Former Lakers player Jim McMillian died Monday at age 68.
He died from complications of heart failure at a hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after being in failing health in recent months, according to his sister-in-law Denise Sheridan.
McMillian was the third-leading scorer on the Lakers' 1971-72 team that won the franchise's first championship in Los Angeles.
He averaged 19.1 points in replacing retired Elgin Baylor at forward, a move that coincided with the start of the team's 33-game winning streak. The roster included Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Keith Erickson and Pat Riley.