West, Jerry (1938-2024), was one of the greatest all-around players in the history of basketball. West was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1960. He went with the franchise when it moved to Los Angeles that year, and won fame for his scoring ability, ball handling, and defensive skills. West was voted to the All-Star team in each of his 14 NBA seasons. He retired in 1974 with 25,192 career points. The NBA’s logo is said to be based on West’s silhouette.
West was head coach of the Lakers from 1976 to 1979 and served as the team’s general manager from 1982 to 2000. West served as president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA from 2002 to 2007. He later served as an executive for the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
Jerry Alan West was born on May 28, 1938, in Chelyan, West Virginia, near Charleston. From 1957 to 1960, he played for West Virginia University, where he twice won All-American honors. West wrote an autobiography, West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life (2011). In 2019, President Donald J. Trump awarded West the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award is one of the highest honors the United States can give to civilians. West died on June 12, 2024.
