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
In 2005, the Lakers took Von Wafer, a 6-foot-5 guard, in the second round of the NBA draft out of Florida State University. He appeared in 16 games with them as a rookie and averaged 1.3 points in 4.6 minutes a game.
He went on to play five more seasons in the NBA and finished with career averages of 5.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 12.4 minutes a game. Von Wafer later went on to have stints in China, Russia, Puerto Rico and the NBA Developmental League (now the G League) after his last NBA game in 2012.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 23 — Von Wafer