You cannot become a Los Angeles Lakers legend and the logo of the NBA if you didn’t make epic on-court contributions like Jerry West’s. This is why his death is a painful loss to the NBA community.
The 86-year-old member of the Hall of Fame is a beloved figure in the basketball world who devoted his entire life into making the game he loves a better experience.
The Los Angeles Clippers reported on Wednesday that the former player passed away peacefully, per Yahoo! Sports’ Ben Rohrbach. Some may think that this is a quiet but fitting farewell to one of the most influential men ever to grace the NBA.
Remembering Jerry West’s contributions to the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA
Credit: Getty Images
The Logo came into the league in 1960 as a 22-year-old guard coming out of West Virginia. He finished his rookie season with averages of 17.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game. He was also named an All-Star and ranked 12th in MVP voting, which is an impressive feat for a young player
He was voted an All-Star in every season of his 14-year career, was part of the All-NBA Team 12 times, and won the 1972 NBA Finals with the Purple and Gold as its MVP. His other personal achievements include being named to five All-Defensive teams, being the scoring champ in the 1969-70 season, and becoming the official logo of the NBA.
Credit: Getty Images
However, he didn’t limit his competitive fire to being a player. He also acted as a coach, GM, and team executive. Two of his crown achievements as an exec are bringing Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers and being one of the main architects for the Golden State Warriors’ dynastic run in the 2010s.
Everyone at Hardwood Heroics extends our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. West.
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