Forgotten Lakers Players

 

The Los Angeles Lakers have had legendary players like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal and Jerry West represent them over the years. These legends helped define entire eras in NBA history.

Other great players were also in the Lakers at some point in their NBA careers but you might have forgotten about that. For example:

 

Mitch Richmond

Mitch Richmond was a star when he was with the Warriors and Kings before playing three years for the Wizards. Richmond then signed with the Lakers in 2001 for what would be his final season in the league.

Richmond’s career was in decline while the Lakers were coming off back-to-back championships and wanted to add a veteran to provide scoring off the bench and roster depth.

Richmond averaged at least 16.2 points per game on each of his first 13 years in the NBA but his role with the Lakers was limited and he played just 11.1 minutes and averaged a career-low 4.1 points in 64 games. His numbers might have been disappointing but he was able to finish his career with his first NBA Championship ring.

 

Glen Rice

The Hornets traded Glen Rice to the Lakers for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell in 1998 but he made a name for himself as one of the best small forwards in the NBA way before that.

Rice had six productive seasons with the Heat to start his career but reached a different level in his three seasons with the Hornets, playing in three straight NBA All-Star games.

The Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, were a huge roadblock for those Hornets teams but his time in Charlotte prepared him to be third-best player for the Lakers behind Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Rice helped Shaq and Kobe carry the scoring load for two years and won an NBA Championship in 2000.

Glen Rice only played two seasons with the Lakers, averaging 17.5 points in his first year and 15.9 in his second when they won the NBA Championship. This NBA legend play 1,000 games in his career but many forget his time brief but successful time with the Lakers.

 

Isaiah Rider

Many remember that Isaiah Rider stole the show in the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest but also forget that he had a successful nine-year career in the NBA, averaging 16.7 points in 563 games.

Rider was a prolific scorer with insane athletic ability, particularly in his three years with the Timberwolves and his three years with the Trail Blazers. He would then play one year with the Hawks, putting up 19.3 points in 60 games before joining the Lakers in 2000, to replace Glen Rice.

Isaiah Rider ended playing just 18.0 minutes but he averaged 7.6 points in 67 games (six starts) and his production off the bench helped the Lakers win the NBA Championship. The next year he joined the Nuggets and played just 10 games for them before retiring from the NBA.