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.
Art Spoelstra was a 6-foot-9 big man who grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich. and played collegiately at Western Kentucky University. In 1954, he was taken in the fourth round of the NBA draft by the Rochester Royals.
He was traded to the Lakers in April 1957, and he appeared in 50 games with the Lakers during the 1957-58 season, averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 22 minutes a game. They then sent him to the New York Knicks midway through that season.
Spoelstra retired following that season with career averages of 7.2 points and 4.6 assists in 18.9 minutes per game
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 27 — Art Spoelstra
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
