NBA legend Jerry West dies at age 86

One of sport's most accomplished contributors, West was a mainstay of the game across eight decades, winning nine championships as a person, hunter, coach, professional and consultant.

Jerry West, the enthusiasm for the NBA's brand, died peacefully at his home at the age of 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced Wednesday.

One of sport's most accomplished contributors, West was a mainstay of the game across eight decades, winning nine championships as a person, hunter, coach, professional and consultant. In the 1980s and 2000s, he advised the royal Golden State Warriors and designed the Los Angeles Lakers ' 10 names.

Long before West established himself as arguably the greatest general manager in NBA history, he was among the team's first giants. West, a star of West Virginia high school and college sports and co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, made the All-Star Game each year with a 14-year career that included 12 All- NBA selections and five All-Defensive appearances, all for the Lakers.

The only time the recognition has been presented to a part of the losing team, West received the 1969 Finals MVP award after he won one subject in nine of his nine NBA Finals appearances, and he heartbrokenlessly lost six of those same titles to Bill Russell's Boston Celtics. He averaged 37.9 items per game in a seven- activity damage to the Celtics.

" He took a lost harder than any person I've always known", soon and famous Lakers journalist Chick Hearn previously said of West. " He did sit by himself and gaze into space. A reduction only ripped his fortitude out".

Before the 3-point line, West was a dangerous sniper who was relentlessly competitive and set the bar for extra against the New York Knicks. His most famous picture was a 60-foot alarm beat that put Game 3 of the 1970 Finals game into overtime. He joined Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the team's second 25, 000- stage performers. West averaged 27 points, 6.7 points and 5.8 touchdowns for his job.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver referred to Jerry West as a "key player" and" a establishing player in our sport for more than 60 years." In all 14 of his playing years, he distinguished himself as an NBA fighter and All-Star as well as a great company who embraced the big events. He became the team's first Finals MVP and established his unique style.

The later Hot Rod Hundley previously described his own West Virginian and Lakers partner as" the greatest rival I've ever seen. I do n't care what you're playing, he wants to win. His name was' Mr. Clutch,' and he carried that nickname also, because every moment we were in that scenario, boom, he'd create that shot".

West, who half won Executive of the Year awards, had unheard of success as a decision-maker in NBA front offices as a result of his pursuit of perfection. Second as a hunter and then as GM, he helped create the five- period champ" Showtime" Lakers of the 1980s. West acquired Kobe Bryant's review right before he left the Lakers in 2000, laying the groundwork for five more titles starting in 2000-2010.

Before retiring as a full-time shot-caller in 2007, West spent five months with the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2011, he fought the Soldiers ' potential trade of Kevin Love for Kevin Love and their 2016 season by recruiting Kevin Durant. He most recently served on the executive board. West left the Soldiers after the following of their four tournaments in 2017, leaving him for the Los Angeles Clippers in the same power, which led to the signing of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George's business.

West will become the first person and source to be honoured in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in October as a source. He was even awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.

" Evidently, a great image for the sports world", Mavericks core Daniel Gafford said Wednesday at Dallas ' shootaround before Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals. " You know, not truly really knew too much about him, but only knew what he meant to the game of basketball, and of course, he's our brand — you know, we see him every time. Rest in peace with him, and we'll always remember someone who has already had a significant influence on the sports industry.

West's private life was not as enchanted as his sports career. He had a troubled youth because his older brother died in the Korean War in 1951, leaving him as the son of a West Virginia coal plant plumber. West served as a cognitive health activist in his early years, sharing his lifelong battle with depression in a New York Times best- offering 2011 narrative titled," West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life".

The respect and friendship of his contemporaries are regarded as the greatest respect a man you receive. You have that more than any man I know", Russell told The Forum group on" Jerry West Night" in 1972. " Jerry, you are, in every sense of the word, absolutely a hero. If I could have one desire granted, it would be that you would always be happy".

One of West's five youngsters, Jerry, is already a professional scouting for the Detroit Pistons.