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.
Keith Erickson was a California kid who played three years of college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles under the legendary John Wooden and won two NCAA championships there. He also played on the United States men’s volleyball team during the 1964 Summer Olympics.
He was taken by the San Francisco Warriors in the third round of the 1965 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Lakers in 1968, and the 6-foot-5 wing stuck around with them long enough to be a member of their 1971-72 iteration that won the world championship.
Erickson was sent to the Phoenix Suns in 1973, and he spent his final four seasons there. He retired in 1977 with career averages of 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 24.6 minutes a game, and he put up 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 26.5 minutes per game as a member of the Lakers.
In 1979, he started a second career as the Lakers’ color commentator alongside legendary play-by-play man Chick Hearn. Erickson served in that role through the 1986-87 season.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 24 — Keith Erickson
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
