The Lakers have been pretty successful over the years in coming up with knock-out players at center. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still has the all time record for career points, and is getting his much awaited statue in front of Staples center very soon. Then if you are like me, part of a younger generation, you can’t remember a Lakers game growing up that didn’t consist of Kobe passing to one of the leagues biggest forces on the court, Shaq. But throughout the years come a whole class of men who are worth noting.
Acquiring Howard reminds us of the success the Lakers have had with their big men throughout the years, and Lakers Nation writer Elizabeth Benson breaks that down for us. The list contains George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal. It will be great to see how Howard stacks up against these men, even if his Lakers career is expected to be short lived.
Howard isn’t the only one getting attention. Most Lakers fans can make a pretty good bet on who the starting five will be. But one thing the Lakers have an advantage on is the depth of the bench; you always hope you starters will bring it, but sometimes, injuries and off days give other players an opportunity to shine.
The Lakers have as much star quality in their backups as they do in their starting line-up. Darius Johnson-Odom and center Robert Sacre were picked up during the draft months ago. Devin Ebanks and Jodie Meeks were acquired through free-agency signage. The Howard trade gave us Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. Also returning this year is Steve Blake and Andrew Goudelock. The Lakers will have plenty of players at their disposal at the start of the upcoming season, including those on the D-Fenders. For a complete break down of the depth chart position-by-position, check out Suki Thind’s article from today.
Speaking of the D-Fenders, their schedule was announced today. It is always a great opportunity to see up and coming talent by going to a D-League game; I recommend checking one out this season.
Lakers Nation News
L.A. D-Fenders Announce 2012-2013 Schedule
Lakers News: Dwight Howard Will Work with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Lakers’ Tradition of the ‘Big Fella’ Continues With Dwight Howard
Lakers’ 2012 Depth Chart: Getting to Know Your Team
Photo Gallery: Looking Back on the 2009-2010 Championship Ring
Lakers News
Fast Break Thoughts [Forum Blue and Gold]
Surprise! League Execs/Insiders Favor Heat, Thunder And Lakers This Season [Hang Time Blog]
Pau Gasol to Launch His Own Foundation [LA Times]
2012 NBA Summer Forecast- NBA Champions [ESPN]
2012 NBA Summer Forecast – Western Conference Champions [ESPN]
Study Calls Lakers, Celtics, Heat Smartest Spenders in NBA [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers To Retire Shaq’s No. 34 Jersey [Hang Time Blog]
Labor Day Readings: Come One, Come All [Silver Screen and Roll]
Five Things Jordan Hill Needs for a Successful Season [LA Times]
Lakers to Retire Numbers of Shaq, Wilkes [SB Nation]
Lakers Announce Plans to Honor Former Greats [Los Angeles Lakers]
How the New Lakers Might Have Helped [Los Angeles Lakers Blog]
NBA News
Good News Cavaliers Fans, Kyrie Irving Recovery Going Well [ProBasketballTalk]
Doug Collins wants Spencer Hawes to be the Sixers’ Pau Gasol [CBS Sports]
The Short List of Potential One-Team Stars [The Point Forward]
Gregg Popovich: Kawhi Leonard Will Be ‘Face of the Spurs’ [SLAM Online]
Harrison Barnes was The Cat in the Hat for Small Iowan Children [Ball Don’t Lie]
Magic’s Vaughn Adds 6 Assistants to Coaching Staff [Yahoo Sports]
Josh Howard Has Interest from Knicks, Nets and Bobcats [SI.com]
New Stats on Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire Could Unlock Knicks’ Offense [The Point Forward]
Friday 5 With KB 8.31.12: That Tim Duncan Guy [CBS Sports]
Some Notable Names Are Still Waiting For Their Free Agent Fury To Begin [Hang Time Blog]
Jrue Holiday’s Potential and the Extra Point [True Hoop Blog]
Friday Off Topic: Top Five Favorite Basketball Players of All Time [Denver Stiffs]
Shane Battier Reminds Us That Yao Ming Was Very Good [ProBasketballTalk]
The Sacramento Kings’ Team Merchandise Store Was Offline for Two Months; Nobody Seemed to Care [Ball Don’t Lie]