage (1X).
Photo credit: © Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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