Basketball legend and former Los Angeles Lakers star Jerry West, who served as an inspiration for the NBA logo, passed away at the age of 86 on June 12. West spent his final years as a consultant for the LA Clippers.
NBA legend Jerry West dead at 86
The Los Angeles Clippers confirmed the passing of NBA legend Jerry West on Wednesday morning. However, the details about the cause of death are unknown at the time of writing.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Clippers wrote, “Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86. His wife, Karen, was by his side.”
Along with fans and co-workers, West’s former teammates also expressed their condolences. Pat Riley, a former teammate of Jerry West during their time at the Lakers, released a statement. He stated, “Today’s sad, sad news about his passing brought back many of those special moments with Jerry. Those beautiful memories came in a waterfall of tears; all coming so fast, so vivid, so etched in my mind.”
Further, reminiscing about the old days, he continued, “I was so proud to be there in his presence. I watched, I learned. He made me believe. Being in that aura of greatness was mesmerizing. I was told, ‘Pat, Just watch him and model yourself after Jerry.’”
Also known by his nickname “Mr. Clutch,” Jerry West always helped bring his team out of tough situations during important games. Back in 1960, he started his professional career for the Minneapolis Lakers, which soon moved to Los Angeles. In his 14-year career for them, West featured in the NBA finals nine times and also became an NBA All-Star player every year, as per BBC. He was also the co-captain of the Rome Olympic U.S. basketball team that secured the gold medal in 1960.
Following his player career, Jerry West also greatly contributed to rebuilding the team. He was the one mainly responsible for bringing in players like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, who eventually went on to take the Lakers to greater heights. The world will always remember Jerry West as a basketball legend, for his immense contribution to the sport as both, a player and a mentor.
