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.
On the day of the 1986 NBA Draft, the Lakers traded Ken Barlow and Mike McGee to the Atlanta Hawks for Ron Kellogg and Billy Thompson. Thompson was a 6-foot-7 forward who had just been taken with the No. 19 pick, and he found a place on the edge of the Lakers’ rotation.
He spent two seasons with them and averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 11.8 minutes a game during that time. In both those seasons, Los Angeles won the NBA championship.
Thompson stuck around in the league through the 1991-92 season and had career averages of 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.3 minutes a game. He later went on to play in the Continental Basketball Association, as well as in Turkey, Israel and Argentina.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 55 — Billy Thompson
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
