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.
As the Lakers approach their 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.
Prior to the 2020-21 season, the Lakers signed wing Wesley Matthews as a free agent. He had spent 11 seasons in the league as a 3-point specialist and had averaged double figures in scoring in nine of those seasons, and his father, Wes, had once played for the Lakers during the 1980s.
But by the time the younger Matthews came to L.A., he was in clear decline. During his lone season with the team, he averaged 4.8 points in 19.5 minutes a game and shot 35.3% from the field and 33.5% from 3-point range.
He left L.A. in 2021 and would spend three more seasons in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. He ended his career with an average of 11.4 points a game.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 9 — Wesley Matthews
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
