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.
Advertisement
Bob Boozer was a 6-foot-8 forward who came into the NBA during the 1960-61 season after he was the No. 1 pick in the draft by the Cincinnati Royals a year earlier. Just prior to the 1965-66 season, the New York Knicks traded him to the Lakers for Dick Barnett.
He spent one season with the Lakers, averaging 12.2 points and 7 rebounds per game while helping them get to the brink of the championship before losing in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics. The Chicago Bulls picked him up in the expansion draft shortly afterward.
Boozer’s last season came with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1970-71 campaign, one that ended with him getting a ring alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. He finished with career averages of 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds a game.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 15 — Bob Boozer