Los Angeles Lakers: 10 best power forwards in team history
By Amaar Burton
7. Robert Horry (1997-2003)
Robert Horry could’ve only played in fourth quarters and overtimes and he’d still make his way onto this list. Like a closer in baseball or a kicker in football, Horry’s legacy is built entirely on what he did in clutch and late-game situations.
Horry came to L.A. in the aftermath of an ugly breakup with the Phoenix Suns that involved Horry throwing a towel in the face of head coach Danny Ainge. The Los Angeles Lakers gave up Cedric Ceballos — who had twice been a 21-points-per-game scorer for L.A. — in the deal to get Horry.
The trade wound up paying off tremendously.
Horry was a key member of the Lakers’ three-peat championship squads from 2000-02. In six and a half seasons with the team, Horry averaged 6.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He came off the bench more often than not, and didn’t earn any individual awards or accolades.
Horry made so many clutch shots, however, that he earned the nickname “Big Shot Rob.”
He has a groundswell of support among fans who believe he should be in the Basketball Hall of Fame due to his contributions to seven championship teams — three with the Lakers, two with the Houston Rockets, and two with the San Antonio Spurs.
In Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals, Horry came off the bench to score a postseason-high 17 points, a timely effort during a game in which Shaquille O’Neal had fouled out and 21-year-old Kobe Bryant was left to lead the charge.
The Lakers won in overtime and went on to clinch their first post-“Showtime” championship.
In Game 3 of the 2001 NBA Finals, Horry scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, including a crucial 3-pointer with less than a minute to go and four late free throws to help seal a victory on L.A.’s way to a second straight title.
Horry’s most famous moment was during the 2002 Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers trailed the Sacramento Kings late in Game 4, seconds away from falling behind 3-1 in the series.
After Kobe and Shaq missed shots that would’ve tied the game, the ball was deflected right into the hands of Horry, camping out beyond the 3-point line. Horry calmly knocked down the game-winner at the buzzer.
It was his second game-winner that postseason; he hit another one against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. The Lakers went on to win the series and eventually claim a third straight title.
After the Lakers came up short of a four-peat in 2003, Horry became a free agent. He signed with the Spurs in part because he needed to be closer to his family in Texas. He helped them win championships in 2005 and 2007.