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.
In 1962, the St. Louis Hawks took Jay Carty, a 6-foot-8 forward, out of Oregon State University. He didn’t make his NBA debut until the 1968-69 season as a member of the Lakers, and it would be his only season in the league.
That year, he averaged 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 6.9 minutes a game. He also appeared in three playoff games and totaled one point in 10 minutes as Los Angeles made it to Game 7 of the NBA Finals, only to lose there to the Boston Celtics.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 52 — Jay Carty
