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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In 1994, the Lakers had just committed to a full rebuild after the retirement of Magic Johnson. They were in the process of accumulating young prospects, hoping that a few would pan out well, and in that year’s draft, they took Eddie Jones, a guard out of Temple University, with the No. 10 pick.
As a rookie, Jones established himself as a slasher who loved to take the basketball to the hoop and finish strong, especially in transition, as well as someone who could hit from the outside. He averaged 14.0 points a game during his first season in the NBA and helped the Lakers win their first playoff series since Johnson called it quits.
Jones also became an active team defender who loved to make plays on the ball and force steals and deflections. He was named to the All-Defensive second team during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, as well as the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, and he became a fan favorite. Lakers supporters would often chant “Eddie! Eddie!” during home games.
Unfortunately, the 6-foot-6 guard was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in March 1999, along with big man Elden Campbell, for sharpshooter and three-time All-Star forward Glen Rice. It was projected that Rice would open things up in the middle for Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, but he was in decline by the time he arrived in L.A., which made that 1999 trade controversial for Lakers fans.
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While Rice’s productivity dropped with the Lakers, Jones went on to have several more productive seasons in the NBA, not just with the Hornets but also with the Miami Heat. He reunited with O’Neal in Miami during the 2004-05 season, and he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason before wrapping up his career with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2007-08 campaign.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 25/No. 6 — Eddie Jones