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15 stars you might have forgot played for the Los Angeles Lakers

By Amaar Burton

FILE: Dennis Rodman of the Los Angeles Lakers with his head down during a National Basketball Association game at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FILE: Dennis Rodman of the Los Angeles Lakers with his head down during a National Basketball Association game at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7. Antawn Jamison (2012-13)

The Lakers’ 2012-13 season had so much drama and intrigue that Antawn Jamison was a forgotten contributor.

That was the season when Steve Nash and Dwight Howard came to L.A. billed as the missing pieces to the Lakers’ championship puzzle, putting the purple and gold in “super team” territory.

That was Kobe Bryant’s last great season before a ruptured Achilles took him down — but not before Kobe got up and dramatically made two victory-clinching free throws before hobbling off the court.

That was when Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace were beset by injuries throughout the season. Howard was also playing through shoulder and back issues, and even though he managed to lead the NBA in rebounding and was voted All-NBA Third Team, a lot of Lakers fans grew to despise Howard for not delivering what they expected from the superstar center.

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The Los Angeles Lakers had three head coaches that season: Mike Brown was fired after just five games, Bernie Bickerstaff served as an interim for five games, and Mike D’Antoni took over the rest of the way.

Longtime team owner Jerry Buss passed away during that season.

The Lakers had to scratch and claw just to get into the playoffs; then they were swept out of the first round by the rival Spurs.

Meanwhile, there was a two-time All-Star and former Sixth Man of the Year hiding in plain sight in the rotation.

Jamison was 36 years old and clearly past his prime in L.A. Coming off the bench, he averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebonds per game. It was the first time since his rookie year that he scored under double figures in points per game, and the first time in his career that he produced fewer than five rebounds per game.

There were a few vintage Jamison performances with the Lakers. He poured in 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over the Nuggets. He dropped 27 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings, and posted 19 points and 15 boards in a win over the Mavericks.

The Lakers didn’t re-sign Jamison after that tumultuous season, but after he retired he came back to work for the team as a scout.

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