Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West, who was the inspiration for the NBA logo, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning at the age of 86. The news was announced by the Los Angeles Clippers, who West served as an executive.
“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. We send our most sincere condolences to his family and friends,” the Los Angeles Dodgers said in a statement.
West spent his entire 14-year playing career with the Lakers, earning All-Star selections in each season, as well as 12 All-NBA selections and five All-Defensive selections.
West led the Lakers to their first NBA championship in Southern California during the 1971-1972 season and was one of the best scorers of his era. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the first time in 1979 as a player.
Following his playing career, West remained involved in the Lakers organization and was eventually named general manager of the franchise prior to the 1982-1983 season.
He helped lead the Lakers to five NBA championships during the Showtime era and laid the foundation for the team’s three consecutive titles from 2000-2002 by most notably signing Shaquille O’Neal and trading for Kobe Bryant.
After leaving the Lakers in 2000, West spent five seasons as general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies before retiring as a full-time executive in 2007. He went on to serve as a consultant for the Golden State Warriors (2011-2016) and then the Clippers from 2017 until his death.
Jerry West set for third Basketball Hall of Fame induction
Later this year, West will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for the third time as an executive. He was previously inducted into the Hall of Fame a second time in 2010 as a member of the 1960 USA Men’s Basketball Team that won a gold medal in Rome.
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