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.
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Tyson Chandler grew up in California and went to Dominguez High School in Compton. He decided to forgo college and enter the 2001 NBA Draft, where he was the No. 2 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers. Instead of getting to play for the hometown Clippers, Chandler was immediately shipped to the Chicago Bulls for Elton Brand.
The seven-footer established himself as a strong defender and rebounder, and by his sixth season in the league, he was averaging double digits in rebounds. During the 2010-11 season, he won an NBA championship as the starting center on the Dallas Mavericks, and two seasons later, he was named to the All-Star team as a member of the New York Knicks.
By the 2018-19 season, it appeared that Chandler was done as a viable NBA player. Early that year, the Phoenix Suns bought out his contract, and the Lakers scooped him up a couple of days later, allowing him to return to the Southland.
As a member of the Lakers that season, he appeared in 48 games and averaged 3.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 16.4 minutes a game. During the following season, his final one in the league, he played in 26 games for the Houston Rockets.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 5 — Tyson Chandler