LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Jerry West, a Hall of Fame basketball icon who won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers and was an executive during the Showtime Lakers era in the 1980s and later worked in the front office for the Clippers, has died at age 86, and his family is showing appreciation for the support of fans and friends today.
According to a statement from the Clippers, West’s wife Karen was by his side.
West’s wife and family issued a statement Wednesday night saying, “We are overwhelmed by the love, support, and appreciation we have received from friends, colleagues, and basketball fans around the world. Jerry took incredible pride in his lifelong association with the NBA. He felt fortunate to have been a player, coach, and executive during a time of explosive growth in the league. Above all else, Jerry cherished the close friendships and mentorships he formed with teammates, coaches and players throughout his 64-year career.
“We want to thank you, basketball fans everywhere, for supporting him. You fueled his burning desire to win — he did it for you.”
West, known as a player as Mr. Clutch, was the general manager of the Lakers from 1982 to 2000 and the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002 to 2007. He was a consultant with the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2017 and with the Clippers until his death. His impact on the game and the NBA was immeasurable, and his silhouette is still used as the NBA’s logo, earning West the alternate nickname “The Logo.”
“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, earning him the nickname ‘Mr. Clutch,'” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver posted on social media.
“Jerry’s four decades with the Lakers also included a successful stint as a head coach and a remarkable run in the front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in sports history. He helped build eight championship teams during his tenure in the NBA — a legacy of achievement that mirrors his on-court excellence. And he will be enshrined this October into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, becoming the first person ever inducted as both a player and a contributor.”
West will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Massachusetts for a record third time in October as a contributor to the game.
“I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life,” Silver posted. “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.”
West was inducted into the Hall of Fame the first time as a player in 1979 and then as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team in 2010.
The contributor enshrinement honors his work as a general manager with the Lakers and Grizzlies, in addition to his time as a consultant with the Warriors and the Clippers.
While in those roles, West won eight championships and was twice selected NBA Executive of the Year.
“This is a hard day,” Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said in a statement. “I am honored to call Jerry a confidant, an adviser and a friend. Connie, my wife, called him my ‘basketball dad.’ He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal and so much fun. If you were in his presence, you felt his competitiveness and his drive.
“He cared about everything and everyone. From the first day, I met Jerry seven years ago, he inspired me with his intellect, honesty and enthusiasm. He never stopped. I spent a lot of time with him, some of the best times of my life. He always lent an ear, and he always had a quip. He always left me laughing. I will miss him.”
West won an NBA championship as a player with the Lakers in 1972. He played in the NBA Finals nine times and lost six times to the Boston Celtics and twice to the New York Knicks. West was the MVP of the 1969 NBA Finals and is the only player to win the Finals MVP for a losing team. He averaged 37.9 points per game in the seven-game series against the Celtics.
He was credited as the architect of the Lakers in the 1980s and 1990s during his 18 seasons as general manager, including the deal that brought Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles. Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, paid tribute to West on Instagram, posting a photo of him with Bryant with a pair of purple and gold heart emojis.
Before joining the Clippers in 2017, West spent six years with the Warriors and helped the team win titles in 2015 and 2017. He also spent five years in Memphis’ front office, rebuilding the franchise.
“Jerry West was an incredible and unique individual, having accomplished immeasurable heights in the game of basketball,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob said in a statement. “He reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport as both a player and executive, something few can claim in the profession. 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.”
As a player, West was a 14-time All-Star with the Lakers.
On social media Wednesday morning, Lakers star LeBron James wrote, “Will truly miss our convos, my dear friend! My thoughts and prayers go out to your wonderful family! Forever love Jerry. Rest in Paradise, my guy! My mentor, my friend! Hopefully, I continue to make you proud! You’re already missed!”
Pat Riley, who coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990 and was a teammate of West’s from 1970 to 1974, said in a statement, “I loved Jerry West! We loved being Lakers together; it was sacred ground. We grew in life with each other and shared the best and worst of times together. We can only hope there is someone we meet during a crucial time in our lives that will change you in ways you could dream about. Jerry was that person for me.
“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. It was like yesterday after a shootaround at The Forum that we’d hustle to Hollis Johnson’s drugstore in Westwood to eat the best burgers, drink milkshakes and savor a great custard pudding with fresh whipped cream before we headed home to nap. Then it was game time and Jerry would kick ass in a way that was so skilled and relentless.
“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.’ He was smart, committed, opinionated, fearless, generous, ultra-competitive, stubborn, but with great grace. These were just some of the characteristics he embedded in my psyche.
“They emerged at the right time, honed by many years of self-talking Jerry reminders. Jerry kicked down that coaching door for me and said, ‘You can do this, but it has to be now.’ He knew, then he let me coach. I thank him forever and always for giving me that opportunity.”
The Lakers posted a photo of West on social media, showing him with his jersey hanging in the background, with the caption “Honoring the legendary Jerry West.”
“Jerry West is forever a basketball icon,” according to a statement from the team. “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.”
Fellow Laker legend Magic Johnson posted a lengthy tribute on social media, describing the first time he met West in 1979 and how West provided guidance during his first training camp with the time, noting that he “really critiqued every facet of my game.”
“After every practice, he would give me notes on how I could get better and those sessions carried over to the regular season,” he said. “Once a week we went over what I needed to improve and how I could dominate in the league. Those meetings meant everything to me because I learned so much from him.”
He added, “Beyond his basketball accolades as a basketball player and NBA executive, Jerry West was a great man, a leader of men, fiercely loved his family and friends, and despite holding jobs with other franchises, he was a Lakers fan for life. Laker Nation, the only reason we have 17 NBA championships is because of Jerry West and his expertise in drafting players, trading for players, and hiring the right coaches. Today is a sad day for basketball fans and sports fans across the globe.”
Former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote, “The reason Jerry West is the logo for the NBA is because he embodied the qualities we admire in our best athletes: skills as a player, dedication as a teammate, and integrity as a person. He was my coach and my adviser, but mostly he was my friend. Today, a part of the continent has broken off and we are all left a little smaller. I know I am. I especially want to send my deepest condolences to Karen and the entire West family.”
The Dodgers issued a statement on social media, saying, “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.”
Moments of silence in West’s memory were held before Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Dallas and the Dodgers-Texas Rangers game at Dodger Stadium.