Lakers jersey history No. 49 — Mel McCants
Lakers jersey history No. 49 — Mel McCants
Robert Marvi, LeBron WireTue, June 9, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC
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Lakers jersey history No. 49 — Mel McCants
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.
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Mel McCants had a very brief NBA career after a solid four years at Purdue University. While with the Boilermakers, he averaged 12.4 points and 5.2 rebounds a game and helped them win the Big Ten Conference title in back-to-back years. He went undrafted in 1989 and was signed by the Lakers as a free agent shortly afterward.
During his lone season in the NBA, the 6-foot-8 forward appeared in 13 games and averaged 1.7 points and 0.5 rebounds in five minutes a game. He would spend the following season with the Sioux City Skyforce, a team that then played in the Continental Basketball Association.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 49 — Mel McCants
Source: “AOL Sports”
