Are you familiar with Shaq's Lakers career? If I'm building a Lakers starting lineup I go something like Magic, Bryant, Baylor, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar (not caring that they are both centers that will have difficulting guarding stretch 4's). I'm not sure who Shaq is supposed to replace between Wilt and Kareem, Kareem is clearly a better player and Laker, Wilt was on the latter part of his prime on the Lakers and Shaq had a more accomplished career with the Lakers, but I think Shaq is a worse fit at PF than Wilt. If we're just ranking top Lakers careers of all time, I don't think you'd find much of an argument putting Kobe, Kareem and Magic ahead of Shaq. Shaq would probably go somewhere in a grouping with West, Baylor, Wilt, maybe Mikan and himself. Lakers Shaq was a much better player than Lakers Wilt. Like not even close. I think its closer than you think although I doubt either of us are going off anything but numbers, at least for Wilt. I'm basing it on the fact that Wilt at that stage was a better defender, rebounder and passer than Shaq. And by the late 60's/early 70's it wasn't giant Wilt grabbing rebounds over 6-6 PFs, meaning his overall size was no more of an advantage in his era than Shaq's. But yeah I don't disagree that Shaq's Laker career was better. If I'm building a starting 5 though, I'd take Wilt. If I'm just building a list of great Lakers, Shaq is not a consensus top 5 player although gun to my head he's 5th behind Kobe, Kareem, Magic and West. and Baylor right behind him.