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.
In 1966, the Lakers took Jerry Chambers, a 6-foot-5 forward, with the No. 7 pick in the NBA draft. As a rookie, he averaged 7.5 points and three rebounds in 14.7 minutes a game before spending the following two years serving in the military. While he was away, the Lakers sent him, Archie Clark and Darrall Imhoff to the Philadelphia 76ers for Wilt Chamberlain, a trade that would eventually get them their first NBA championship since moving to L.A.
Chambers returned to the league for the 1969-70 season as a member of the Phoenix Suns and would remain in the league until 1972, when he jumped to the American Basketball Association (ABA) for two seasons. He retired with lifetime averages of 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.1 minutes a game across both the NBA and ABA.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 40 — Jerry Chambers
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
