Michael Jordan also mourns his "elder sibling".
Jerry West, a legendary figure in the NBA for over 60 years, has passed away at the age of 86. His success followed him throughout his career, as he built dynasties and mentored some of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" due to his ability to shine in the biggest moments.
The man who was the model for the NBA logo spent his entire career in the Association, first as a player, then as a coach, manager, and executive. He is credited with creating one of the most successful basketball dynasties, transforming struggling teams into champions and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame three times. Jerry West, the legendary basketball icon, died on Wednesday.
"Jerry West was a basketball genius and a dominant figure in our league for more than 60 years," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "He played as an NBA champion and All-Star in all 14 seasons as a player, and was an unparalleled competitor who relished the biggest moments. He was truly 'Mr. Clutch.' (...) Jerry spent four decades with the Lakers, both as head coach and in the front office, and cemented his reputation as one of the greatest leadership figures in sports history. I have greatly valued my friendship with Jerry and the wisdom he shared with me about basketball and life. On behalf of the NBA, we extend our deepest sympathies to Jerry's wife Karen, his family, and his many friends in the NBA community."
The entire basketball world paid tribute to West yesterday. His influence has spanned all generations of players since the league's inception. Michael Jordan wrote, "I am deeply saddened by Jerry's passing. He was a true friend and mentor, like an older brother to me. I valued his friendship and his wisdom very much. I always aspired to be like him, but the more I got to know him, the more I wished I had been his teammate. I have admired his approach to basketball, and we were very similar in many ways. My condolences to his wife and his sons. We will miss him forever. Rest in peace, Logo."
A Lifetime of All-Star Appearances, Finally a Championship
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who found his greatest success under West's guidance, said, "Jerry West was more than just a general manager, he was a great friend and confidant. He was there for me in my biggest moments, like the five NBA titles, as well as in my darkest, when I publicly announced my HIV diagnosis and we cried for hours in his office. He was an extraordinary person, a leader who loved his family and friends above all else. Today is a sad day for basketball fans around the world."
After starring as a college player at West Virginia University, West was drafted by the Lakers in 1960 as the second overall pick. The move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles that summer marked the beginning of an outstanding professional career for West in the Lakers' Purple & Gold uniform. Before his first NBA game, he won gold at the Olympics in Rome alongside Oscar Robertson.
The young phenom instantly established himself as one of the best guards in the best league in the world with his athleticism, shooting accuracy, and defensive tenacity. West made the All-Star Team in every one of his 14 pro seasons with the Lakers and the playoffs, was selected to the All-NBA Team twelve times and the All-Defensive Team five times. He retired in 1974 with an average of 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game.
West is the only Finals MVP (1969) from the losing team. To this day, no one has scored more points in the Finals than West (1,679). Year in and year out, he and his Lakers were defeated by the overbearing Boston Celtics. In 1972, after eight attempts, he finally achieved the long-awaited victory in the Finals, winning the Championship Trophy alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Gail Goodrich.
Considered one of the best players of all time, West made it to the NBA Finals nine times. Only Bill Russell, Sam Jones, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have played in more Finals games than West's 55. Only Michael Jordan (33.4) and Kevin Durant (29.3) have a higher career scoring average in the playoffs than West's 29.1 points per game (minimum 75 games). When he retired in 1974, he was the third-highest scorer of all time, behind Chamberlain and Robertson. Even today, he still ranks among the top 30 scorers of all time with his 25,192 points.
Following his retirement from professional basketball in 1974, West, prompted by the innovative Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke, took up the role of scout and assistant coach. During the years 1976 to 1979, he succeeded in becoming the Lakers' head coach, with a record of 145 wins and 246 losses and guiding the team to the Conference Finals. He also spent three years scouting for talent, after which he assumed the post of general manager in 1982. In this position, he built the legendary 'Showtime' dynasty centered around Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, and Worthy, resulting in five championships in the 1980s. The Lakers' head coach during this era was Pat Riley. The current president of the Miami Heat expressively eulogized West, praising their close bond, shared experiences, and the impact he had on his life.
The 1990s saw West resurrecting his beloved Lakers by acquiring the draft rights to a 17-year-old high school player and introducing Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles. Conjoined with Shaquille O'Neal, they formed an exceptionally formidable duo, managed by Phil Jackson, whom West recruited in 1999. The Lakers secured three consecutive championship titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002. While officially recognized with only the first one, the NBA fan base is convinced that West had also played a pivotal role in the subsequent "Threepeat."
Between 2002 and 2007, West assumed the position of general manager for the struggling Memphis Grizzlies. With an abysmal losing rate hovering at over 70% since 1995, he embraced the opportunity to steer a much less sparkling team instead of the vaunted Lakers. His efforts resulted in seasons of unprecedented success for the Grizzlies, their first playoff appearances in history, as well as earning him the "Executive of the Year Award" for the second time, in 1995 while he was still with the Lakers. [Translator's note: This text detail's Jerry West's unparalleled impact on the world of basketball, from his accomplishments as a player, such as being the only Finals MVP from a losing team and leading the Lakers to numerous championships, to his transformative work as a coach and general manager, spanning both the iconic 'Showtime' dynasty and the revival of the Memphis Grizzlies. It also alludes to his brief stint with the Golden State Warriors, creating a powerhouse team, and his subsequent role with the LA Clippers.]
In 2011, West re-entered the basketball sphere by joining the Golden State Warriors' executive ranks. New team owner Joe Lacob sought West's guidance to completely revitalize the struggling Warriors into a competitive force. He was involved in all personnel decisions and used his inimitable expertise to institute a Warriors dynasty. His vision included selecting Klay Thompson with the 11th pick in the draft and recruiting Kevin Durant as a free agent - one of the most successful transactions in NBA history. The Warriors reached the NBA Finals five times in a row and six times in eight years, and claimed four championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022).
West then departed from the Warriors after their second title, expressing that it was "one of the saddest days of my life." He joined the L.A. Clippers in 2017,functioning as a board member and advisor ever since. His contributions included the signings of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, helping establish the Clippers as one of the most successful teams in the league, appearing in four teams with the most wins since the 2017-18 season, and their initial Conference Finals appearance in franchise history in 2021.
Jerry West remains an unforgettable figure in basketball, with a profound influence on the sport that engulfed his life from an early age. A ratings poll conducted among NBA players collaborating at Summer League games in Las Vegas, renowned West as a person of inestimable worth – a veritable legend in the NBA. Iconic player LeBron James shares his sentiments, tweeting, "I will really miss our conversations, my friend. My thoughts and prayers go to your wonderful family. Love forever, Jerry. Rest in peace, buddy."
In his memoirs, "West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life," West later confessed that basketball served as his therapy. He described in the book a long-standing battle with depression, rooted in a abusive father and a youth lacking love, filled with fury. He regarded himself as worthless and channeled all his efforts into basketball to combat this sensation.
"I was a visionary," West once declared. "My family wasn't wealthy, but I'd stare out of our porch at the Appalachians beyond our home and envision what I could see on the other side of the mountain peak. Now, I've traversed to the other side, and my dreams came true. It's all owing to this rebounding sphere..."
