NBA Champion, Executive Jerry West Dead At 86
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jerry West, a 14-time NBA All-Star, NBA Champion, renowned executive, and the inspiration behind the NBA logo, stands out as one of the most distinguished and decorated figures in the professional basketball sphere. Partnering with the late and legendary Lakers icon Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West reached the NBA Finals nine times within a span of 14 years. Despite their remarkable achievements, they faced stiff competition from the powerhouse Bill Russell-led Celtics dynasty. West managed to secure the championship trophy just once in 1972, known at the time as the Walter A. Brown Championship Trophy. Despite lackluster results in the Finals over his career, West was the third player In NBA history to score 25,000 points and stands alone as the only player to be named Finals MVP despite losing the series.
After concluding his illustrious 14-year playing career in 1974, West's influence on the sport evolved in various roles. Transitioning from a player scout for the Lakers for three seasons, he was later promoted to general manager before the 1982-1983 season. West masterminded the construction of one of the most celebrated eras in Los Angeles Lakers history, famously earning the moniker "Showtime Lakers," led by iconic figures Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. West was a pivotal proponent in shaping another era of supremacy, bringing in Shaquille O'Neal through free agency and orchestrating a draft day trade for Kobe Bryant in 1996. Under West's pre-set architecture, the Lakers would clinch another four titles from 2000 to 2010.
After a disappointing five-year stint with the Memphis Grizzlies, West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member in 2011. He added two titles to his resume and famously recruited Kevin Durant in 2016 before retiring the following season. West capped off his multifaceted career in executive roles, consulting, coaching, playing, and scouting with two Executive of the Year accolades and a total of nine championships spanning over eight decades of active involvement in the basketball world. West's legacy, both as a player on the court and as a front-office executive, will endure and leave a lasting impact on the basketball community.
