Top 10 Most Awesome Laker Benchwarmers Of The Decade

Published by lakers-fan.com on September 29th, 2009 | Tagged Funny, lakers

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After seeing Yahoo compile several top ten NBA lists for the decade, we here at Lakers-fan.com are making our own - Lakers style of course.

We start with the bench - and before we get to the bench players that get in the game on a regular basis and contribute, we give thanks to those who were lucky to see one minute, those who many of you might not remember, those who were once stars, and those who did a dang good job cheering on the team and being supportive. When most of these guys did get in the game, Staples Center sure made their presence felt!

Here we go!

10.  Sun Yue

Sun Yue was drafted in 2007 by the Lakers as a hot young prospect out of China, who then stayed in his country for another year before coming to the team for the 2008-09 season.  The self proclaimed “Monkey King” drew comparisons to Sasha Vujacic for his shooting touch, one we didn’t get to see enough.  Sun didn’t play much, but when the Lakers did throw him in the game for a few minutes, the crowd went bonkers. He was also the first ethnic Chinese player to win an NBA championship.

Sun Yue’s Lakers Stats

Here is Sun Yue’s Laker debut.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? -  Sun has recently signed with the New York Knicks on Sept. 17th, 2009.  Perhaps D’ Antoni will let the Monkey King run free like the monkey he is.

9.  Mike Penberthy

“On March 4 2001, the 26-year-old rookie Mike Penberthy with short blond hair tried to attend a shootaround at the Staples Center but was stopped at a police barricade set up for the Los Angeles Marathon. Riding in his new Acura sedan, Penberthy was directly behind teammate Ron Harper in his Range Rover. A police officer let Harper pass; he turned Penberthy away. “Hey, I play for the Lakers,” Penberthy pleaded.

“Yeah, right,” the officer replied. ” - read more here

That about sums it up for Mike Penberthy, an unlikely rookie out of the Master’s College (???), lucky enough to make the Lakers squad and even win a benchwarmer championship.

Mike Penberthy Lakers Stats

SWEET STATS - Mike played in 56 out of a possible 164 regular season games with a solid .396 3 Pt. shooting percentage, something Shaq and co desperately were seeking at the time. Way to go Mike.

Mike Penberthy Tribute video - Euroball - (I couldn’t find any Lakers highlights, sorry)

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Mike’s NBA career started and ended with the Lakers.  After the two year stint in the NBA, he left to play in Italy where he still plays today.

Add him on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/mike.penberthy

I sent the link to this list on Mike’s facebook. Here is what he wrote back.

8.  Brian Grant

We all know the infamous trade in 2004 that sent Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant. Grant’s big contract is what made the trade possible, as he was earning around 14-15 million a year at that time. We kept his contract on the books for a few years after the trade, unable to sign anyone else in the mean time.  He didn’t contribute much, as his knees were on their downside, but those sweet dreads sure looked great on the bench.

Brian Grant Lakers Stats

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Brian runs his own foundation called the Brian Grant Foundation to assist seriously ill children, as well as their families, and under-privileged youth. In January of 2009,  Grant was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s Disease. We wish him the best.

Brian’s Twitter account - http://twitter.com/bwgrant

7.  Travis Knight

Travis Knight, as we see him front and center on the 2000 Lakers championship team next to Mr. Buss. You might be thinking, “Who is this guy?” Knight was picked up by the Lakers in 1996 from Uconn. During his rookie season, he successfully filled in for Shaq when he went down with an injury.

“He’s a muscle guy with no muscle,” Former coach Del Harris said.

Travis left after his rookie year to play for the archenemy Boston, but then returned for two more years, winning a championship in 2000 while gleefully cheering his team on from the bench.

SWEET STATS - Travis holds the NBA Playoff record for quickest disqualification, having fouled out in six minutes in Game 4 of the 1999 Western Conference semi-finals.  PURE AWESOMENESS!!

Travis Knight Lakers Stats

NBA draft 1996 - Travis Knight selected 29th by the Bulls, later picked up by the Lakers.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Growing his hair out long and playing ball with his daughter. Check it out.

6.  Jannero Pargo

Jannero Pargo came to the Lakers for the 2002-2003 season, just missing out on a benchwarmer championship. Tough luck. Although he was never given much playing time, he did prove to be a valuable asset in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets. He did learn from the best of the best right?

Jannero Pargo Lakers Stats

Jannero doing his best Kobe Bryant.

One “N” - When Pargo first entered the NBA as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, his first name was spelled with a single N—”Janero”.  ( I think the extra “N” he added after leaving the Lakers helped his career take off! )

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Pargo left the NBA to play in Russia after the 2008 season, but recently signed with the Chicago Bulls to return this coming season.

5.  Adam Morrison

Adam Morrison was drafted 3rd by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2006 draft after winning player of the year honors in college, hand picked by the legend Michael Jordan himself. Obviously there were high hopes for this kid, but unfortunately he has not reached those expectations due to season ending injuries (ironically injured by Luke Walton in a preseason game in 2007) and tough pressure to deliver as a high draft pick.

Morrison was traded for Radmanovich to the Lakers during the 2008 - 09 season.  He is the ultimate trashy looking white dude that we all wish would be an All-Star. Someday Adam, someday. He is however, another benchwarmer championship winner!

Adam Morrison Lakers Stats

Keep the mustache please Adam! Ladies love it!

