Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.
During the Lakers’ 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.
Just before training camp in the fall of 2022, the Lakers signed 6-foot-7 forward Matt Ryan to help round out their roster. He had played one previous season in the NBA with the Boston Celtics after going undrafted in 2020, and while playing in the G League that same season, he showed promise as a 3-point specialist.
With Los Angeles, he appeared in 12 games and averaged 3.9 points in 10.8 minutes a game while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. Ryan was waived in early December and spent the rest of the season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he would play for the New Orleans Pelicans the following year and with the New York Knicks during the 2024-25 campaign.
In four years in the NBA, Ryan averaged 3.7 points in 9.4 minutes a game and hit 40.2% of his 3-point attempts. He’s currently a member of Dubai Basketball of the ABA League and the EuroLeague.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 37 — Matt Ryan
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
