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 Tom Watson/NY Daily News via Getty Images) /

5. Clyde Lovellette (1953-57)

The next time someone argues that old-school NBA big men lived in the paint and didn’t bother shooting from outside, show them some footage of Clyde Lovellette.

A 6’9″ center whose list of accomplishments at the University of Kansas rival any great college big man you can think of, Lovellette (No. 34 in the middle of the photo) was a shooter who stretched defenses and probably would’ve been hoisting just as many 3-pointers as Anthony Davis if the 3-point arc had existed in his era.

Lovellette backed up the great George Mikan as a rookie with the Minneapolis Lakers, helping the team win a championship while averaging 10.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in the 1954 playoffs.

Mikan retired after that season and Lovellette moved into the starting lineup. Over his next three years with the Lakers, Lovellette made the All-Star Game twice and was voted All-NBA Second Team in 1955-56.

Lovellette averaged 17.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in four years with the Lakers. He finished in the league’s top five in rebounding three times and was in the top seven in scoring three times.

The Lakers made it to the playoffs each of Lovellette’s three years as a starter, but never made it back to the Finals during his tenure.

In the 1957 offseason, Lovellette was traded to the Cincinnati Royals. He added two more All-Star nods (with the St. Louis Hawks) and two more championships (with the Celtics) to bolster his Hall of Fame resume.

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