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.
Mike Higgins, a 6-foot-9 forward, spent four years at the University of Northern Colorado, where he averaged 18.5 points on 64.2% shooting and 8.4 rebounds a game. He came to the Lakers in the fall of 1989 as an undrafted free agent and appeared in six games with them during the 1989-90 season, totaling one point, one rebound, one assist, one steal and two blocks in 18 minutes.
He was waived by the Lakers early that season and had short stints with the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings afterward. During his two-season NBA career, he averaged 1.7 points and 0.5 rebounds in 6.2 minutes a game.
Higgins went on to have a long career afterward in various other leagues, especially overseas. He spent the 1992-93 season in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), where he won a title with the Omaha Racers.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 55 — Mike Higgins
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
