NBA World Pays Tribute to Jerry West After Lakers Legend’s Death

The NBA world honored late Los Angeles Lakers great Jerry West on Wednesday after the news of his death at 86 years old.

West was an NBA champion as both player and executive, a three-time Hall of Fame selection and the inspiration for the silhouette on the NBA logo.

NBA legend Michael Jordan called West “a friend and a mentor” in his statement on West’s death.

“I always wished I could have played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate,” Jordan wrote.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James paid tribute to West on X.

“Will truly miss our convos my dear friend,” James wrote.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver called West “a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years.”

West was also honored by USA Basketball for his role in leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Other members of the NBA community posted their own tributes in honor of the late NBA legend:

West, who made his NBA debut as a player in 1960, led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals. He was named Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and helped Los Angeles to a title in 1972.

As an executive, he put together the “Showtime” Lakers teams that won five titles between 1980 and 1988. He then acquired Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 1996 and was with the team for its 2000 championship.

West, who retired as the third player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points, still ranks No. 25 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list today.