When one thinks of the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, the credit for their dynasty, which included five championships and eight NBA Finals appearances, usually goes straight to the leadership of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, or to the brilliance of coach Pat Riley from the sidelines.
However, what often gets overlooked is the quiet yet critical presence of Jamaal Wilkes. As Bill Russell once perfectly put it, Wilkes may not have ever stepped into the spotlight with a commanding presence, but his impact on the Showtime Lakers squad was immeasurable.
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Russell on Wilkes’ leadership and impact for the Lakers
During the 1979-80 season, the bulk of the headlines were dominated by Abdul-Jabbar, who won the league MVP, and led the Lakers in points, rebounds and blocks in the regular season and playoffs. On the other hand, Magic also earned his share of flowers when he dropped a 42-point double-double in Game 6 of the NBA Finals without Kareem.
However, what often goes underappreciated is how well Wilkes elevated the team’s winning prowess. He averaged a then-career-high 20.0 points per game while also logging 1.6 steals per night. Moreover, in the playoffs, Jamal improved his scoring average to 20.3 points per contest.
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To Russell, that kind of production and impact spoke volumes. Wilkes wasn’t a vocal leader who commanded the locker room. Instead, the latter was someone who prioritized fulfilling the task assigned to him and being thoroughly consistent on the hardwood every game.
“Now, Jamaal here — he’s the type of guy that I imagine, at the end of the season, said something. Someone said, ‘Who is that? I don’t recognize the voice,'” Russell said. “In a game, as a tendency for men that are quiet, (people often) forget that they were out there because they never complain and how do you keep from forgetting he’s out there?”
Wilkes was the Lakers’ real X-Factor in their early years
Even in the 1981-82 season, when the Purple & Gold were determined to bounce back from a heartbreaking first-round exit the year before, Wilkes remained a pillar of stability. He averaged 21.6 points per game despite a slight dip in minutes. Then, in the playoffs, Jamaal maintained his consistency with 20.0 points per contest to make sure the Lakers only lost two games en route to lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy for the second time in three years.
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Such facts make it clear that Wilkes was never concerned with outshining his teammates or commanding attention. In fact, the three-time All-Star was one of the quietest figures on the roster, choosing to let his game speak for him. With the Lakers already driven by the strong personalities and leadership of Magic and Kareem, a player like Jamaal, focused solely on team success, was vital to the Lakers’ championship DNA and establishing their dynasty’s pillar in the early years of the ’80s.
It is safe to say that perhaps the experienced Russell was one of the first to acknowledge that, right after the team won the championship in ’81. If anyone knew what kind of players it took to win multiple rings, it was the 11-time champion.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.