Lakers jersey history No. 40 — Bill McGill
A look at Bill McGill'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.
Midway through the 1964-65 season, the Lakers signed Bill McGill, a 6-foot-9 big man, as a free agent. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1962 NBA Draft out of the University of Utah and had spent much of his childhood in the Los Angeles area, and he had played for four different NBA teams by the time he came to the Lakers.
With L. A. , McGill appeared in eight games and averaged 1.
9 points and 1. 5 rebounds in 4. 6 minutes a game.