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.
The Lakers were in a period of transition during the 2011-12 season. They were two seasons removed from their most recent NBA championship, and they had traded Lamar Odom, who was a key contributor for them for seven years, to the Dallas Mavericks. They were in need of ball-handling help, so at midseason, they acquired guard Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jason Kapono, Luke Walton and two future first-round draft picks.
Los Angeles also received Christian Eyenga, a 6-foot-6 wing, in that deal. Eyenga was originally taken with the No. 30 pick in the 2009 draft, and he ended up appearing in one game for L.A., registering eight points, two rebounds, one assist and one block in 19 minutes.
That would be Eyenga’s final game in the NBA, although he subsequently spent time in the G League and went on to play many more seasons outside the United States. In two NBA seasons, he had career averages of 6.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 88 — Christian Eyenga
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
