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37 voters

The Best Los Angeles Lakers First-Round Picks In The NBA Draft

Updated November 5, 2019 596 votes 37 voters34 items

List RulesVote based only on career success with the Los Angeles Lakers. Only picks made since the NBA/ABA merger (since 1977).

The history of Los Angeles Lakers first-round draft picks does not feature as many superstars as the average NBA fan might assume. The Lakers are among the best NBA franchises of all time and have won the the second-most championships in league history, but many of the team's icons came via trade or free agency rather than getting selected in the NBA draft. 

However, Magic Johnson and James Worthy, two of the best basketball players of all time, were both lifetime Lakers from draft to retirement. Derek Fisher was on board for five NBA titles, while players like Andrew Bynum, A.C. Green, and Devean George all won multiple championships with the franchise.

But which of these players had the best overall impact on the Lakers franchise during their playing careers? The stats below only reflect the players’ time spent with Los Angeles, and that’s what you should base your vote on. Did this player help improve the Lakers organization?

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  • Magic Johnson1
    30
    4

    Magic Johnson

    Draft selection: 1 (1979)

    Stats
    902 games played, 19.5 ppg, 11.2 apg, 7.2 rpg, 1.9 spg
     
    Achievements
    5× NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
    3× NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987)
    3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1987, 1989, 1990)
    12× NBA All-Star (1980, 1982–1992)
    9× All-NBA First Team (1983–1991)
    All-NBA Second Team (1982)
    NBA All-Rookie First Team (1980)

  • James Worthy2
    24
    5

    James Worthy

    Draft selection: 1 (1982)

    Stats
    926 games played, 17.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg
     
    Achievements
    3× NBA champion (1985, 1987, 1988)
    NBA Finals MVP (1988)
    7× NBA All-Star (1986–1992)
    2× All-NBA Third Team (1990, 1991)
    NBA All-Rookie First Team (1983)

  • A. C. Green3
    22
    9

    A. C. Green

    Draft selection: 23 (1985)

    Stats
    735 games played, 10.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg
     
    Achievements
    3× NBA champion (1987, 1988, 2000)
    NBA All-Star (1990)
    NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1989)

  • Derek Fisher4
    19
    8

    Derek Fisher

    Draft selection: 24 (1996)

    Stats
    915 games played, 7.9 ppg, 2.9 apg
     
    Achievements
    5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010)

  • Eddie Jones5
    16
    5

    Eddie Jones

    Draft selection: 10 (1994)

    Stats
    314 games played, 15.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.1 apg
     
    Achievements
    2× NBA All-Star (1997, 1998)
    2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1998, 1999)
    NBA All-Rookie First Team (1995)

  • Vlade Divac6
    15
    5

    Vlade Divac

    Draft selection: 26 (1989)

    Stats
    535 games played, 12.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.6 bpg
     
    Achievements
    NBA All-Rookie First Team (1990)

  • Norm Nixon7
    16
    8

    Norm Nixon

    Draft selection: 22 (1977)

    Stats
    485 games played, 16.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg
     
    Achievements
    2× NBA champion (1980, 1982)
    NBA All-Star (1982)
    NBA All-Rookie First Team (1978)

  • Andrew Bynum8
    15
    9

    Andrew Bynum

    Draft selection: 10 (2005)

    Stats
    392 games played, 11.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg
     
    Achievements
    2× NBA champion (2009, 2010)
    NBA All-Star (2012)
    All-NBA Second Team (2012)

  • Elden Campbell9
    11
    5

    Elden Campbell

    Draft selection: 27 (1990)

    Stats
    618 games played, 10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg

  • Brandon Ingram10
    13
    9

    Brandon Ingram

    Draft selection: 2 (2016)

    Stats
    190 games played, 13.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 apg
     
    Achievements
    NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2017)

  • Larry Nance Jr.11
    11
    7

    Larry Nance Jr.

    Draft selection: 27 (2015)

    Stats
    168 games played, 6.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg

  • Anthony Peeler12
    9
    6

    Anthony Peeler

    Draft selection: 15 (1992)

    Stats
    205 games played, 10.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg

  • D'Angelo Russell13
    12
    11

    D'Angelo Russell

    Draft selection: 2 (2015)

    Stats
    143 games played, 14.3 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.5 rpg
     
    Achievements
    NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2016)

  • Devean George14
    9
    8

    Devean George

    Draft selection: 23 (1999)

    Stats
    429 games played, 6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg
     
    Achievements
    3× NBA champion (2000–2002)

  • Julius Randle15
    10
    9

    Julius Randle

    Draft selection: 7 (2014)

    Stats
    238 games played, 13.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.6 apg

  • Sasha Vujačić16
    8
    8

    Sasha Vujačić

    Draft selection: 27 (2004)

    Stats
    420 games played, 4.8 ppg
     
    Achievements
    2× NBA champion (2009, 2010)

  • Mark Madsen17
    8
    11

    Mark Madsen

    Draft selection: 29 (2002)

    Stats
    183 games played, 2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg
     
    Achievements
    2× NBA champion (2001, 2002)

  • Jordan Farmar18
    8
    11

    Jordan Farmar

    Draft selection: 26 (2006)

    Stats
    342 games played, 7.3 ppg, 2.5 apg
     
    Achievements
    2× NBA champion (2009, 2010)

  • George Lynch19
    5
    8

    George Lynch

    Draft selection: 12 (1993)

    Stats
    203 games played, 6.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg

  • Mike McGee20
    5
    11

    Mike McGee

    Draft selection: 19 (1981)

    Stats
    302 games played, 8.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg
     
    Achievements
    2× NBA champion (1982, 1985)

  • Brad Davis21
    2
    8

    Brad Davis

    Draft selection: 15 (1977)

    Stats
    38 games played, 2.7 ppg

  • Brad Holland22
    2
    8

    Brad Holland

    Draft selection: 14 (1979)

    Stats
    79 games played, 3.0 ppg
     
    Achievements
    NBA champion (1980)

  • Earl Jones23
    2
    8

    Earl Jones

    Draft selection: 23 (1984)

    Stats
    2 games played, 0.0 ppg

  • David Rivers24
    4
    11

    David Rivers

    Draft selection: 25 (1988)

    Stats
    47 games played, 2.9 ppg

  • Lonzo Ball25
    8
    17

    Lonzo Ball

    Draft selection: 2 (2017)

    Stats
    99 games played, 10.0 ppg, 6.4 apg, 6.2 rpg
     
    Achievements
    NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2018)

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