Jerry West, the man whose form is shaped on the National Basketball Association logo, passed away at the age of 86.
A college star at West Virginia, West took the Mountaineers to the Championship Game where they fell to California, but West was so good that he won the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Collegiately, he was also a two-time All-American and two-time SoCon Player of the Year.
A member of the 1959 Pan American and 1960 United States Men’s Basketball Team that won Gold, West was drafted second overall that year by the Minneapolis Lakers, who promptly moved to Los Angeles. A Laker for the entirety of his career, West was one of the finest guards in basketball history, making 10 All-NBA First Teams, four All-Defensive First Teams, and fourteen All-Star Games. Echoing his Final Four MVP, West was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 when they lost to the Boston Celtics. West would finally win that title in 1972 when Los Angeles beat the New York Knicks. Statistically speaking, West averaged 27 Points per Game, won the 1970 Scoring Title, and the 1972 Assists Title, and was later named to the NBA 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams.
As phenomenal as West was as a player, he rose to greater heights as an executive. West took over as the Lakers head coach for three years (1976-79) where he brought L.A. to the playoffs each year and had a winning record (145-101). He moved on to the front office as a scout and took over as their General Manager in 1982. Under West, the “Showtime” Lakers were built and dominated winning six NBA Championships. He also set them up for future success, laying the foundation for their early 2000s success. West later became the GM for the Memphis Grizzlies and brought them to respectability and later won two more rings as an executive with Golden State.
West was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980, his first year of eligibility. He would later enter the College Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural 2006 class and entered the Naismith Hall a second time in 2010 as part of the 1960 Olympic Gold Medal-winning team. He was scheduled to enter a third time this year for his contributions as an executive.
We here at Notiinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends, and family of Jerry West.
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