Lakers jersey history No. 15 — Ernie DiGregorio

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.

When Ernie DiGregorio came into the NBA as the No. 3 pick in the 1973 draft, he was coming off three very productive years at Providence College. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year with averages of 15.2 points and a league-high 8.2 assists a game as a member of the Buffalo Braves, but the following season, a serious knee injury robbed him of much of his ability.

He was traded to the Lakers just prior to the 1977-78 season and appeared in 25 games with them, averaging 3.9 points and 2.8 assists in 13.3 minutes a game. Midway through that 1977-78 campaign, the Lakers waived him, and he spent the rest of the season with the Boston Celtics. That would be DiGregorio's last season in the NBA.

In five total seasons in the league, he averaged 9.6 points and 5.1 assists per game.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 15 — Ernie DiGregorio