Lakers jersey history No. 35 — Rick Roberson

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 1969, Rick Roberson was taken by the Lakers with the No. 15 pick in the NBA draft after he averaged 15.7 points and 12.4 rebounds a game during his three years at the University of Cincinnati. The 6-foot-9 big man got a chance to play as a rookie when Wilt Chamberlain missed most of the season with a knee injury, and that year, he put up 8.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in 27.1 minutes a game.

In two seasons with Los Angeles, Roberson averaged 7.1 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes a game. He spent the following two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and then played with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1973-74 campaign, and with both teams, he got considerably more playing time than he did with the Lakers.

Overall, Roberson played seven seasons in the NBA and averaged nine points and 8.3 boards per game during his career.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 35 — Rick Roberson