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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 1 day until the regular season begins, with one of Kobe Bryant's closest friends.
Who wore it the best: Caron Butler
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(Credit: National Basketball Association, Getty Images)
Caron Butler was drafted by the Miami Heat with the 10th overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. He spent two years in Miami before he was traded to the Lakers in the deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat. Caron was traded along with Lamar Odom and Brian Grant. Caron was the Lakers starting small forward for the 2004-05 season, and only missed 5 games that year. He formed a strong bond with Kobe Bryant, as Kobe still considers Caron a brother to this very day, even though they haven't been teammates in over 10 seasons.
Caron had a very successful season in LA, and was the teams second leading scorer and put up a then career high FG%, FT%, points and rebounds. However, the Lakers went in a different direction the next season and traded Caron Butler, along with Chucky Atkins to the Washington Wizards for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. Although nobody knew it at the time, this is the trade that was directly lead to the Lakers acquiring Pau Gasol in 2008. Without Kwame's contract, the Lakers would have been unable to land Pau. Caron went on to play 5 seasons in Washington, 1 in Dallas, 2 with the Clippers, half seasons in Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, 1 season in Detroit, and he is now under contract with the Kings for the 2015-16 season.
|
Seasons w/ Lakers |
Years |
ppg |
rpg |
apg |
spg |
bpg |
mpg |
|
|
Caron Butler |
1 |
2005 |
15.5 |
5.8 |
1.9 |
1.4 |
0.3 |
35.7 |
Who wore it last: Jordan Farmar
After two years at UCLA, Jordan Farmar declared for the 2006 NBA draft. He was selected by the LA Lakers with the 26th overall pick. In his first 3 seasons with the Lakers, he wore #5. It wasn't until the 2009-10 season that Farmar switched to #1. Farmar was the backup point guard behind Derek Fisher and was a key member of the Lakers successful bench unit. Farmar would earn 2 Championship rings with the Lakers in 2009 & 2010. In search of a starting role, Farmar would sign with the Nets for the 2012 season. However, after an offseason trade between the Nets and Jazz, Farmar was again in a backup role behind Deron Williams. After two seasons in New Jersey, he was traded to the Hawks, but waived 5 days later.
Farmar would go on to play the 2012-13 season overseas in the Turkish Basketball League. Farmar would rejoin the Lakers the following year to be the backup behind Steve Blake as Steve Nash was decimated by injuries. Farmar also dealt with a severe hamstring injury that caused him to only play in 41 games. However, the 2014 season was his best statistical season as a Laker. Farmar averaged 10.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists & 0.9 steals in 22.2 minutes per game while shooting 44% from 3 point range. Farmar did not re-sign with the Lakers the following season, and he is currently under contract with the Israeli Basketball League for the upcoming season.
#1 - Who has worn it:
Earl Jones (1985)
Wes Matthews(1987-1988)
Anthony Peeler (1993-1996)
Maurice Carter(2004)
Caron Butler (2005)
Smush Parker (2006-2007)
Javaris Crittenton (2008)
Jordan Farmar (2010 & 2014)
Joe Smith (2011)
Darius Morris (2012-2013)
D'Angelo Russell (2016 - future)