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NBA Hall Of Famer Jerry West Dies At 86

NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West passed away at age 86.

West, who played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was a 14-time All-Star and NBA champion in 1972.

While playing with the Lakers, he averaged 27 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game.

West left a major footprint in the NBA, and even the league’s logo is a silhouette modeled after him.

The news of West’s death was announced by the L.A. Clippers in a statement that read “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,” added the Clippers organization.

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Here’s what Fox News shared:

Jerry West was more than just a Basketball Hall of Fame player – he embodied the NBA, literally, when he was the inspiration for the silhouette in the league’s logo.

West spent his entire playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a champion with them in 1972, won the NBA Finals MVP despite not winning the title in 1969 and was a 14-time All-Star.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Clippers announced West – who had turned into a legendary front office executive in his post-playing career – had died. He was 86.

“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,” the team said. “His wife, Karen, was by his side.”

West wrapped up his playing career averaging 27 points, 6.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game. Among retired players, only Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor had higher averages. West averaged 29.1 points per game in the playoffs – only Jordan had a higher average.

Per Yahoo Sports:

Jerry West, the inspiration for the NBA’s logo, died peacefully at his home at the age of 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced Wednesday.

One of basketball’s most accomplished contributors, West was a staple of the sport across eight decades, winning nine championships as a player, scout, coach, executive and consultant. He was an architect of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 10 titles in the 1980s and 2000s and an adviser to the dynastic Golden State Warriors.

Long before West established himself as arguably the greatest general manager in NBA history, he was among the league’s first superstars. A legend of West Virginia high school and college basketball and co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, West made the All-Star Game each season of a 14-year career decorated with 12 All-NBA selections and five All-Defensive appearances, all for the Lakers.


 

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