Lakers Season Countdown: 41 days, Glen Rice

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 41 days until the regular season begins, with one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history.

Who wore it the best: Glen Rice

(Credit: Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)

I went back and forth on this one. While Elden Campbell, who also wore #41, played 9 seasons with the Lakers, and was a key member of the rebuilding process during the 90's, his greatest contribution to the Lakers may have been being included in the trade that brought us Glen Rice. Mitch Kupchak, also sported the Lakers #41, and has done great things for the Lakers, but he has always done his best work on the phone, not on the court.

Glen Rice came to the Lakers in 1999 when he was traded for Elden Campbell and Eddie Jones. Lakers Gm Jerry West saw Rice and the 3rd scorer need alongside Shaq and Kobe, to get the Lakers over the proverbial hump. The trade made many Laker fans unhappy, as Eddie Jones was a fan favorite, but Jerry West would eventually be proven right. Although the Lakers fell in the 1999 playoffs, the first with Rice, they won the 2000 NBA Championship the following season. Rice was a pivotal piece for the Lakers to get back to the top.

Although the Lakers had won the championship, a lot of drama had unfolded behind the scenes between Rice, Phil Jackson and Jerry West. There was a report that Rice was upset when the Lakers exercised a $7-million option for the 2000 season instead of letting him become a free agent. In the end, the disgruntled Rice was eventually traded to the Knicks. However, Glen Rice was a key piece to getting over the hump and winning the 2000 NBA Championship.

Who wore it last: Glen Rice

See above.

#41 - Who has worn it:

C.J. Kupec (1976-1977)

Mitch Kupchak (1982)

Swen Nater (1984)

Elden Campbell (1991-1999)

Glen Rice (1999-2000)