Feb. 14, 2026, 5:02 a.m. PT
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.
When LeBron James came to the Lakers as a free agent in 2018, he single-handedly made them relevant again. They had missed the playoffs in each of the five previous seasons, and while they missed the postseason again in James’ first year with them, things had clearly changed.
The trade for superstar big man Anthony Davis in 2019 gave James the type of fellow superstar he has always needed to win championships, while giving the Lakers the type of superstar duo they have historically done well with. The two led the Purple and Gold to the NBA title in their first season together.
The rest of James’ time with Los Angeles — at least to this point — has been underwhelming in terms of team success, but not in terms of individual production. As he has gotten older and put bigger numbers on his odometer, his statistical numbers have remained fairly steady. He currently has averages of 26.2 points on 51.2% field-goal shooting, 7.7 rebounds and eight assists a game as a member of the team, and he has total career averages of 26.9 points on 50.6% shooting, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.
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