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.
People had high hopes for Kwame Brown when he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft right out of high school. A 6-foot-11 big man who could run and jump at a high level, some felt he could become a major superstar. But instead, his career was a major disappointment, and many consider him to be one of the biggest draft busts ever.
In his first four seasons with the Washington Wizards, he put up meager stats and showed no measurable improvements. In 2005, the Lakers were in need of help up front, and so they traded Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins to Washington for Brown and Laron Profit.
Perhaps they were hoping a change in scenery would result in a transformation for Brown. But he instead remained the same player. In three and a half seasons with the Lakers, he averaged 7.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game, but he was a major liability offensively, as he lacked basic skills, timing, confidence and toughness.
Los Angeles jettisoned him in February 2008 as part of the trade that brought it Pau Gasol and instantly made it a championship-caliber team. Brown remained in the NBA through the 2012-13 season, but he never found any real success. In 12 NBA seasons, he had career averages of 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 54 — Kwame Brown
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
