Los Angeles Lakers: 10 best centers in team history

LOS ANGELES - FEBRAURY 12: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal pose for photos during the American Express Celebrates the Rewarding Life of Earvin Johnson event on February 12, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Ben Olender/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /

10. Darrall Imhoff (1964-68)

In the pros, Darrall Imhoff never lived up to the hype that he generated in college as a national champion, All-America pick and Olympic gold medalist at Cal-Berkeley, but he did earn his only NBA All-Star nod as a member of the Lakers.

The Lakers were Imhoff’s third pro team after unspectacular runs with the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. He was initially a backup center for LA behind Leroy Ellis on a squad led by Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.

Imhoff eventually won the starting job, and in 1966-67 he averaged 10.7 points and 13.3 rebounds per game while earning an All-Star selection. The next season, he just missed double-double averages, putting up 9.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

In four years, Imhoff helped the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals three times. In Game 4 of the 1968 Finals, Imhoff had 11 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. The Lakers won that game but would lose the series to the Boston Celtics.

That offseason, Imhoff was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that brought Wilt Chamberlain to L.A. He posted career-best scoring numbers in Philly, and bounced around the league a bit before retiring.

Darrall Imhoff passed away in 2017.

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