Why isn't Bob McAdoo's number retired?

[digcom99]

I’ve always thought that Michael Cooper deserved to be up there more than any other non-retired number. He played his whole career here and won 5 championships. But what made him stand out compared to Horry, Fisher, or Rick Fox was that he won individual player honors too. He was Defensive Player of the Year and voted on numerous All-Defense 1st and 2nd teams. He even coached 2 Sparks championships. His achievements stand out. I don’t think it would be an insult to put him in the rafters. Too bad being a HOF member is a requirement.

Also, I agree that Kobe having two seems a bit off. When I first read he was getting both numbers done, i just assumed it would be one jersey with 8 and 24 fitted together somehow. The double jersey thing is just weird to me.

Yes....Cooper has been my #2. My reason for Fisher #1, is that I have always thought that he was the buffer between Kobe and alot of guys. People forget that the 2008 season saw Ten 50+ win teams in the West.....and we were winning that BEFORE Ariza and Pau showed up. We took a slight dip when Bynum got hurt. But we were leading the west, and I think we were like 3rd (it was neck in neck, so 3rd was like a 1-1/2 games behind) once we signed Pau, which was like 5-6 games without Bynum.

You'll remember the offseason was the one where Kobe wanted to go play for Pluto. Suddenly we were a legit team again. There was really one change: We brought Fisher back. I think Fisher made Kobe tolerable for the rest of his teammates. I really do.

No disrespect to Coops. I LOVE Coop. Loved his defense. I would prob give Horry a nod. But for sure, I'd do Coop and Fish. If I had to choose 1....I'd prob take Fish for what I said above. Totally respect your choice of Coop though....1A 1B for me.

As for Kobe....yeah, I think it's weird. Is he going into the HoF twice? My only attempt at justifying it, is that this whole thing kinda came at a point where we Laker fans are a little desperate for reasons to celebrate. It's been some bleak years, and I think they sorta wanted to "overcompensate" if you will.

Funny....I was at the jersey retirement game. I though the celebration was kinda subdued. Crowd seemed "Sorta" into it. It was a weird night.

I get ya on Fisher. He was the glue that held many things together, the calming effect in the locker room. One can never under estimate the intangibles and team chemistry.

What holds me back a bit, though, is that his stats aren’t all that great. But other than Cooper, he is the only other Laker with 5 rings not retired. Those numbers alone deserve some recognition.

[danfantastk32]

I get ya on Fisher. He was the glue that held many things together, the calming effect in the locker room. One can never under estimate the intangibles and team chemistry.

What holds me back a bit, though, is that his stats aren’t all that great. But other than Cooper, he is the only other Laker with 5 rings not retired. Those numbers alone deserve some recognition.

I hear it. Fisher certainly wasn't a great NBA player. He was a great Laker. <-----sorta feel that's the difference between a jersey retirement (which is for a team) and the HoF.

I sorta think the Lakers have muddied the waters, by making the HoF be a prerequisite.....but then that also makes is so exclusive.

Like I poster earlier...This is why I love this topic. There's no right/wrong. It's just opinion.

I like the HoF thing on the whole.....but I do think being apart of 4-5 titles (especially as a starter!) really aughta trump that rule. Game 3 of the 2010 Finals.....we goto Boston shell-shocked from the 3-point display that Allen layed on us, to steal game 2. And we're down with the game closing....and Fisher scores the next 9-10 points.....and we win that game. <---------HUGE

Didn't Fish drain the 3 in the 2009 finals that took it to overtime, and then the 3 that won it in overtime?

btw....not making the argument that fisher is better than Coop. I'm making the argument that Fisher is a Laker GREAT. A Laker Legend who legit had an impact on our title-count. He (and guy's like him) should be in the "Laker hall of fame" ie: jersey retirement.

No offense to Pau. The guy was amazing, and I have absolutely no problem retiring his jersey. But I retire Fish, Coop, (and maybe Horry.....I'd have to think about that) before I retire Pau in my world.

[digcom99]

I get ya on Fisher. He was the glue that held many things together, the calming effect in the locker room. One can never under estimate the intangibles and team chemistry.

What holds me back a bit, though, is that his stats aren’t all that great. But other than Cooper, he is the only other Laker with 5 rings not retired. Those numbers alone deserve some recognition.

I hear it. Fisher certainly wasn't a great NBA player. He was a great Laker. <-----sorta feel that's the difference between a jersey retirement (which is for a team) and the HoF.

I sorta think the Lakers have muddied the waters, by making the HoF be a prerequisite.....but then that also makes is so exclusive.

Like I poster earlier...This is why I love this topic. There's no right/wrong. It's just opinion.

I like the HoF thing on the whole.....but I do think being apart of 4-5 titles (especially as a starter!) really aughta trump that rule. Game 3 of the 2010 Finals.....we goto Boston shell-shocked from the 3-point display that Allen layed on us, to steal game 2. And we're down with the game closing....and Fisher scores the next 9-10 points.....and we win that game. <---------HUGE

Didn't Fish drain the 3 in the 2009 finals that took it to overtime, and then the 3 that won it in overtime?

btw....not making the argument that fisher is better than Coop. I'm making the argument that Fisher is a Laker GREAT. A Laker Legend who legit had an impact on our title-count. He (and guy's like him) should be in the "Laker hall of fame" ie: jersey retirement.

No offense to Pau. The guy was amazing, and I have absolutely no problem retiring his jersey. But I retire Fish, Coop, (and maybe Horry.....I'd have to think about that) before I retire Pau in my world.

