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 embark on 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 the summer of 2019, after they had agreed to the trade that brought them Anthony Davis, the Lakers were looking to build a championship-caliber supporting cast around Davis and LeBron James. One of the veterans they signed that offseason was Jared Dudley, a wide-bodied 6-foot-6 forward.
He had already played 12 seasons in the NBA and proven himself as a reliable 3-and-D player. While his playing time with Los Angeles was scant, he was an invaluable presence thanks to his leadership on and off the court.
Dudley spent two seasons with L.A. and averaged 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 7.8 minutes a game. The team won the NBA championship during the 2019-20 season, and he retired shortly after his second season with it.
He immediately became an assistant coach under Jason Kidd, who had been an assistant with the Lakers, on the Dallas Mavericks. This summer, Dudley landed a job as the Denver Nuggets‘ top assistant under David Adelman.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 10 — Jared Dudley