The guy depicted in the NBA emblem is widely regarded as one of the best Los Angeles Lakers players of all time. Some people even rank him higher than Kobe Bryant. The iconic 6'2" guard led the Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times and was named an NBA All-Star every year of his 14-year career. He finished his career with more than 2,000 points and 500 assists. He won the 1972 Olympic gold medal as a member of the United States national basketball team, and he repeated this achievement four years later in Munich, Germany. He also won the 1969 World Championship with the American squad, and in 1973 he helped the USA win the first ever World Cup of Basketball. After retiring from playing, he became the Lakers general manager, and today he is also responsible for player development and scouting. He has been praised for his work ethic and knowledge of the game, and some have even called him the greatest Laker of all time. Here are the facts: John Salley was born on January 4th, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. He played at Chicago's Whitney Young High School before going on to receive college basketball scholarships to both Purdue University and Northwestern University. In 1981, he finally decided to join the NBA and signed with the Detroit Pistons as a draft pick. During his first season, he was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics, where he stayed for three seasons.