Through the 2024-25 season, theLos Angeles Lakershave 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 2016, the Lakers took a chance on Ivica Zubac, a seven-footer they took with the No. 32 pick in the NBA draft. Zubac had played professionally in his native Europe, and while he was slow to develop in his first couple of NBA seasons, he showed potential defensively and on the boards.
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In his third season, he appeared in 33 games with the Lakers and averaged 8.5 points on 58% field-goal shooting, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 15.6 minutes a game. But just as he was starting to tap into his potential, they made a much-criticized move when they sent Zubac and Michael Beasley to theLos Angeles Clippersfor Mike Muscala. The thinking, at least from the Lakers' point of view, was that Muscala, a 6-foot-10 big man, would stretch the floor for them, but he didn't pan out with them.
Zubac, meanwhile, continued to develop and became a very solid starting-caliber center while helping the Clippers become a perennial playoff team. Last season, he put forth a career-best effort with 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds a game, and this season, he registered 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Midway through this season, the Clippers traded him to the Indiana Pacers, and he could be part of a very competitive Indiana squad next season once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his torn Achilles.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire:Lakers jersey history No. 40 — Ivica Zubac
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