Lakers Season Countdown: 15 days, Jim Price

We're getting ready for a brand new season of Los Angeles Lakers basketball, so to count down the days we'll be looking at the best Lakers to wear the number. We'll continue at 15 days until the regular season begins, with a player who was traded during his best statistical season.

Who wore it the best: Jim Price

(Credit: ESPN, ESPN photo)

After doing a little research and having a chuckle at names like Kevin O'Shea (from the movie Little Giants?), Dick Schnittker (SCG's favorite Laker), Mel Gibson (is he a time traveler?), Bob Boozer (Carlos' grandpa?), Hank Finkel (is it Finkel, or is it Einhorn?) & the infamous Metta World Peace, the best to wear #15 started to stand out.

Jim Price was selected with the 16th overall (2nd round, 3rd pick) pick in the 1972 NBA draft. Jim Price saw time as a backup point guard in his rookie season, and would really start to flourish in his 2nd year as a Laker after he earned a starting role. HIs 3rd year really started to take off as he was averaging a career best 21.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists & 2.3 steals in 37.3 minutes per game. However, 9 games into the season the Lakers would surprisingly trade Price to the Milwaukee Bucks for Lucius Allen.

Price went on to be names an All-Star in 1975, but he was never able to put up the same numbers he did at the start of the 1975 season with the Lakers. He did go on to play 4 more seasons, with his final season being a return to Los Angeles, where he served as a the backup point guard, just as he had to start his career.

Who wore it last: Jabari Brown

After 3 years at Missouri, Jabari Brown declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility. However, he would go undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft. After spending the 2014 summer league with the Houston Rockets, he would sign with the LA Lakers. However, he was waived by the Lakers a month later before being acquired by the Lakers D-league affiliate, the D-Fenders. He went on to earn an NBA D-League All-Star selection before signing a 10 day contract with the Lakers towards the end of the 2015 season.

The Lakers were dealing with numerous injuries to their backcourt and needed help. The Lakers signed Brown via the NBA hardship exemption, which allowed the Lakers to carry 16 players. He signed a 2nd 10-day contract, and eventually a multi-year contract with the Lakers. Jabari finished the 2015 season averaging 11.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists & 0.6 steals in 29.9 minutes per game. Jabari is a college teammate of current Laker Jordan Clarkson.

#15 - Who has worn it:

Don Carlson (1949-1950)

Kevin O'Shea (1951)

Joe Hutton (1952)

Howie Schultz (1953)

Dick Schnittker (1954-1958)

Mel Gibson (1964)

Bob Boozer (1966)

Hank Finkel (1967)

Willie McCarter (1970-1971)

Jim Price (1973-1975)

John Roche (1976)

Ron Williams (1976)

Ernie DiGregorio (1978)

Ron Carter (1979)

Butch Lee (1980)

Eddie Jordan (1981-1984)

Tony Bobbitt (2005)

Metta World Peace (2011-2013)

Jabari Brown (2015 - future)