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Lakers To Retire Jamaal Wilkes' Jersey At Friday Night's Game

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Lakers will retire the jersey of former star Jamaal Wilkes at halftime of Friday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Number 52 will be hung in the rafters at STAPLES Center following a jersey retirement ceremony featuring Wilkes' former teammate and Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Wilkes, 59, joined the Lakers in 1977 after playing three seasons with the Golden State Warriors. He played for Los Angeles until 1985 and won two championships with the team in 1980 and 1982.

Wilkes' jersey will be the eighth retired by the Lakers, following those worn by Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, James Worthy and Gail Goodrich, all Hall of Fame members.

Wilkes was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in April.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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