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Younger fans often just know him as “the Logo” — because the silhouetted basketball player in the NBA logo is based on him — or as a consultant to the Warriors and Clippers in recent years.
That leaves out so much of Jerry West’s incredibly rich basketball legacy. West was one of the greatest guards to ever play in the league — a 14-time All-Star, NBA champion, 12-time All-NBA, the only player to win Finals MVP on the losing team, Olympic gold medalist, scoring champion, league assist leader, and part of the NBA’s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. He is one of the greatest Lakers and one of the greatest players the game had ever seen — and that was before he went on to be a GM of the Lakers Showtime era. West is up there with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell as the most influential people in the history of the NBA.
West died peacefully on Tuesday night with his wife, Karen, by his side, the Clippers announced. He was 86.
“Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “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’.
“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.
“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.”
West…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/hall-famer-lakers-legend-logo-144409145.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-06-12 14:44:09
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