7. Dick Barnett (1962-65)
Before Dick Barnett won two NBA championships, became an All-Star, and made himself a Hall of Famer with the Knicks, he was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Barnett began his career with the NBA’s Syracuse Nationals, then jumped to the now-defunct American Basketball League for a year. He came back to the NBA and signed with the Lakers in 1962, and during three seasons in L.A. the 6’4″ guard averaged 16.8 points per game.
Nothing against Bob Boozer but I couldn’t believe #Lakers traded Dick Barnett to #Knicks after 3 thrilling seasons as third threat with Baylor & West. My favorite Chick Hearn story was Barnett releasing from 25 or 30 feet, turning to Chick & saying, “We’re in overtime, baby.”
— Lyle Spencer (@LyleMSpencer) September 5, 2019
The Los Angeles Lakers made the Finals in two of Barnett’s three seasons, losing to the Celtics in 1963 and 1965. During the 1965 playoff run, Barnett scored 31 points in L.A.’s series-clinching victory over Baltimore in the Western Division Finals.
Barnett was traded that summer to New York, where he went on to have the best years of his career — which included beating the Lakers in the 1970 and 1973 NBA Finals with the Knicks.