Jerry West

Jerome Alan West (May 28, 1938 June 12, 2024) was an American basketball player. He was thought to be one of the best guards who ever played in the NBA. He played from 1960 to 1974, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. He wore number 44, which was retired by the Lakers.

Jerry West
West in 1972
Los Angeles Lakers
PositionExecutive board member
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born(1938-05-28)May 28, 1938
Chelyan, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 12, 2024(2024-06-12) (aged 86)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1][lower-alpha 1]
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)[1]
Career information
High schoolEast Bank
(East Bank, West Virginia)
CollegeWest Virginia (1957–1960)
NBA draft1960 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers
Playing career1960–1974
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
Number44
Coaching career1976–1979
Career history
As player:
19601974Los Angeles Lakers
As coach:
19761979Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
As player:
  • NBA champion (1972)
  • NBA Finals MVP (1969)
  • 14× NBA All-Star (19611974)
  • NBA All-Star Game MVP (1972)
  • 10× All-NBA First Team (19621967, 19701973)
  • All-NBA Second Team (1968, 1969)
  • NBA All-Defensive First Team (1970–1973)
  • NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1969)
  • NBA scoring champion (1970)
  • NBA assists leader (1972)
  • NBA 35th Anniversary Team
  • NBA 50th Anniversary Team
  • No. 44 retired by Los Angeles Lakers
  • NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1959)
  • 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1959, 1960)
  • Third-team All-American – AP, UPI (1958)
  • SoCon Player of the Year (1959, 1960)

As executive:

  • 8× NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2015, 2017)
  • NBA Executive of the Year (1995, 2004)
Career statistics
Points25,192 (27.0 ppg)
Rebounds5,366 (5.8 rpg)
Assists6,238 (6.7 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1960 Rome Team competition
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1959 Chicago

West had scored the most points in a Laker jersey before Kobe Bryant ended his record in 2010. He is the model for the NBA logo. After playing, he was a coach and general manager for the Lakers. He was also the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and organized golf tournaments. He was originally from West Virginia.

His most famous nicknames are "The Logo", "Mr. Clutch", "Zeke from Cabin Creek" and "The Rover".

West died in Los Angeles, California on June 12, 2024, at the age of 86.[3][4]

References

  1. "Jerry West". NBA. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  2. "Jerry West Reveals His Actual Height". Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  3. Bontemps, Tim; MacMahon, Tim; Givony, Jonathan (June 12, 2024). "NBA all-time great Jerry West dies at age 86". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  4. Petski, Denise (June 12, 2024). "Jerry West Dies: NBA Legend Who Built Showtime-Era Lakers Was 86". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2024.

Notes

  1. West has stated that he is actually 6 feet 4.5 inches (1.943 m).[2]
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