The creator behind the iconic NBA insignia has passed away.
Jerry West, whose impact on the NBA spanned six decades, is known for his extraordinary influence that few have matched. His success took him everywhere it led, from creating dynasties to guiding the greatest basketball players in history as a mentor. On a Wednesday, "Mr. Clutch," at the age of 86, bade farewell to the world.
West, who served as the inspiration for the NBA logo, spent more than 60 years in the Association, playing, coaching, managing, and executing. A master of his craft, he transformed struggling teams into champions. Jerry West, a basketball icon, has been enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame not once but three times. The NBA mourned the passing of an unparalleled leader and one of the most influential figures in its history.
"Jerry West was a basketball genius who dominated the NBA for over 60 years," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "More than just an 'Mr. Clutch,' he was an NBA champion and All-Star for all 14 seasons of his professional career, making him one of the fiercest competitors the league has ever seen. Thanks to his four decades with the Lakers, his legacy as a leading figure in sports is unparalleled. We are privileged to have known him and offer our deepest condolences to his wife Karen, his family, and the NBA community."
The basketball community mourned the loss on the previous day. West has been an inspiration for every basketball player since the league's inception. The legendary Michael Jordan said, "Jerry's passing today has left me deeply saddened. He was like an older brother to me, a mentor who deeply influenced my career, and a friend who will always be dear to my heart. I wanted nothing more than to become someone he could be proud of. As much as he was one of the best, he also represented the ultimate friendship, leadership, and a love for his family and friends. Today, the world mourns the loss of one of its greatest basketball figures."
Unerring All-Star, Etched as a Champion
Ever the All-Star, Magic Johnson, who achieved his greatest triumphs under West, said, "Jerry West was more than a GM. He was a great companion and confidant. He was there in my glory moments, the five NBA titles, and in my darkest moments when I publicly disclosed my HIV diagnosis, providing unwavering support. He was not just a basketball professional but a great man who embraced his family, friends, and the game he loved. Today, the world's basketball fans mourn the passing of an all-time legend."
After gaining fame as a college star at West Virginia University, West was picked second in the 1960 draft by the Lakers. His move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles marked the start of an unparalleled professional career in Purple & Gold. Before making his NBA debut, he won gold for the USA at the Rome Olympics.
The young guard instantly shone with his athleticism, shooting accuracy, and defensive prowess, earning a spot in the All-Star Team and playoffs every one of his 14 pro seasons with the Lakers. He made the All-NBA Team twelve times and the All-Defensive Team five. In his final season, he ended with 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game.
West, still the only Finals MVP (1969) from the losing team, scored the most points in the Finals (1,679) to date. Year after year, West and his Lakers were unable to triumph over the mighty Boston Celtics. Eventually, in the eighth attempt in 1972, he achieved the elusive championship, sharing the trophy with Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Gail Goodrich.
The Greatest Manager of Time
West appeared in the NBA Finals a total of nine times, and only Bill Russell, Sam Jones, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more appearances than his 55 games. Apart from Michael Jordan (33.4) and Kevin Durant (29.3), West remains the only player to have a higher career scoring average in the playoffs (29.1 points per game, with at least 75 appearances). Upon his retirement from playing in 1974, he was the league's third-highest scorer with 25,192 points. Today, he still ranks among the top 30 scorers in basketball history.
After retiring from playing basketball in 1974, West took up the task of being a scout and assistant coach for the then-visionary Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke's request. For three years, beginning in 1976, he took over as the Lakers' head coach, winning 145 out of 246 games and leading them to the Conference Finals. Subsequently, in 1982, he shifted to being a talent scout before being named the General Manager of the team. It was under his leadership that the "Showtime" dynasty was built around the players like Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, with the team winning five championships in the 1980s and showcasing some incredible basketball. Pat Riley was the Lakers' coach at this time. The Miami Heat's current president emotionally paid tribute to his former teammate by reminiscing about their shared experiences back then, expressing how Jerry West was the one who significantly impacted his life.
He fondly remembered the time they spent together having burgers, milkshakes, and vanilla pudding with whipped cream before taking a power nap before an evening game.
In the 1990s, West revived the Lakers' glory once again by acquiring the draft rights to a 17-year-old high school player, Kobe Bryant, and bringing him to Los Angeles. Along with Shaquille O'Neal, they formed a nearly invincible star duo, coached by Phil Jackson, who was hired by West in 1999. The Lakers bagged three championships in a row in the years 2000, 2001, and 2002. While officially credited with the first championship, since West had resigned from his position in the Lakers' management after 18 years in the summer of 2000, the NBA community believes that he orchestrated the "Threepeat" after that.
Renewed Glory
In the period between 2002 to 2007, West embarked on the mission of turning around the struggling Memphis Grizzlies, who had lost more than 70% of their games every year since 1995, despite their existence. West wanted to take on the challenge of managing a team far less glamorous than the Lakers. The result was the Grizzlies experiencing their first successful seasons ever, making three playoff appearances in their history, and him winning the "Executive of the Year Award" for Manager of the Year - the second time, having won it previously in 1995 with the Lakers.
In 2011, he joined the Golden State Warriors' management team as Joe Lacob, the new team owner, wanted West to revolutionize the struggling Warriors and make them champions. West had a say in all crucial personnel decisions, laying the foundation for a Warriors dynasty. Hitting the jackpot with Klay Thompson's draft selection and the signing of Kevin Durant as a free agent, both these moves were voted among the best transactions in the NBA's history. From 2015 to 2017, the Warriors reached the NBA Finals five times in a row and won four championships - in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
West's stint with the Warriors came to an end after their second championship - a day he called one of the saddest of his life. In 2017, he moved to the L.A. Clippers as a board member and advisor, helping them recruit players like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and becoming a key factor in the team's emergence as one of the league's most successful ones. Since the 2017-18 season, only four teams have won more games than the Clippers.
Legends of Basketball
Few individuals in NBA history were as important and influential as West. Throughout his life, he was considered royalty in the world of basketball. His eccentricity, tenacity, and obsessive seeking for perfection kept him playing the game until his hands bled. During his childhood, he would throw a ball at a hoop nailed to the side of a shed, and if the shot missed, he would pursue the ball for minutes on end downhill.
In his memoirs, "West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life," he candidly shared his struggles with depression, which began when he was young due to an abusive father and a childhood filled with anger and lack of love. He challenged adversity by channeling all his energy into basketball to heal. The retirement of this giant in basketball was marked with an outpouring of love and tributes, including one from LeBron James, who admitted in a tweet that he would miss their conversations and extend his sympathies to West's family. His life was nothing short of a tale, given how it influenced generations of basketball players.
"I used to daydream," West once shared. "Growing up, our resources were scarce, but I'd sit on our front porch gazing at the Appalachians that towered above our home, imagining what lay beyond the peak. Today, I'm standing on the other side of the mountain, and my fantasies have turned into reality. It's all due to this hopping sphere..."
