Who Was Jerry West? The NBA Logo Player Who Passed Away
Jerry West, a huge NBA and Los Angeles Lakers legend, and even the figure immortalized in the NBA logo, passed away this Wednesday at the age of 86.
The Los Angeles Clippers, where he was working as an executive, announced his passing in a statement.
West only won one NBA championship (1972) as he repeatedly faced off against Bill Russell's Boston Celtics. Despite this, he became one of the most memorable players in the league, so much so that his silhouette formed the NBA logo (one of his nicknames is "The Logo").
West played 14 seasons (1960-1974) for the Lakers and became an unforgettable icon of the Los Angeles franchise.
Selected 14 times for the All-Star Game, West averaged 27 points throughout his career and is the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP (1969) without winning the title that year.
His impact wasn't just on the court as a player; his legacy in the Lakers' front office is equally important and impressive.
West was a major force behind the legendary Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, a glorious era known as "Showtime" for their spectacular and explosive basketball featuring players like Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, winning championships in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
He stayed with the Lakers' front office until 2000, laying the groundwork for the three consecutive championships (2000, 2001, and 2002) won by the dominant team led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Outside the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles, there stands a statue honoring West. Additionally, the Lakers retired his number 44 jersey.