TV|Basketball Players

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

Ranker NBA
Updated July 3, 2024 34 items
Ranked By
720 votes
66 voters
Voting Rules
Vote 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?

Ranked by
  • Magic Johnson
    1

    Magic Johnson

    45 votes

    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 Worthy
    2

    James Worthy

    30 votes

    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)

  • Norm Nixon
    3

    Norm Nixon

    25 votes

    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)

  • A. C. Green
    4

    A. C. Green

    28 votes

    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)

  • Julius Randle
    5

    Julius Randle

    24 votes

    Draft selection: 7 (2014)

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

  • Brandon Ingram
    6

    Brandon Ingram

    26 votes

    Draft selection: 2 (2016)

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