Los Angeles Lakers: Worst players to wear a retired number after a legend
By Jason Reed
2. Ollie Mack — 25
- Number retired for Gail Goodrich
Much like Jamaal Wilkes, Gail Goodrich did not get his number retired by the Los Angeles Lakers for quite some time. Goodrich last suited up for the Lakers in 1976 but did not get his number retired until 1996, which coincided with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.
At the time, Eddie Jones wore number 25 and switched numbers as a result of it being retired. Jones was a solid veteran role player who was actually doing the number justice, something that the player who wore it right after Goodrich, Ollie Mack, did not do.
Mack wore the number four years after Goodrich left the Lakers and was only on the Lakers for one season in 1980. Mack played just 27 games for the Lakers, averaging 5.7 minutes played per game with 1.9 points per game.
He was essentially a non-factor.
Several other players wore it after Mack before Jones ended up wearing it. Alan Hardy wore it for a year, former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak wore it for three seasons in the ’80s and Keith Owens wore it in 1992.
However, Mack will always be the guy that wore the number after Goodrich, another player that oftentimes gets lost in the shuffle with so many superstars in Los Angeles Lakers history.