10 best point guards in Los Angeles Lakers history
By Amaar Burton
7. Archie Clark (1966-68)
Archie Clark‘s career reads like a booklet of basketball trivia answers.
As a rookie, Clark led the Los Angeles Lakers in scoring during the 1967 playoffs, averaging 25.7 points to go with 5.0 assists per game. He did that while sharing the court with Elgin Baylor.
The next season, Clark averaged 19.9 points and 4.4 assists per game alongside Baylor and Jerry West. He earned a spot in the All-Star Game.
The Lakers made it to the NBA Finals that year, losing to the Boston Celtics while Clark averaged 16.2 points in the series. In that same postseason, Clark put up 20 points and 10 assists in L.A.’s first-round closeout game against the Chicago Bulls.
Archie Clark of the 66-67 Lakers was 1 of the first to use the crossover dribble, which inspired his nickname "shake and bake". #lakerfacts
— Laker Facts (@LakerFacts) April 24, 2012
After that Finals appearance, Clark was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that brought Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers.
Clark peaked in 1971-72 when he averaged 25.2 points and 8.0 assists while making another All-Star Game and being named All-NBA Second Team with the Baltimore Bullets. Clark played for Seattle and Detroit before finishing his 10-year pro career. He was known as one of the first players to effectively use the crossover as part of his move set.
After retirement, Clark ran for mayor of Ecorse, Mich., his hometown. Years later, he co-founded the NBA’s Retired Players Association.
Clark has another notable tie to Lakers history. He played college ball at the University of Minnesota under head coach John Kundla — the same coach who guided the Minneapolis Lakers to five league championships during the George Mikan era.