Shaquille O'Neal Shares The 10 Greatest Lakers Players Of All Time, Even Though He Is Just At No. 5

The names are undeniable. The Lakers’ history spans from George Mikan’s dominance in the Minneapolis era to LeBron James’ championship in 2020, covering nearly eight decades of basketball excellence.

But lists like these are built to spark debate, and Shaq knows it better than anyone. Even though he hasn’t publicly said whether he agrees with this order, simply sharing it implies he’s willing to stir the conversation. And if there’s one thing we know about O’Neal, it’s that when he disagrees with something, he’ll let the world hear it.

At No. 5, Shaq sits behind Jerry West, a placement that might raise some eyebrows. West is immortalized as “The Logo” and was one of the most consistent guards of his era, but his Lakers career included just one championship as a player. By contrast, O’Neal was the engine behind a three-peat from 2000 to 2002, earning Finals MVP all three times. To many, his impact should place him comfortably in the top three.

Then there’s Wilt Chamberlain, ranked two spots below O’Neal at No. 7. Chamberlain won just one title with the Lakers, in 1972, but his reputation as one of the most dominant players in league history makes that ranking surprising as well. LeBron James at No. 10 is another hot-button placement. 

Though his time in Los Angeles has been shorter, he did deliver the franchise’s 17th championship in 2020 and continues to play at a high level. Should he really be below George Mikan, who starred in the pre-shot clock era?

What makes the list particularly intriguing is Shaq’s decision to share it without critique. O’Neal is famously confident in his place in basketball history and has often referred to himself as “the most dominant ever.” 

Seeing him quietly sit at No. 5 feels almost out of character, which only adds fuel to the speculation that maybe he doesn’t fully endorse this ranking. After all, if Shaq wanted to make it clear that he thought he belonged higher, fans know he’d be on camera making that case with passion.

Still, the top of the list, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, feels untouchable to most observers. Each represents an era where the Lakers were the standard of excellence in the NBA, combining individual brilliance with multiple championships. 

Whether you agree with the order or not, Shaq’s willingness to circulate the debate keeps the legacy of Laker greats alive and ensures that the conversation around where each legend belongs never goes quiet.