15 stars you might have forgot played for the Los Angeles Lakers
By Amaar Burton
15. Roy Hibbert (2015-16)
Three years after his last NBA game, Roy Hibbert was still getting clowned by fans to the point where he became a trending topic on Twitter.
On Jan. 27, the day after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, ESPN re-aired Kobe’s final game — an epic 60-point effort against the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center. That game was also the end of a historically bad season for the Los Angeles Lakers, whose 17-65 record was the worst the franchise had ever produced.
Starting at center for that team was the 7’2″ Hibbert, and during that Lakers-Jazz replay last month, he became a target for how ineffective he was. (Hibbert had four points and six rebounds in 21 minutes.)
Imagine you used to play for the Lakers and instead of everyone reminiscing about how great Kobe was they’re dragging you AGAIN for being trash in that game four years later. That’s what it feels like to be Roy Hibbert. Never be a Roy Hibbert.
— Naeem (@YuFoundNemo) January 28, 2020
Prior to L.A., Hibbert was a two-time All-Star with the Indiana Pacers and an All-Defensive Team selection. The Georgetown product was one of the league’s best rim protectors, peaking at 2.6 blocks per game in 2012-13 and helping the Pacers make the Eastern Conference Finals.
For some reason, not long after that, Hibbert’s game regressed to the point where Indiana unloaded him to the Lakers for a second-round draft pick.
In his one season with the Lakers, Hibbert averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.