Wednesday, June 12, 2024 -Legendary NBA player and inspiration for the league’s current logo, Jerry West has died. He was 86.
The Los Angeles Clippers announced
that West passed away on Wednesday morning, June 12, with his wife Karen
by his side.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a
statement on Wednesday: “Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining
figure in our league for more than 60 years. 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.
“He helped build eight championship teams
during his tenure in the NBA – a legacy of achievement that mirrors his
on-court excellence. And he will be enshrined this October into the
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, becoming the first person
ever inducted as both a player and a contributor,” Silver continued.
“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.”
West known on the court as “Mr. Clutch” was
drafted by the then-named Minneapolis Lakers in 1960, shortly before the
franchise relocated to Los Angeles. He played for the team as a point guard and
shooting guard until 1974, and during this time he became a 14-time NBA
All-Star and helped lead his team to the NBA Finals nine times.
West was also a co-captain of the
US Olympic basketball team that went on to win the gold in 1960.
After his playing career, he coached the Lakers for three seasons beginning in
1976 before becoming a scout and then joining the front office of the
franchise.
During his time in leadership for the
Lakers, West helped rebuild the team, first during the “Showtime” Lakers era of
the 1980s with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy among
others, before rebuilding the team in the mid-1990s with Shaquille O’Neal, and
Kobe Bryant.
He later took on leadership roles with the
Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and the Clippers.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal
of Freedom in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump.
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