Jerry West, a titan of basketball, has left us at the age of 86.
Jerry West was the NBA Finals MVP in 1969
At the age of 86, Jerry West, the basketball icon whose silhouette inspired the iconic NBA logo, has passed away by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Dubbed “Mr. Clutch” for his game-saving heroics, West was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again in 2010 as part of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team; this year, he will be honored for a third time as a contributor.
West was “the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him,” the Clippers said in announcing his death. West’s wife, Karen, was by his side when he died, the Clippers said.
He was a 14-time All-Star, a 12-time All-NBA selection, part of the 1972 Lakers team that won a championship, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and was selected as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.
West was general manager of eight NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping build the “Showtime” dynasty. He also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers.