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.
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During the 2023 NBA Draft, the Lakers traded up to acquire the right to Maxwell Lewis, a 6-foot-7 forward who was taken with the No. 40 pick by the Denver Nuggets that year. He spent two seasons at Pepperdine University in Malibu, and scouts liked his potential because of his raw athleticism and basic skills.
He appeared in 34 games with the Lakers as a rookie, and midway through last season, he was sent to the Brooklyn Nets, along with guard D’Angelo Russell and three future second-round draft picks, for 3-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith. He ended up averaging 0.4 points in 3.2 minutes a game while with L.A.
Lewis finished last season with the Nets, and in July, he joined Tofaş of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) in Turkey.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 20/No. 21 — Maxwell Lewis