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.
After growing up in the greater Los Angeles area and starring at Glendale High School, John Block started out at Glendale College and then transferred to the University of Southern California, where he averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds a game in three seasons. He entered the NBA as a third-round pick in the 1966 draft by the Lakers.
Block, a 6-foot-9 power forward/center, averaged 2.9 points and two rebounds in 5.4 minutes a game as a rookie with the Lakers. He was taken by the San Diego Rockets in 1967 in the expansion draft, and that next season, he put up 20.2 points and 11 rebounds per game. Five years later, he earned his lone trip to the All-Star game.
He ended up playing 10 seasons in the NBA and had career averages of 11.9 points and 6.6 boards in 24 minutes a game.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 34 — John Block
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
