Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak Retires

Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers’ veteran back-up center forward who has been hinting about it for the last two seasons, has retired, General Manager Jerry West announced today.

Kupchak, 31, who became a Laker in 1981, made an immediate impact, starting the first 26 games, shooting 57% and averaging 8.1 rebounds. He suffered severe injuries to his left knee during a game at San Diego in mid-December, however, and missed the rest of that season and all of the next. After rejoining the team for the 1983-84 season, he played the best post-accident basketball of his career in the 1985 championship series against the Boston Celtics, helping the Lakers to the title.