Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers players: who played for both
Who played for both the Cavaliers and Lakers?
74 players played for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers between 1970–71 and 2025–26, including Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Rajon Rondo and Lonzo Ball. 41 of them played for the Cavaliers first and 32 for the Lakers first; 1 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Johnny Egan is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lakers first, then the Cavaliers from 1970–71.
- Thomas Bryant is the most recent: Lakers first, then the Cavaliers from 2025–26.
- LeBron James played the most seasons across the two: 11 for the Cavaliers and 8 for the Lakers.
- 12 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as LeBron James.
- Most common positions on this list: PF (18), C (17), SG (15), SF (12).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Cavaliers and the Lakers. The surname is enough. 0 / 74
All 74 players, most seasons with the two first
| Player | Pos | Cavaliers | Lakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | SF/PF | 2003–2010, 2014–2018 (11 s) | 2018–2026 (8 s) |
| Tristan Thompson | C | 2011–2020, 2023–2025 (11 s) | 2022–23 (1 s) |
| Luke Walton | SF/PF | 2011–2013 (2 s) | 2003–2012 (9 s) |
| Shaquille O'Neal | C | 2009–10 (1 s) | 1996–2004 (8 s) |
| Chris Mihm | C | 2000–2004 (4 s) | 2004–2009 (5 s) |
| Andrew Bynum | C | 2013–14 (1 s) | 2005–2012 (7 s) |
| Larry Nance Jr. | PF/C | 2017–2021, 2025–26 (5 s) | 2015–2018 (3 s) |
| Jim Brewer | PF | 1973–1979 (6 s) | 1980–1982 (2 s) |
| Don Ford | PF | 1979–1982 (3 s) | 1975–1980 (5 s) |
| Jordan Clarkson | SG/PG | 2017–2020 (3 s) | 2014–2018 (4 s) |
| Jim Chones | C/PF | 1974–1979 (5 s) | 1979–1981 (2 s) |
| J. R. Smith | SG/SF | 2014–2019 (5 s) | 2019–20 (1 s) |
| Ron Harper | SG/PG | 1986–1990 (4 s) | 1999–2001 (2 s) |
| Jim Cleamons | SG/PG | 1972–1977 (5 s) | 1971–72 (1 s) |
| Kenny Carr | PF | 1979–1982 (3 s) | 1977–1980 (3 s) |
| Ira Newble | SF/SG | 2003–2008 (5 s) | 2007–08 (1 s) |
| Shannon Brown | SG | 2006–2008 (2 s) | 2008–2011 (3 s) |
| Channing Frye | PF/C | 2015–2019 (4 s) | 2017–18 (1 s) |
| Eddie Jordan | SG | 1977–78 (1 s) | 1980–1984 (4 s) |
| James Edwards | C | 1981–1983 (2 s) | 1977–78, 1992–1994 (3 s) |
| Dylan Windler | SF/SG | 2019–2023 (4 s) | 2023–24 (1 s) |
| Elmore Smith | C | 1976–1979 (3 s) | 1973–1975 (2 s) |
| Chucky Brown | PF/SF | 1989–1992, 2000–01 (4 s) | 1991–92 (1 s) |
| Corie Blount | PF/C | 1998–99 (1 s) | 1995–1999 (4 s) |
| Rajon Rondo | PG | 2021–22 (1 s) | 2018–2020, 2021–22 (3 s) |
| Antawn Jamison | PF/SF | 2009–2012 (3 s) | 2012–13 (1 s) |
| Dion Waiters | SG | 2012–2015 (3 s) | 2019–20 (1 s) |
| Cliff Robinson | SF | 1981–1984 (3 s) | 1991–92 (1 s) |
| Walt Wesley | C | 1970–1973 (3 s) | 1975–76 (1 s) |
| Dave Robisch | C/PF | 1979–1981 (2 s) | 1977–1979 (2 s) |
| Rick Roberson | PF/C | 1971–1973 (2 s) | 1969–1971 (2 s) |
| Cornell Warner | PF/C | 1972–1974 (2 s) | 1975–1977 (2 s) |
| Lonzo Ball | PG | 2025–26 (1 s) | 2017–2019 (2 s) |
| Isaiah Thomas | PG | 2017–18 (1 s) | 2017–18, 2021–22 (2 s) |
| Andre Drummond | C | 2019–2021 (2 s) | 2020–21 (1 s) |
| Dennis Schröder | PG | 2025–26 (1 s) | 2020–21, 2022–23 (2 s) |
| Carlos Boozer | PF | 2002–2004 (2 s) | 2014–15 (1 s) |
| Luol Deng OBE | SF/PF | 2013–14 (1 s) | 2016–2018 (2 s) |
| JaVale McGee | C | 2020–21 (1 s) | 2018–2020 (2 s) |
| Danny Green | SG/SF | 2009–10, 2022–23 (2 s) | 2019–20 (1 s) |
