Lakers jersey history No. 33 -- John Fairchild
A look at John Fairchild's time with the Lakers.
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.
John Fairchild, a 6-foot-8 forward, played two years of college basketball at Brigham Young University, and during that time, he averaged 20. 9 points and 12. 8 rebounds a game while winning one Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year Award.
In 1965, the Lakers took him with the No. 16 pick in the NBA draft. He spent his rookie season with the Lakers and averaged two points and 1.
5 rebounds in 5. 7 minutes a game that year. He sat out the following season, then played three seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for four different teams.