Hoops Habit
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 10 best shooting guards in team history

By Amaar Burton

HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 16: Kobe Bryant #8 and Eddie Jones #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk against the Dallas Mavericks during a preseason game on October 16, 1996 at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 16: Kobe Bryant #8 and Eddie Jones #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk against the Dallas Mavericks during a preseason game on October 16, 1996 at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images) /

8. Hot Rod Hundley (1957-63)

Fans of a certain age probably associate “Hot” Rod Hundley with the Utah Jazz more than any other NBA franchise. As a broadcaster, he was the voice of the Jazz from 1974 to 2009.

As a player, Hot Rod was a record-breaking, ball-handling wizard during his college days at West Virginia (they built a statue to honor him). As a pro, he played with the Lakers for the duration of his six-year career.

The No. 1 pick in the 1957 draft — when the Lakers were still in Minneapolis — Hundley was a two-time All-Star who helped the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals three times.

Hundley averaged 8.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in his career, peaking at 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 1959-60.

Hundley came close to cementing a place in Lakers lore in Game 7 of the 1962 Finals against the Celtics.

In the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, the score was tied when Hundley got the ball and could’ve taken the game-winning shot. He instead passed it to Frank Selvy, who had a better look from the baseline. Selvy missed, the game went to overtime, and the Lakers lost. If Hundley had either made or assisted the title-winner, he’d be a hero to Laker Nation.

Hot Rod Hundley passed away in 2015.

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