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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 30 days until the regular season begins, as we go back to the 70's to find the best to wear #30.
Who wore it the best: Cornell Warner
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(Credit: Los Angeles Times)
While 16 players have donned #30 for the LA Lakers, none have made a huge impact in their Lakers tenure. Cornell Warner was a 6'9" forward/center from Jackson State University. Warner played seven seasons (1970–1977) in the NBA as a member of the Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Warner was a 6'9" power forward known for his rebounding. Warner ended his career in 1977 after his 2nd year with the Lakers. Warner's strongest statistical season was in 1974-75 with the Bucks, during which he averaged 7.6 points and 10.3 rebounds.
|
Seasons w/ Lakers |
Years |
ppg |
rpg |
apg |
spg |
bpg |
mpg |
|
|
Cornell Warner |
2 |
1976-77 |
6.8 |
8.3 |
1.3 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
28.2 |
Who wears it now: Julius Randle
Coming out of high school, Julius Randle was one of the top prospects in the nation. As a senior at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, he averaged 32.5 points & 22.5 rebounds per game and led his team to its 3rd state title in 4 years. He played 1 year of college ball at Kentucky before declaring for the NBA draft. The LA Lakers choose took him with the 7th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
With a lot of excitement going into the 2014-15 season, it all came to a crashing halt at the Lakers season opener against the Houston Rockets. Only 13 minutes into his NBA career, Randle broke his right tibia and would miss the remainder of the season. Randle looks to rebound from a disappointing rookie year, and still has ample opportunity to be the best to ever wear #30 for the Lakers.
#30 - Who has worn it:
Earl Tatum (1977-1978)
Steve Hamilton (1959-1960)
Boo Ellis (1960)
Cliff Anderson (1968)
Bill Hewitt (1969-1970)
Fred Hetzel (1971)
Bill Turner (1973)
Roger Brown (1973)
Cornell Warner (1976-1977)
Marv Roberts (1977)
Brad Davis (1978-1979)
Kevin McKenna (1982)
Irving Thomas (1991)
Alex Blackwell (1993)
George Lynch (1994-1995)
Tracy Murray (2003)
Julius Randle (2015)