Jerry West, the man who inspired the NBA logo, passed away quietly at home on Wednesday, June 12, according to a statement made by the Los Angeles Clippers. West was 86 years old.
West, one of the sport’s most accomplished contributors, was a mainstay for eight decades, having won nine titles in his roles as a player, scout, coach, executive, and consultant. He advised the storied Golden State Warriors and was a crucial player in the Los Angeles Lakers’ ten championships during the 1980s and 2000s.
What did NBA Commissioner Adam Silver say? Silver said, “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 was the league’s first Finals MVP and made rising to the occasion his signature quality.”
He was a 14-time All-Star, a 12-time All-NBA selection, part of the 1972 Lakers team that won a championship, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and was selected as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.
West was general manager of eight NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping build the “Showtime” dynasty. He also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors, and the Clippers.
‘Jerry West will forever be among the most accomplished people in the history of American sports,’ Greenberg said on X. ‘He was relevant and dominant in every decade since the 1950s, a player well ahead of his time, a visionary executive, and a role model for every generation that has followed in the path he created. RIP to the logo, no one who loves sports will ever forget you.’