Jerry West, the iconic basketball player and executive, passed away on June 12, 2024, at the age of 86.

JERRY WEST THE LEGEND

The great Jerry West, the Logo, one of the all-time Lakers’ greats. He’ll be missed, to his family pic.twitter.com/LgDpzbbWN2

— Global Infotainment (@Globalinfo333) June 12, 2024

West was renowned for his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played from 1960 to 1974, earning the nickname “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to make crucial plays under pressure. He was also famously depicted in the NBA logo. After his playing career, West served as an executive, contributing to the success of several NBA teams, including the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.

West’s career was marked by numerous achievements. He was the third player in NBA history to score over 25,000 points, earned All-Star honors every year of his career, and led the Los Angeles Lakers to nine NBA Finals, winning a championship in the 1971-72 season. West was a 12-time All-NBA selection and the first and only player to be named NBA Finals MVP while on a losing team in 1969, a testament to his extraordinary talent. He was also part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF BASKETBALL

His career spanned multiple generations of basketball, playing alongside stars like Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain. As a coach and executive, he worked with many of the game’s greats, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.

“Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “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.”

Silver added, “I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life. 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.”

NBA FINALS TO HAVE TRIBUTE

A pregame tribute to West is planned before Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

The Clippers, announcing his death, described West as “the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him,” noting that his wife, Karen, was by his side when he died.

After retiring as a player, West found success as an executive, constructing the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s who won five titles and forming the dynamic duo of O’Neal and Bryant. Although he left after their first championship in 2000, the Lakers went on to achieve a three-peat.

PUBLIC TRIBUTE STATEMENTS

“Jerry West is forever a basketball icon,” the Lakers said in a statement. “He brought Lakers fans their first championship in Los Angeles in 1972 and was integral to another six titles during his time with us. Our thoughts are with the West family and the many NBA fans who honor his legacy. Jerry West will always be a Lakers legend.”

West joined the Clippers as an advisor in 2017, aiding in the transformation of the team and the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, leading to the Clippers’ first Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021.

“This is a hard day. I am honored to call Jerry a confidant, an advisor, and a friend,” said Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. “Connie, my wife, called him my ‘basketball dad.’ He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal, and so much fun.”

JERRY WEST EXECUTIVE ROLES

West also held executive roles with the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. Joe Lacob, the Warriors’ co-executive chairman and CEO, praised West as “an incredible and unique individual.”

“He did so much for the NBA, the game of basketball, and each of the teams he was associated with during his unmatched career, including the Warriors,” Lacob said. “Jerry had a profound and immense impact on our franchise and was instrumental in our recent decade of success.”

West was a standout at West Virginia University, where he averaged 24.8 points per game and led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game. He also won a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics with the U.S. team.

MR. CLUTCH

Known as “Mr. Clutch” for his performance in critical moments, West was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be honored for a third time later this year as a contributor.

West remains the all-time leader in total points, field goals made and attempted, and free throws made and attempted in the NBA Finals, despite his teams’ struggles against the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

“Those damn Celtics,” he often remarked, reflecting on his competitive spirit.

West’s legacy endured until his final years, as he continued to be revered in the basketball community. He frequently attended Summer League games, where he was a respected presence among players and fans alike.

“The game transcends many things,” West said last year. “The players change, the style of play may change, but the respect that you learn in this game never changes.”

LeBron James paid tribute to West on social media, honoring him as a mentor and friend, and expressing that he was “already missed.”

MICHAEL JORDAN ON JERRY WEST

Michael Jordan said he considered West “a friend and mentor — like an older brother to me.”

“I valued his friendship and knowledge,” Jordan said. “I always wished I could have played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate. I admired his basketball insights and he and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game.”

MAGIC JOHNSON PAYS TRIBUTE ON X

I met Jerry West for the first time in 1979 at the Forum where he introduced me to Bill Sharman, Chick Hearn, and then Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke. My father, agent and I negotiated over lunch then Jerry took me to the locker room to show me my Lakers jersey. I started to cry and Jerry explained to me the expectation of wearing the purple and gold, how he saw my role, and how he envisioned me fitting into the organization. I’ll never forget that moment.

I met Jerry West for the first time in 1979 at the Forum where he introduced me to Bill Sharman, Chick Hearn, and then Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke. My father, agent and I negotiated over lunch then Jerry took me to the locker room to show me my Lakers jersey. I started to cry and… pic.twitter.com/o9xMDu50Wv

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 12, 2024