NBA NEWS:Jerry West – legendary NBA player and inspiration for the league’s current logo – has died, according to the Los Angeles Clippers. He was 86.
The Clippers said West passed away Wednesday morning with his wife Karen by his side.
“Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining character in our league for more than 60 years,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Wednesday. In addition to becoming an NBA champion and an All-Star every each of his 14 seasons as a player, he stood out for being a perfect competitor who relished the big occasions.
During his NBA career, he contributed to the construction of eight championship teams, leaving an accomplishment legacy that matched his superior play on the court. And he will become the first person to be admitted as both a player and a contributor into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this October, said Silver.
“The NBA extends its sincere sympathies to Karen, Jerry’s wife.
his numerous NBA pals as well as his family.
The Minneapolis Lakers selected West, also referred to as “Mr. Clutch” on the court, in the 1960 NBA Draft, just before the team moved to Los Angeles. Up until 1974, he was a point guard and shooting guard for the squad. During that time, he was selected as a 14-time NBA All-Star and assisted in taking his team to nine NBA Finals.
at addition, West co-captained the US basketball team that went on to capture the gold at the 1960 Olympics.
Following his playing career, he spent three seasons as the Lakers’ coach, starting in 1976, before turning into a scout and joining the team’s front office.
During his tenure as the Lakers’ leader, West assisted in two team rebuilding efforts: the first took place in the mid-1990s with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, and the second took place during the franchise’s “Showtime” heyday in the 1980s with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, among others.
Later, he assumed managerial positions with the Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies. Then-President Donald Trump gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.
Through a spokesman, former Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan expressed his profound sadness after hearing of Jerry’s demise. “He was really
both a mentor and a friend. like a bigger brother in my eyes.
“I treasured his companionship and
He had great basketball instincts, and I found a lot of common ground with him in our approaches to the game. His absence will never go away. My sympathies go out to his sons and his wife, Karen. Peace be with you, Logo.
The 13-year Lakers player Johnson wrote on X on Wednesday afternoon, saying, “Today is a sad day for basketball fans.”
“Jerry West was a wonderful friend and confidante in addition to being a general manager. Johnson noted, “He was there for me during my best times—winning five NBA Championships—and my worst times—announcing my HIV diagnosis and spending hours sobbing together in his office.
Jerry West was a wonderful man and a leader in addition to his achievements as an NBA executive and basketball star.Despite working for other teams, he was a lifelong Lakers supporter and a man of men. “Laker Nation, the only reason we have 17 NBA championships is because of Jerry West and his expertise drafting players, trading for players, and hiring the right coaches,” he continued.
