17 championships in the history of the Lakers, only 6 superstars have been erected in statues

On June 26, in the history of the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers are undoubtedly one of the most shining giants. The team has 17 championship trophys and is tied for the first place in the league with the Boston Celtics, but the legendary color of the Lakers is not only reflected in the number of championships, but also in its profound cultural heritage and star-studded player lineup. However, it is surprising that against such a brilliant historical backdrop, the Lakers have only erected statues of six superstars, a number in stark contrast to the team's number of champions. This makes people think: in a giant team like the Lakers, how high is the standard for erecting statues? The statue culture of the Lakers began with legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This 2.18-meter-tall "Tian Gou" has played for 14 seasons with the Lakers, helping the team win 5 championships, and has been elected as the MVP in the Finals three times. Unveiled in 2012, his statue shows off his signature hook shot outside the Staples Center (now renamed Crypto.com Arena). The statue of Jabbar is not only a recognition of his personal achievements, but also a symbol of the Lakers' glorious history.

is followed by "Magician" Elvin Johnson. As the core of the Lakers' "Showtime" era, the Magic led the team to win five championships in the 1980s and was elected as the regular season MVP three times. His statue was unveiled in 2004, showing his signature pass-through action. The Magician's statue is not only a tribute to his basketball talent, but also an eternal commemoration of the Lakers' gorgeous offensive style. The statue of Jerry West was unveiled in 2011. The legendary Lakers defender helped the team reach the Finals nine times in his player age and won the championship in 1972. West's statue shows the classic moment of his dribbling breakthrough, and as the prototype of the NBA's logo, he adds special significance to the statue. It is worth mentioning that West later brought O'Neal and Kobe to the team as the general manager of the Lakers, and was the hero behind the Lakers dynasty. The statue of Shaquille O'Neal was unveiled in 2017. The dominant center played for eight seasons with the Lakers, leading the team to three consecutive championships (2000-2002). O'Neal's statue shows the moment of his violent dunk, perfectly interpreting his dominance under the basket. The "OK combination" between O'Neal and Kobe is synonymous with the Lakers' glory in the early 21st century, and his statue has also become a witness to that golden years. In 2020, the Lakers erected a statue for the late superstar Kobe Bryant. Kobe has played for the Lakers for 20 seasons, helped the team win five championships, and set countless legendary records such as 81 points in a single game. Kobe's statue shows his iconic backward jump shot, which is not only a tribute to his basketball career, but also an eternal commemoration of the "Mamba Spirit". Kobe's unexpected death made the statue more emotional and became a holy place for fans around the world to remember this legend.

The latest addition to the statue is Lakers legend announcer Chick Hearn. Although he is not a player, Hearn explained more than 3,000 games for the Lakers and created basketball terms such as "slam dunk". His statue was unveiled in 2010, showing his classic posture when he interprets it. The statue of Hearn proves the Lakers’ emphasis on all aspects of the team’s culture, not limited to performance on the court.

From the selection criteria for these 6 statues, it can be seen that the Lakers have extremely strict requirements on the candidates for statues. First, players must achieve extraordinary achievements with the Lakers, including multiple championships and MVPs and other personal honors. Secondly, players need to have a profound impact on Lakers culture and become a symbol of a certain era. Finally, deep emotional connections are needed between players and the team and become an integral part of the Lakers family.

By contrast, other NBA teams seem to have looser standards for statues. For example, the Chicago Bulls erected statues for many people such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen; the Boston Celtics also erected statues for many of its legendary players. The Lakers only chose 6 representatives, which shows how strict the standards are. This selectivity not only reflects the Lakers' respect for history, but also demonstrates its unique temperament as a giant.

So, who is likely to join the ranks of Lakers Statues in the future? LeBron James is undoubtedly a hot pick. He led the Lakers to the championship in 2020 and became the NBA all-time scoring leader. If James can finish his career with the Lakers and win another championship, he will likely win this honor. In addition, Anthony Davis may also be considered if he can lead the Lakers to achieve new glory in the next few years.

The Lakers' statue culture reflects the unremitting pursuit of excellence in this giant team. Each statue represents an era, a spirit, and an irrepeatable legend. In a team like the Lakers with a long history, being erected not only requires extraordinary basketball skills, but also requires establishing a deep emotional bond with the team and becoming an eternal symbol of the Lakers' family. This may be why only 6 superstars won this honor under the glory of 17 championships. Each statue is a historical choice that has been settled by time and is the Lakers' highest praise for excellence.