| Joe Smith | PF | 2007–2009 (2 s) | 2010–11 (1 s) |
| Quinn Cook | PG | 2020–21 (1 s) | 2019–2021 (2 s) |
| Damian Jones | C | 2023–24 (1 s) | 2020–21, 2022–23 (2 s) |
| Timofey Mozgov | C | 2014–2016 (2 s) | 2016–17 (1 s) |
| Smush Parker | PG/SG | 2002–03 (1 s) | 2005–2007 (2 s) |
| Wayne Ellington | SG | 2012–13 (1 s) | 2014–15, 2021–22 (2 s) |
| Thomas Bryant | C/PF | 2025–26 (1 s) | 2017–18, 2022–23 (2 s) |
| Ramon Sessions | PG | 2010–2012 (2 s) | 2011–12 (1 s) |
| Butch Lee | PG | 1978–1980 (2 s) | 1979–80 (1 s) |
| Tony Campbell | SF/SG | 1994–95 (1 s) | 1987–1989 (2 s) |
| Jumaine Jones | PF/SF | 2001–2003 (2 s) | 2004–05 (1 s) |
| Manny Harris | SG | 2010–2012 (2 s) | 2013–14 (1 s) |
| Johnny Egan | PG | 1970–71 (1 s) | 1968–1970 (2 s) |
| Christian Eyenga | SF | 2010–2012 (2 s) | 2011–12 (1 s) |
| Randolph Keys | SF/SG | 1988–1990 (2 s) | 1994–95 (1 s) |
| Earl Tatum | SG/SF | 1979–80 (1 s) | 1976–1978 (2 s) |
| Andrew Bogut | C/PF | 2016–17 (1 s) | 2017–18 (1 s) |
| Derrick Williams | PF | 2016–17 (1 s) | 2017–18 (1 s) |
| Taurean Prince | SF | 2020–21 (1 s) | 2023–24 (1 s) |
| José Calderón | PG | 2017–18 (1 s) | 2016–17 (1 s) |
| Jim Jackson | SG/SF | 2000–01 (1 s) | 2005–06 (1 s) |
| Jason Kapono | SF | 2003–04 (1 s) | 2011–12 (1 s) |
| Earl Clark | PF | 2013–14 (1 s) | 2012–13 (1 s) |
| Benoit Benjamin | C | 1999–00 (1 s) | 1992–93 (1 s) |
| Ed Davis | C/PF | 2021–22 (1 s) | 2014–15 (1 s) |
| J. R. Reid | PF/C | 2000–01 (1 s) | 1998–99 (1 s) |
| David Nwaba | SG/SF | 2018–19 (1 s) | 2016–17 (1 s) |
| Coby Karl | SG | 2009–10 (1 s) | 2007–08 (1 s) |
| Alfonzo McKinnie | SF | 2019–20 (1 s) | 2020–21 (1 s) |
| Fred Roberts | PF/C | 1994–95 (1 s) | 1995–96 (1 s) |
| Jelani McCoy | PF/C | 2003–04 (1 s) | 2001–02 (1 s) |
| Mack Calvin | PG | 1980–81 (1 s) | 1976–77 (1 s) |
| Trey Johnson | SG | 2008–09 (1 s) | 2010–11 (1 s) |
| Tierre Brown | PG/SG | 2002–03 (1 s) | 2004–05 (1 s) |
From English Wikipedia's player infoboxes (CC BY-SA 4.0), BAA/NBA seasons 1946–47 to 2025–26. A season counts when the player's infobox lists it for the franchise; ABA seasons do not count.Lakers seasons include the Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1960).
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Questions
How many players have played for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers?
74, from 1970–71 to 2025–26, including Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Rajon Rondo and Lonzo Ball. A player counts when his Wikipedia infobox lists at least one NBA season with each franchise.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both?
Johnny Egan: Los Angeles Lakers first, then the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1970–71.
Who has played for both recently?
LeBron James, Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr., Lonzo Ball, Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant, with a season for one of the two in 2024–25 or 2025–26.
Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?
Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise: every old name and city is linked to the club that carries its history today. Lakers seasons include the Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1960).
Careers from English Wikipedia's player infoboxes (CC BY-SA 4.0); player ids from Wikidata (CC0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams; AllStar Grid is not affiliated with the NBA or any team. Logos via TheSportsDB. Credits