Lakers jersey history No. 21 — Cliff Meely
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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In 1971, the San Diego Rockets made Cliff Meely the No. 7 pick in the NBA draft after spending three seasons at the University of Colorado Boulder. Early in the 1975-76 season, the Rockets waived him, and he spent the rest of the campaign with the Lakers.
The 6-foot-8 forward appeared in 20 games that year with the Lakers and averaged 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in seven minutes a game. His NBA career ended shortly afterward, but he spent some more time playing pro basketball in Europe before wrapping up his playing career.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 21 — Cliff Meely