Jerry West. a Los Angeles Lakers legend, NBA icon and the inspiration for the league’s logo, passed away on Wednesday. He was 86 years old.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Serving as an executive board member and consultant for the Los Angeles Clippers since 2017, the team announced his death on X (formerly Twitter).
“Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86,” the Clippers said. “His wife, Karen, was by his side.”
Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86. His wife, Karen, was by his side. pic.twitter.com/iMwOXmCT2B
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 12, 2024
Known as one of the legendary faces in basketball, West spent 14 seasons (1960-74) as a player, three (1976-79) as the head coach and 21 years (1979-2000) as an executive for the Lakers. The West Virginia native also was the general manager for the Memphis Grizzlies and an executive board member for the Golden State Warriors before his most recent role with the Clippers.
During his long tenure in the NBA stretching to eight decades, “Mr. Clutch” won nine championships, was a 14-time All-Star, a 10-time first-team All-NBA honoree and was nominated into the All-Defensive first-team among a vast amount of other noteworthy accolades.
He won just one title in nine attempts in the NBA Finals as a player, losing six to NBA icon Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics. West won the Finals MVP award in 1969, still the only time a member of a losing team who has won it to this day.
While his playing career was not necessarily the longest, West is still near the top of the league in postseason stats. He recorded 4,457 points (ninth most), 1,622 shots (ninth) and 1,213 free throws made (seventh) in the playoffs.
As a general manager in Los Angeles, West constructed the historic “Showtime Lakers” which captured six NBA championships.
In the years leading up to his death, West was a strong advocate for mental health. Not shying away from his sharing his personal struggles, he lived through difficult times of depression.
Being recognized for his trailblazing efforts to the sport, West will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this October but as a contributor. He is already in the Hall of Fame as a player, inducted in 1980.
His impression on the league as arguably the most successful figure in NBA history will leave a forever-lasting legacy that will never be forgotten.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
