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.
LeRoy Ellis was a key big man for the Lakers during two separate stints with them. They took him with the No. 8 pick in the 1962 NBA Draft after losing to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, and after he had set the single-season record for most rebounds per game at St. John’s University, it was hoped that he would help them contain legendary Celtics center Bill Russell.
He spent his first four pro seasons with the Lakers and averaged 9.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 23.1 minutes a game during that time. They reached the NBA Finals three times during his first stint with them, only to lose each time to Boston.
Ellis came back to the Lakers for the 1971-72 season and played a reduced role as the backup to Wilt Chamberlain. He got to be a contributor to one of the greatest basketball teams ever that season when L.A. won a record 33 games in a row, finished with a then-record 69 regular-season wins and brought home its first world championship since moving to Southern California in 1960.
The 6-foot-11 big man was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers early the next season, along with John Trapp, for Bill Bridges and Mel Counts. He retired in 1976 after 14 seasons in the NBA, during which he averaged 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.