Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West died Wednesday morning, the LA Clippers announced. He was 86 years old.
A 14-time All-Star and champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, West's silhouette is considered the basis for the NBA logo. He was the third player to reach 25,000 points in NBA history and has the most career points in the NBA Finals, according to ESPN Stats & Information. West reached the Finals nine times with the Lakers, winning in 1972. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 1969, even though Los Angeles lost to the Boston Celtics.
After his playing career, West found success as an NBA executive. He had a key role in the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. West signed Shaquille O'Neal and orchestrated the Kobe Bryant trade in 1996, setting up a new dynasty in Los Angeles. He also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors, and took on an advisory position with the Clippers in 2017.
The sports world paid tribute to West on social media Wednesday.
Former and current NBA players
Michael Jordan texted @stephenasmith to honor Jerry West.
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 12, 2024
"I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry's passing. He was truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me. ... Rest in Peace, Logo." pic.twitter.com/kvkXqqSf63
Will truly miss our convos my dear friend! My thoughts and prayers goes out to your wonderful family! Forever love Jerry! Rest in Paradise my guy! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🤎
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 12, 2024
My mentor, My friend! Hopefully I continue to make you proud! 🥲. You're already missed!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 12, 2024
Rest in peace, dear Jerry. Thank you for everything you have done and given to this game. pic.twitter.com/aScTL7WqL1
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) June 12, 2024
RIP Jerry West, I'll be always grateful 🙏🏽 Prayers up pic.twitter.com/9wp2yz6rIB
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) June 12, 2024
My guy Jerry. Brief interactions. But you could always feel the fire inside. May The Logo live on!! R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/rohRJlD8oE
— Coach Metta (@MettaWorld37) June 12, 2024
It was such an honor to play for and learn from one of the greatest in our game. Rest in Peace, Jerry West. #logo pic.twitter.com/vorXZOuIK2
— Sam Dekker (@dekker) June 12, 2024
Jerry West 💔💔 much love logo!!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Harry Giles III (@HGiiizzle) June 12, 2024
THE WORD "DOG" COMES UP ALOT... WELL I WAS A WOLF BC I USE TO EAT DOGS.! -JERRY WEST #RIP
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) June 12, 2024
RIH Jerry West. Drafted me in the 2nd round and gave me a shot as a young player that wasn't the better pg at the time. Always kept it a 💯 with me and I always knew where you were coming from. Prayers to the family!! Tough loss. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Nick Van Exel (@vanexel31) June 12, 2024
R.I.P Jerry 🙏🏾 Legends Live On #lakeshow #legend
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) June 12, 2024
The Logo. Damn, RIP Jerry. 💔
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) June 12, 2024
I met Jerry West for the first time in 1979 at the Forum where he introduced me to Bill Sharman, Chick Hearn, and then Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke. My father, agent and I negotiated over lunch then Jerry took me to the locker room to show me my Lakers jersey. I started to cry and... pic.twitter.com/o9xMDu50Wv
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 12, 2024
NBA and college teams
Honoring the legendary Jerry West pic.twitter.com/vN9gzMPVMc
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 12, 2024
https://t.co/sa1lh2I8PH pic.twitter.com/5b6IXYcNX0
— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2024
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. pic.twitter.com/iMwOXmCT2B
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 12, 2024
Jerry West was a Champion and a universally known athlete and executive in American sports history. One of the greatest and most influential players to ever grace the floor in the National Basketball Association, he was also the architect of some of the most iconic basketball... pic.twitter.com/RlU3rZXORd
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 12, 2024
USA Basketball mourns the loss of basketball icon Jerry West.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) June 12, 2024
West won gold medals with the 1959 U.S. Pan American Games Team & the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team.
He went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 & again as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be... pic.twitter.com/hwBrcasPaE
West Virginia University mourns the passing of the legendary Jerry West, an iconic figure in basketball history.
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) June 12, 2024
Forever a Mountaineer. pic.twitter.com/M4ZYxUBTEL
