Jerry West, a legendary Los Angeles Lakers outstanding guard from the 1960s who served as the model for the NBA logo, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86, according to the Los Angeles Clippers.
West was a member of the 1960 US basketball gold medal squad that competed in the Olympics in Rome. He played for the Lakers from 1960 to 1974, winning his only NBA championship in 1972.
Later in life, West worked as an executive for a number of NBA teams, most recently the Clippers, where his advice and network of contacts helped the Lakers win six of their eight championships.
“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 announced. “His wife, Karen, was by his side.”
The league plans to have a pre-game tribute to West before Wednesday’s third game of this year’s NBA Finals.
With impressive speed and quickness and a deft shooting touch, West was nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his skilled shot making under pressure.
“Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.
“He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons, but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments.”
In the 1969 NBA Finals against the arch-rival Boston Celtics, he received the Most Valuable Player award even though the Celtics beat the Lakers for the title.
West was an NBA All-Star in all 14 of his league seasons and the NBA scoring champion in 1970. His jersey number, 44, was retired by the Lakers.
West was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and was enshrined again in 2010 when the entire 1960 Olympic basketball team was inducted.
In October, West will be enshrined for a third time as a contributor for his work as an executive, becoming the first person ever inducted as both a player and a contributor.
In 1969, the NBA created its current logo, which was the silhouette of West dribbling a basketball, an image inspired by a photograph of West taken during a game.
“He was the league’s first Finals MVP and made rising to the occasion his signature quality,” Silver said.
“Jerry’s four decades with the Lakers also included a successful stint as a head coach and a remarkable run in the front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in sports history.”
For his career, West averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists a game.
– ‘Basketball sage’ –
West, who coached the Lakers from 1976 through 1979, would capture eight titles as an NBA executive, five with the Lakers in the 1980s “Showtime” era with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
He also was an executive for NBA champions with the Lakers in 2000 and Golden State in 2015 and 2017, before leaving to join the Clippers.
“This is a hard day,” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said in a statement.
“I’m honored to call Jerry a confidant, an advisor and a friend. Connie, my wife, called him my ‘Basketball Dad’.
“He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal and so much fun. If you were in his presence, you felt his competitiveness and his drive.
“He cared about everything and everyone. From the first day I met Jerry seven years ago, he inspired me with his intellect, honesty and enthusiasm. He never stopped.
“He always lent an ear and he always had a quip. He always left me laughing. I will miss him.”
Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to West for his iconic place in LA sports, posting on social media: “The Dodgers mourn the passing of NBA Hall of Famer and Lakers legend Jerry West, an indelible figure on the Los Angeles sports landscape for more than 60 years.”
In many ways, he was a lasting symbol of the NBA’s early days and many of its most glorious memories.
“I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life,” Silver said.
“On behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry’s wife, Karen, his family and his many friends in the NBA community.”
