Watch footage of Wilt Chamberlain battling Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The Lakers have a long history with some of the greatest centers the NBA has ever known.

Long before Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined the franchise, where he would win five titles, he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Abdul-Jabbar had some memorable battles against legendary Laker Wilt Chamberlain, who won one title in Los Angeles and one as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Abdul-Jabbar won a title in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Lakers also won three championships with Shaquille O’Neal and two with forward/center Pau Gasol.

The original franchise center, George Mikan, won five championships with the Lakers, out of Minneapolis.

Dwight Howard left the franchise after one season (as a free agent to the Houston Rockets) -- without a title.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.