Horace Grant's stats

Forward, #54

• Born July 4, 1965
• Attended Clemson
• Coached by Phil Jackson

In his 17-year NBA career, Horace Grant won four championship rings, three with the Chicago Bulls and one with the Lakers (and all four with Phil Jackson as his coach).

Yet, there is another accessory even more closely associated with the 6-foot-10 forward -- his wrap-around goggles, which The Times' Bill Plaschke referred to as "perhaps the most famous spectacles in sports" in a 2001 column.

"People take them off benches, out of locker rooms, I guess they want them as souvenirs," said Grant, who continued to wear the glasses on the court even after corrective laser eye surgery gave him perfect vision.

Perhaps it’s good that Grant had something to make him stand out since his identical twin brother, Harvey, also had a successful NBA career.

Grant first came to the Lakers for the 2000-01 seasons, six years after his only All-Atar appearance and seven after his most recent NBA title. Still, he played a prominent role during the Lakers' championship run that year, starting in 77 games during the regular season and every postseason game. He was team leader in rebounds (7.1 a game) and blocked shots (.8).

He went to the Phoenix Suns as a free agent the following year and was released in December 2002. He returned to the Lakers for the 2003-04 season to take a shot at one more ring with a loaded lineup that included Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton.

But it wasn't meant to be. Grant’' numbers were down significantly from his previous stint with the team and a hip injury prevented him from making the postseason roster.