Jerry West’s family releases a statement amid the outpouring of support following the NBA legend’s passing.
The basketball community is in grief following the death of NBA legend Jerry West. The 86-year-old former star of the Los Angeles Lakers, after whom the league modeled its emblem, passed away on Wednesday.
The outpouring of tributes to West has not ceased, with many recalling the life he led and the immense influence he had on both the sport he loved most and on humanity in general.
Amidst the overwhelming affection from everyone, West’s family published a statement on Wednesday night (h/t Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN).
“The love, support, and gratitude that we have gotten from friends, coworkers, and basketball enthusiasts worldwide is just overwhelming. Jerry was quite proud of his lifetime connection to the NBA.
He considered himself lucky to have been a part of the league’s rapid expansion as a player, coach, and executive.
Jerry’s greatest treasures were the deep friendships and mentorships he developed over the course of his 64-year career with players, coaches, and teammates.
We would want to express our gratitude to all of you basketball enthusiasts for your support. You fed his ferocious will to triumph—he accomplished it on your behalf.
Basketball legends and countless fans, including LeBron James of the Lakers and other legendary players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and former Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson, paid tribute to the all-time great as word of West’s passing spread.
“My friend, my mentor! I hope I can continue to bring you joy! said the four-time Most Valuable Player in the league.
“You’re already felt absent!” Abdul-Jabbar stated, “Jerry West embodied the qualities we admire in our best athletes: skills as a player, dedication as a teammate, and integrity as a person.
That is why he is the NBA’s logo.” “He served as my counselor and coach, but above all, he was a friend. We are all a little smaller now that a portion of the continent has split away.
I am aware of this. Abdul-Jabbar continued, “I want to express my sincere sympathies to Karen and the entire West family in particular.
The NBA is having a gloomy day. For as long as he has played, coached, and served as general manager, Jerry [West] has been a vital, dynamic force in the league, Jackson thought.
Jerry West’s NBA career
In the NBA’s history, very few players have amassed a resume quite like that of West. West’s accomplishments might last a whole conversation, despite the fact that he only ever won one NBA championship—the Lakers’ victory against the Knicks in the 1972 NBA Finals.
The first thing to note about West’s career in the league is that he was an All-Star in every season from the 1960–61 season to the 1973–74 campaign.
Jerry West never finished below 20.0 points per game, with the exception of his inaugural campaign with the Lakers.
Through 932 games, he averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists overall. His field goal percentage was 47.4%. West has more career win shares than Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, ranking 22nd overall with 162.58.
If there had been a 3-point line in place during his time, his 55.0 percent true shooting percentage could have been much higher.
However, West was more than just a scorer. He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times, and if the honor had been instituted sooner, he could have received more recognition.
This was West’s sixth NBA season, and the NBA had only begun to identify players to its All-Defensive Teams roster in 1968–69.
Even now, West is the only player in NBA Finals history to receive MVP despite playing for the losing squad.
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