Laker legend Jerry West passes away at age 86
NBA Commissioner David Stern & Jerry West at the 2011 All-Star NBA Brunch. Photo taken by the late Eric Wade/TGSports.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Champion. Finals MVP. Logo. Icon. Basketball legend. These are some of the words used to describe the legendary Jerry West as the sports world mourns his loss. The 86-year-old West died peacefully at his home this morning, with his wife Karen by his side.
No man has left a legacy on the NBA more than West, first as a player, then as a coach, and finally as a team executive with his last role spanning 40-plus years.
“You know what type of impact Jerry West had on basketball when you become the logo of the NBA,” said Earvin “Magic” Johnson. “That’s the type of impact Jerry had.”
Coming out of college West played for the 1960 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Rome. Soon thereafter he would be drafted with the No. 2 overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers making the All-Star game as a rookie, the first of 14 straight All-Star selections.
After his Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, he would lead the LA Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times, losing eight of them. Unfortunately, he ran into the dynasty that was the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics who beat him six times despite unbelievable efforts on Wests’ part. He won the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite losing to the Celtics. He is the only player in the NBA’s 78-year existence to win the MVP while on the losing team.
His lone title came near the end of his career alongside Wilt Chamberlain as their Lakers defeated the New York Knicks in five games to win the 1972 NBA Championship. During his career, he was given the moniker “Mr. Clutch” due to his ability to hit game-winners more than any other player.
Los Angeles Lakers #44 Jerry West Statue. Photo by the late Eric Wade/TGSports.
After trying his hand at coaching for three seasons following his retirement in 1976 he transitioned to the front office becoming the Lakers General Manager in 1979. That began a forty-plus-year reign as the greatest executive of all time.
West drafted Magic and James Worthy as he built the Showtime Lakers that won five NBA titles in the 80’s. In 1996 he lured a young Shaquille O’Neal to Los Angeles and made a draft day trade that brought in a teenage Kobe Bryant. That dynamic duo would be the foundation of the 2000’s Lakers that went on to win three straight titles.
“He’s known as the best GM ever,” said O’Neal. “One of the best players ever too.”
Years later West would move on to the Memphis Grizzlies turning their organization into one of the top Western Conference teams before moving on to the Golden State Warriors. Once in the Bay area, he put his imprint on the franchise drafting both Klay Thompson and Draymond Green as the Warriors went on to win two championships under his guiding hand.
Los Angeles ultimately had West's heart, and the legend spent his twilight years as an executive for the Los Angeles Clippers where he’d spent his last seven years turning them into perennial title contenders, a key instrument in getting Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
West was scheduled to be enshrined for a third time in the NBA Hall-of-Fame, this time as an Executive, Contributor to the Game. He previously had been inducted as a player in 1980 and again in 2010 as a member of the 1960 Olympic team. You’d be hard-pressed to find a man in any sport who has been inducted three separate times into a Hall of Fame.
West's accolades transcended the sports world, he was an icon outside of it as well, mentoring hundreds of young men through his immense caring character and likable personality.
“Jerry had a couple candy jars in his office. I’d watch people come by, take a piece of candy, and shoot the breeze with him,” said current Crypto.com and LA Live President Lee Zeidman. “I said to myself that if I ever got to a role where I’d be able to oversee something like Jerry does, I’m going to put some candy jars in my office.”
In 2019 West was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Donald Trump. It is the highest individual honor for a civilian.
A testament to his selflessness can be found in the story of him becoming the logo for the NBA. In 1969 the commissioner used West’s silhouette to form the iconic NBA Logo that has been an identifying symbol for the NBA over 65 years. Yet West didn’t want to be the logo, which was fashioned without his consent. He’s even gone as far as to say it would be a relief to him for it to be changed to either Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. His reasoning, he doesn’t like the attention. Character stories like those are why he was universally respected by the basketball community.
“I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry’s passing. He is truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me… Rest in Peace, Logo” said Jordan.
West leaves behind his wife Karen and five sons including his youngest Jonnie who married pro-golfer Michelle Wei-West. He also leads behind a rich legacy both on and off the court and the silhouette of a soul that will be forever engrained in the NBA.