Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.
During the Lakers’ 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.
In 1957, the Lakers took Jim Krebs, a 6-foot-8 center, with the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft. He had a successful three-year stint at Southern Methodist University, where he averaged 21.5 points and 10.3 rebounds a game, but he played a more modest role in the pros.
He spent all seven of his seasons there with the Lakers and registered eight points and 6.2 rebounds in 20.7 minutes a game. During that time, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals three times, only to lose to Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics each time.
Unfortunately, Krebs suffered a tragic death in 1965, just one year after his NBA career ended. He was trying to remove a tree that had landed on his neighbor’s roof during a storm, only to be hit in the head by a limb from that tree. The former big man was just 29 years of age.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 32 — Jim Krebs
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