Lakers Season Countdown: 14 days, Sam Perkins

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 14 days until the regular season begins, with the man simply known as "Big Smooth"

Who wore it the best: Sam Perkins

(Credit: National Basketball Association, Getty Images)

Sam Perkins was selected 4th overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. After 6 seasons in Dallas, "Sleepy Sam" as he was sometimes called, sign as a free agent with the LA Lakers. Sam was brought in to make a deep playoff push with a team lead by Magic Johnson & consisting of Vlade Divac, Byron Scott, James Worthy & Elden Campbell among others. Sam was known for his silky smooth 3 pointers, which were uncommon at the time for a player of his size. Sam is the perfect definition of a "stretch 4" in today's NBA.

Things in Laker land came to a screeching halt when Magic announced his retirement during the season. The Lakers tried to make things work without Magic, but after almost 2 full seasons without him, the Lakers were, at best, a .500 ball club. With an NBA Championship as the only Lakers goal, management decided to go into a different direction. Sam Perkins, after 2 and a half years in LA was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics for Benoit Benjamin and Doug Christie.

	Seasons w/ Lakers	Years	ppg	rpg	apg	spg	bpg	mpg
Sam Perkins	3	1991-93	14.6	8.0	2.0	0.9	1.0	34.7

Who wore it last: Troy Murphy

Troy Murphy was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 14th selection in the 2001 NBA Draft. After a dud of a rookie season, Troy figured things out in his second year as he averaged 11.7 points and 10.2 rebounds. During his 6th season in Golden State, he was to the Indiana Pacers where he saw even more success. He played for Indiana for 4 years, and averaged a double-double in his final two years there.

After short and unsuccessful stints with the Nets, Warriors & Celtics, The Lakers signed Troy for the lockout shortened 2011-12 NBA season. Primarily a backup power forward, Troy averaged 3.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game. Troy might most be remembered in Lakers Nation for taking a pass directly to the face:

Troy would go on to sign with the Dallas Mavericks the following season before retiring after a 14 NBA career.

#14 - Who has worn it:

Earl Gardner (1949)

Paul Walther (1950)

Bud Grant (1950)

Joe Hutton (1951)

Larry Foust (1958-1960)

Ray Felix (1960-1962)

Hub Reed (1964)

Darrall Imhoff (1965-1968)

John Tresvant (1970-1971)

Leroy Ellis (1972-1973)

Brad Holland (1980-1981)

David Rivers (1989)

Sam Perkins (1991-1993)

Stanislav Medvedenko (2001-2006)

Ira Newble (2008)

Troy Murphy (2012)