Adam Morrison interview with Ellie Sekbach with Summer League highlights.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Lakers training camp! We are paying Adam $5,257,228 this year. More than Fisher, Sasha, Walton, Brown and Farmar. We are all rooting for ya stache boy.

4.  Mitch Richmond

Mitch Richmond is your very poor man’s Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Mitch was a six time all star who sacrificed playing time and money to come to a winning team, hoping to win that elusive championship.  At the time, he ranked 29th all time in points scored, an obvious steal for only $1 million dollars, to compliment Kobe and Shaq with his deadly outside shooting.

But Richmond’s year long stay was ultimately bittersweet. He did end up winning a championship, but hardly ever made it off the bench in the process, only playing 2 games in the playoffs for a whopping total of 4 minutes. Richmond’s regular season minutes average the year before in Washington -  32.9 . His year with the Lakers - 11.1 .   He had never even averaged less than 16 points in his career prior to coming to the Lakers. Talk about a decrease.

BUT, he did win a title. That’s something Karl Malone and Gary Payton never did. So maybe Mitch really isn’t a poor man’s version of them. He did of course, come out on top. Maybe Payton and Malone should have stayed on the bench!

Mitch Richmond Lakers Stats

SWEET STATS - Richmond is one of only six players in NBA history to average at least 21 points per game for his first 10 seasons – along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson. Run TMC baby!

Mitch Richmond hits a fadeaway with 18 seconds to go in the final game of the 2002 NBA finals against the Nets, then dribbles out the clock to win the championship, followed by a hug by the Big Fella. (fast forward to 3:30) Classy job by Phil to get him in the game.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Working with Kings player Bobby Jackson and Flava Flav on a new TV show called “Nite Tales”, shot in Sacramento.

3.  Coby Karl

By name alone as the second Kobe on the team, Coby Karl has been inducted into one of the all time benchwarmer greats. Son of Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, Coby came to the Lakers during the 2007-08 season, making the roster after not being drafted. He only played in 17 of a possible 82 games during the year, and only one playoff game - against his father’s Nuggets in the first round of the 2008 playoffs, the first time a father and son had faced each other in the playoffs.

He was often sent back and forth from the Los Angeles D-Fenders to the Lakers, while once playing in a game for both teams on the same day.

Teammates loved him, the fans loved him, yet the Lakers had to let him go. Carl came just short of an benchwarmer rookie championship in 2008 against the Boston Celtics.

Coby Karl Lakers Stats

Coby Karl getting the rookie treatment.

Coby scores at the end of the game, receiving a standing ovation!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - After playing for the club Joventut in Spain, Carl is now competing for a roster spot for the Cleveland Cavs.  Coby and Lebron together? No way!

2.  Tyronn Lue

Tyronn Lue will forever be known as the Allen Iverson stopper. Not only did Lue win a benchwarmer championship in 2000, but followed that with a “benchwarmer to hero” championship in 2001.

After three disappointing seasons due to injury and lack of playing time, Lue was probably going to find himself out of a job after the 2001 season, but his quickness proved an important factor in the 2001 finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. No one could stop Iverson, as the Lakers lost game 1 of the finals, so Phil decided to test out Lue’s quickness against him. It worked. The Lakers swept the next four games, and Lue’s benchwarmed skills were finally put on display, against a superstar in front of millions. His NBA career was saved, as Lue has since established himself as a trusty point guard.

Lue’s “benchwarmer-to-instantly-sought-after-free-agent” change is reason enough to place him number 2 on this list.

Tyronn Lue Lakers Stats

Allen Iverson’s famous cross over and step over Lue from game 1. Lue would have revenge ball hoggin’ boy!

Tyronn Lue found himself against his former team this past season in the finals with the Orlando Magic. You need to be with the Lakers to win it, you know that Tyronn!

There was talk about Lue coming back to the Lakers before he went to the Magic.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Lue is currently still a free agent, looking for the right team. There was talk about him going to the Celtics ( BOO!). Definitely not the right team.

1.  Mark Madsen

Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen ranks as the #1 greatest benchwarmer for the Lakers of the decade, HANDS DOWN! Amazing dancing skills aside (video below), Madsen was a an instant spark off the bench, no matter the score, amount of playing time or situation, Mad Dog always came ready to play.

Madsen was drafted 29th in the 2000 NBA draft, and instantly became a rare constant contributor as a benchwarmer. His endless energy always seemed to spark the team if ever in a funk, as Madsen ripped rebounds with a ferocity Los Angeles had never seen before. Not to mention he won two benchwarmer championships his first two seasons in the league.

Madsen went on to score a six year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves after leaving the Lakers, something that is rarely ever given to a benchwarmer. That just shows the importance someone like Madsen has on a team. And that is why Mad Dog is king benchwarmer in Tinsel Town.

Mark Madsen Lakers Stats

Madsen’s infamous dancing routine after the 2001 NBA championship, as Shaq raps.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Mad Dog was traded by the Timberwolves to the LA Clippers this summer but was waived on Aug. 21st. There was talk about the Lakers getting him back (especially for more dancing) so maybe they can still pull it off!

Madsen comments recently on his bad dancing skills.

Honorable Mention Benchwarmers:

Ronny Turiaf, Slava Medvedenko, DJ Mbenga, Jim Jackson, Greg Foster, Isiah Rider, Jelani Mccoy, Tracy Murray, Von Wafer, Kareem Rush, Sam Jacobson.

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