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.
Brian Grant was a very serviceable and productive power forward during his time in the NBA. He was taken with the No. 8 pick in the 1994 draft, and he was best remembered for playing on those formidable Portland Trail Blazers teams in the late 1990s.
The 6-foot-9 big man averaged double figures in scoring in each of his first five pro seasons and seven of his first nine seasons, and he was also an excellent rebounder and defender. He was sent to the Lakers in the summer of 2004 as part of the deal that shipped Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat.
By this time, Grant wasn’t quite the same player. He averaged just 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 16.5 minutes a game with the Lakers during the 2004-05 season. He spent one more campaign with the Phoenix Suns the following season before retiring with career averages of 10.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per game.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 55 — Brian Grant
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
