Rambis was a key member of the Showtime era Lakers and was extremely popular[3] for his hard-nosed blue collar play.

[4] With his trademark black horn-rimmed glasses, Rambis complemented the flashy Hollywood style of the Showtime era Lakers.

[5] Rambis was selected by the New York Knicks in the third round of the 1980 NBA draft, but began his career in Greece with AEK Athens before joining the Lakers.

During his playing days, Rambis was a favorite among the Lakers fans because of his status as an overachieving underdog and ultimate team player.

Known for his defensive and rebounding skills, he was remembered in Los Angeles for his all-out effort and willingness to do the "dirty work".

Rambis usually wore a thick moustache and thick-rimmed black glasses, prompting Lakers announcer Chick Hearn to nickname him "Superman" (in reference to the character's alter ego, Clark Kent).

[13] Lakers head coach Pat Riley once complained to a reporter "Other guys have sharp Adidas bags.

Rambis began working as a special assistant coach for the Lakers in 1994 but eventually returned to the active playing roster in February 1995.

He achieved moderate success, registering a 24–13 record in the regular season before being swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals.

When Phil Jackson was hired as head coach, Rambis served as the Lakers' assistant general manager.

He later became an assistant coach under Jackson between 2001 and 2004, helping the Lakers reach the 2002 and the 2004 NBA Finals, with Los Angeles winning a title in the former series.

On August 8, 2009, Rambis was announced as the new head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, agreeing to a contract believed to be for 4 years and worth $8 million.