The Los Angeles Lakers are well known for their illustrious history and tradition of having Hall of Fame big men.
First it was George Mikan, who led them to five NBA championships when they were based in Minneapolis. Then in the late 1960s, the legendary Wilt Chamberlain came to town and delivered the Lakers their first world title since moving to Southern California.
Buy Lakers TicketsKareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal followed, and both delivered championships in bunches. Pau Gasol added back-to-back rings of his own in 2009 and 2010.
Anthony Davis is in line to join that incredible succession of Hall of Fame big men, but some refuse to put him among such company.
However, on Sunday in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, he served notice he deserves such an accolade.
In posting 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots in his team’s 128-112 victory, he became only the fourth Laker to record at least 20 points, 10 boards and five blocks in a playoff game, joining Abdul-Jabbar, O’Neal and Gasol.
Only 4 Lakers in franchise history have recorded 20+ PTS, 10+ REB, and 5+ BLK in a playoff game.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Shaquille O'Neal
Pau Gasol
Anthony Davis pic.twitter.com/YIedb1d9U7— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 16, 2023
Chamberlain would’ve likely also been in this category, but blocked shots were not officially kept as a stat until just after his retirement.
