10 best point guards in Los Angeles Lakers history
By Amaar Burton
9. Sedale Threatt (1991-96)
Sedale Threatt is the Pete Myers of point guards, best known for replacing a legend after an unexpected retirement.
However, Threatt fared a lot better once he got the job in L.A. than Myers did in Chicago.
Threatt was traded by the Sonics to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 1991-92 season, penciled in as the backup to Magic Johnson. Then Magic shocked the world by retiring on Nov. 7, 1991, after discovering he had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Threatt was thrust into a starting job.
(If you don’t remember Myers, he replaced Michael Jordan as the Bulls’ starting shooting guard after MJ retired in 1993. He was a single-digit scorer who faded into oblivion after Jordan came back in 1995.)
In five seasons with the Lakers, Threatt averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He was a starter on two L.A. playoff teams.
Last 8 seed to go up 2-0 on a 1 seed: A.C. Green & Sedale Threatt put the ’93 Lakers ahead of the Suns before PHX rallied to win series.
— Joey Ramirez (@JoeyARamirez) April 19, 2017
In his first season as Magic’s replacement, Threatt put up 15.1 points, 7.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He finished in the NBA’s top 10 in total assists and steals. On a team that had been rocked by Magic’s surprise departure and injuries to leading scorer James Worthy and starter Sam Perkins, Threatt was — along with iron man A.C. Green — L.A.’s most consistent performer.
The next season, Threatt was the Lakers’ top scorer (15.1 points), becoming the second player in franchise history (after Magic) to lead the team in scoring, assists and steals in the same season.
After leaving the Lakers in 1996, Threatt played one more season with the Houston Rockets, then wrapped up his career with overseas stints in Greece and Switzerland.