When NBA fans debate the greatest Los Angeles Lakers of all time, two names consistently dominate the conversation: Shaquille O’Neal, whose thunderous dunks shattered backboards and opponents’ spirits alike, and Kobe Bryant, whose fade-away jumper became as iconic as his ‘Mamba Mentality.’ O’Neal’s three Finals MVPs and Bryant’s 81-point masterpiece against the Toronto Raptors stand as a testament to their basketball supremacy. But what if I tell you that there is one player, a Lakers star to be exact, who is considered even better than them? Yes. A recent shocking revelation has sent shockwaves down the NBA community.

In the recent episode of Byron Scott’s Fast Break, Michael Cooper was asked about the players who were on his list of Top 5 Lakers. The 68-year-old was spared no time in answering the question, and the list which started off great had a name that no one was expecting. “My number four is Elgin Baylor and the reason why I say Elgin Baylor is because Elgin bought the creativity to the game of basketball, the artistry, handling the ball with one hand and people, if you do your homework on Elgin Baylor, he was probably the most feared scorer in the game of basketball as a small player at six foot five,” said Cooper. Surprisingly Baylor’s name was mentioned by Cooper before Bryant and O’Neal.

The reason why Cooper lauds Baylor in his interview is quite understandable. Despite playing in an era with a significantly slower pace and without the three-point line, Baylor’s numbers remain staggering. His career average of 27.4 points per game speaks volumes about his scoring prowess, while his 71-point performance against the New York Knicks in 1960 stood as the NBA record for nearly two decades. Even more remarkably, Baylor achieved these feats while serving active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve, often flying back on weekends to participate in games.

Moreover, if we look at the numbers of Bryant and O’Neal, there’s a significant gap, as in his career, Black Mamba scored an average of 25 PPG, whereas, Big Diesel scored an average of 23.7 PPG. No wonder Cooper terms Baylor as the “most feared” scorer. Also, another reason that made Baylor truly special, according to Cooper, was the psychological edge he held over opponents. Unlike the brute force of O’Neal or the technical excellence of Bryant, Baylor’s unpredictability left defenders in a constant state of uncertainty.

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For modern fans who associate the Lakers’ greatness primarily with the Shaq and Kobe era, Cooper’s testimony bridges generations, reminding us that before the dominant duo, there was a high-flying innovator who not only scored at will but revolutionized how basketball was played. However, even though the former Lakers coach praised Baylor, he took some time to praise the other Lakers also.

As mentioned before, the main question that was put on the table for Cooper was to name his top five Los Angeles Lakers players. Even though the former shooting guard took some time to discuss Elgin Baylor, he didn’t forget about Bryant and the seven-footer.

Cooper praised their individual talents and their ability to complement each other on the court. “My number 5 is Kobe. But it’s a 5 and 5A and my 5A would be Shaq. Shaq was the most dominating player and I’m leaving out Wilt Chamberlain. Shaq was the most dominating player but the reason I give Shaq the edge because Wilt didn’t really have a jumper, all he had was a finger roll,” said Cooper during the podcast. But he didn’t stop there. He went on to state how powerful Shaq’s dunks were.

But which players were at the top of his list? Cooper started with the 6x NBA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and also termed him as his GOAT. The next two legends who got a place on his list were Magic Johnson and Jerry West. In the end, we can say that Cooper’s admiration for these players is a testament to the rich history of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.