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.
For years, Markieff Morris was a productive scorer in the NBA. The No. 13 pick in the 2011 draft, he averaged double figures in scoring for five straight seasons, but by age 29, his skills started to decline, and as a result, he went from a consistent starter to a bench player.
He was waived in February 2020 by the Detroit Pistons, and the Lakers picked him up a couple of days later. The Lakers were in the middle of a fantastic season, and they wanted a little more frontcourt depth. The 6-foot-9 forward gave them someone who could produce points off the bench.
He helped them win the NBA championship that season and averaged 5.9 points and three rebounds in 18.3 minutes a game while shooting 42% from 3-point range during the 2020 playoffs. He remained with Los Angeles through the following season before departing to join the Miami Heat in 2021.
Morris returned to the Lakers last season as part of the Luka Doncic trade. He was now in his final season and only appeared in eight games last year with them. He ended his NBA career with lifetime league averages of 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 23.3 minutes a game, and he has regular-season averages of 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game while with the Purple and Gold.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 88 — Markieff Morris
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