Completely agree on Cooper and Fisher. And yes, Fish was clutch in the playoffs for us, but Coops lock down defense puts him a hair in front in my book.

Still on the fence with Horry though. Leaning towards yes, but for some reason, him going to the Spurs and winning titles with them bugs me. I don’t know why but it just does.

I can’t really think of anyone else other than McAdoo (and only because of multiple rings and HOF member). If we start talking about Norm Nixon or Byron Scott or Rick Fox or Odom, then we risk looking like the Celtics, who retires anyone with a pulse.

[danfantastk32]

Completely agree on Cooper and Fisher. And yes, Fish was clutch in the playoffs for us, but Coops lock down defense puts him a hair in front in my book.

Still on the fence with Horry though. Leaning towards yes, but for some reason, him going to the Spurs and winning titles for them bugs me. I don’t know why but it just does.

I can’t really think of anyone else other than McAdoo. If we start talking about Norm Nixon or Byron Scott or Rick Fox or Odom, then we risk looking like the Celtics, who retires anyone with a pulse.

Yeah, I agree. Fox was great.....so was Rambis, and Scott, and Odom, and the rest. But I'm not sure any of them really, truly changed the Laker "story".

I guess that's the argument for Wilt. It was short lived, but no Wilt...no title. <-----hard for me to really comment on those days.

[danfantastk32]

If we had won the year Malone came......do retire him?
A) Hall of Fame
B) Won a title

It's an interesting 'what if' that kinda forces you to question the criteria.

[dAdo dA dEvil]

We don't retire Malone or even Payton if we had won championship that year with them. I guess Utah retires Malone and Seattle / OKC retire Payton. I would even retire Artest rather than Malone / Payton.

I like Fish but it's hard to retire his number without retiring other Lakers great role players too. We are a very great franchise that I think retiring jersey numbers in this team is "a notch higher than expected" because we might end up retiring 50 or more numbers. I mean, if Fish is there LO should probably be there too and some of the guys in the "showtime era" needs to be there too.

I have no problem with retirement of 8 and 24. Kobe deserves it after all. Even if we retire only one of 8 or 24 we all know that no one else will ever use either of those numbers so might as well just officially retire them both.

[digcom99]

If we had won the year Malone came......do retire him?
A) Hall of Fame
B) Won a title

It's an interesting 'what if' that kinda forces you to question the criteria.

Ooh. Good question. I wouldn’t thInk so because he would’ve been here only the one year. With the one chip. And since no McAdoo, then why Malone or Gary Payton?

Ring chasers shouldn’t be considered. At least be here multiple years and build up a solid Laker resume.

[LAKESHOW]

If McAdoo gets 1, then heck, Rev. AC Green should get 1.

[digcom99]

If McAdoo gets 1, then heck, Rev. AC Green should get 1.

Green isn’t in the Hall of Fame He doesn’t qualify.

[gts1]

McAdoo was a role player when he came to the lakers and was here for only 3 years?... played it well but like Fisher, Horry, AC Green, Fox etc etc etc who all role players that contributed greatly but not retire their jersey level contributors and as mentioned above Lakers only retire jerseys if the player is in the HOF

[digcom99]

McAdoo was a role player when he came to the lakers and was here for only 3 years?... played it well but like Fisher, Horry, AC Green, Fox etc etc etc who all role players that contributed greatly but not retire their jersey level contributors and as mentioned above Lakers only retire jerseys if the player is in the HOF

McAdoo played here 4 years and is in the Hall of Fame. That’s why I originally asked the question. He is the only LA Laker player in their history to have won multiple championships, be a member of the HOF and no have his jersey retired.

[digcom99]

double post

[danfantastk32]

And yes, Fish was clutch in the playoffs for us, but Coops lock down defense puts him a hair in front in my book.

As luck would have it.....Worthy was one 570 radio today, and talking about what a big presence Cooper was in the locker room. Magic was the leader....but it was cooper who did most of the 'puttin guys in line'. Calling guys out for partying too much...that kinda thing. I can see it. Coop led by example on the floor.

Alot of interesting takes. Good thread.

[Landsberger]

And yes, Fish was clutch in the playoffs for us, but Coops lock down defense puts him a hair in front in my book.

As luck would have it.....Worthy was one 570 radio today, and talking about what a big presence Cooper was in the locker room. Magic was the leader....but it was cooper who did most of the 'puttin guys in line'. Calling guys out for partying too much...that kinda thing. I can see it. Coop led by example on the floor.

Alot of interesting takes. Good thread.

Cooper was the guy who covered the guys Magic and Worthy couldn't. Worthy better give him props.... That team was legendary but it had it's holes. Magic and Worthy on defense was one of them.

[Hellcrooner]

Cooper should get retired.
Pau of course should too.

And ive always resented that lousy " minnie lakers" collectiv banner.

At the least MIKANS number should be retired on its own.
arguably Pollard and mIkkelsens too.

[ronnymac2]

He was past his prime when on LAL. Still, he was integral to the LA bench, especially the 1982 Laker team. That squad is so underrated in my book. They were dominant in the second half of the year. McAdoo dropped 16.7/6.8/1.5 in the playoffs that year in 27 MPG and shot over 56% from the field. He could come in for Kareem or actually play alongside KAJ since he had an elite jump shot.

He shouldn't and won't get his number retired by the Lakers, but he was a bad dude back in the day.