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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 11 days until the regular season begins, with a man who played professional basketball for 21 years.
Who wore it the best: Bob McAdoo
(Credit: National Basketball Association, Getty Images)
After finishing his junior year at the University of North Carolina, Bob McAdoo entered the 1972 NBA draft where he was selected with the #2 overall pick by the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers). He is a 5-time All-Star and the 1974-75 NBA MVP, where he averaged 34.5 points & 15.1 rebounds in only his 3rd year in the league. Over his 14 year NBA career, Bob played for 7 different teams. Besides for the team that drafted him, his longest tenure was spent as a member of the LA Lakers.
After many injury-plagued seasons, Bob came to the Lakers in 1982 to play as the backup center or power forward. He thrived in this role and his career seemed to be rejuvenated. Bob would help the Lakers win NBA Championships in 1982 & 1985. Bob would sign with the 76ers after 4 years in LA. However, injuries caught up with him again as he attempted to play a more prominent role. He played in only 29 games for the 76ers before he decided to leave the NBA.
He spent the final 7 years of his basketball career playing in the Euroleague. He was elected into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2000, and has served as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat for the past 18 seasons, where he earned 3 more championships as a coach.
Seasons w/ Lakers |
Years |
ppg |
rpg |
apg |
spg |
bpg |
mpg |
|
Bob McAdoo |
4 |
1982-85 |
12.1 |
4.4 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
20.0 |
Who wore it last: Wesley Johnson
Wesley Johnson was selected with the 4th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Being the 4th overall pick, Wesley experienced much disappointment in Minnesota. After just two years there, he played a season for the Phoenix Suns before joining the Lakers for the 2013-14 season.
Johnson was the Lakers primary starting small forward for the past two seasons. In his first season with the Lakers, he posted career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals & blocks. In two seasons with the Lakers, Johnson averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals & 0.8 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game. Wesley Johnson is currently under contract with the Los Angeles Clippers for the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season.
#11 - Who has worn it:
Mike Bloom (1949)
Billy Hassett (1950)
Lew Hitch (1952-1956)
Jim Paxson (1957)
Frank Selvy (1958-1964)
Gail Goodrich (1966-1968)
Jim Cleamons (1972)
Jim McDaniels (1976)
Bo Lamar (1977)
Charlie Scott (1978)
Bob McAdoo (1982-1985)
J.R. Reid (1999)
John Celestand (2000)
Joe Crispin (2002)
Karl Malone (2004)
Devin Green (2006)
Coby Karl (2008)
Wesley Johnson (2014-2015)