Basketball icon Jerry West, who won a total of 9 games NBA player and executive titles, passed away on Wednesday. He was 86 years old.
West is considered by many to be one of the best guards of all time. He participated Los Angeles Lakers in 1960, when they selected him with the second overall pick in that year’s draft. He was the Lakers’ first draft pick after they moved to Los Angeles.
West was named an All-Star in every season of his 14-year career, making the Lakers a perennial contender throughout the 1960s and early ’70s. He was also a prolific scorer. first, averaging 27 points per game, including over 30 PPG in four separate seasons. He won his first NBA Finals MVP award in 1969, but the Lakers fell short. Boston Celtics in the final that year. He finally overcame the odds in 1972, winning his first and only title as a player.
Two years after retiring, West became head coach of the Lakers in 1976. He moved into a front office role in 1979, becoming the team’s general manager. He arguably had the best career ever for an NBA executive, building the Showtime Lakers that won five NBA championships in the 1980s. He rebuilt the Lakers again in late 1990s, signing Shaquille O’Neal, trading for Kobe Bryant on draft night 1996 and hiring Phil Jackson. He won a total of six titles as an executive with the Lakers before leaving the team in 2000.
West continued to work in the league’s front offices after leaving the Lakers. He works as Memphis Grizzlies‘ general manager for 5 years (2002-07). He participated Golden Empire Warriors‘ front office in 2011, helping the franchise win two titles before leaving in 2017. He most recently worked with LA cutterjoined the team as a consultant in 2017. He was with the Clippers at the time of his death.
The most notable thing about West to many basketball fans is the fact that he is considered an NBA icon. The NBA logo is a silhouette of West dribbling a basketball, introduced by the league in 1969. As a result, West was appropriately nicknamed “The Logo”.
West leaves behind his wife, Karen. He also had five sons between his two marriages.
This story is developing and will be updated.
National Basketball Association
Get more from the National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get game information, news and more
