Lakers jersey history No. 31 — Mel Counts

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 1964, the Boston Celtics took Mel Counts, a seven-foot big man out of Oregon State University, with the No. 9 pick in the NBA draft. He spent his first two seasons and change with the Celtics and earned championship rings during his first two years with them as a contributor off the bench.

He joined the Baltimore Bullets for the 1966-67 season, and midway through that season, he was traded to the Lakers. He played for the Lakers through the 1969-70 campaign, and while with them, he reached the NBA Finals three straight times, only to lose on each occasion. Los Angeles lost in the 1968 and 1969 finals to the Celtics, Counts' former squad.

After the 1970 NBA Finals, L. A. traded Counts to the Phoenix Suns for Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich, but he returned to the Lakers early in the 1972-73 season.