Jerry West, An NBA Legend On And Off The Court, Has Died At 86

Jerry West, the legendary National Basketball Association player and executive, died on Wednesday.

West, a 14-time NBA All-Star, was 86 when he passed away at his Los Angeles-area home. The news was revealed in an announcement by the Los Angeles Clippers, where West served as an advisor.

The stellar shooting guard from West Virginia was the rare player with two nicknames: Lakers fans knew him as “Mr. Clutch” for him coming through time again in critical situations.

But to many basketball followers, he answered to “The Logo” as the image of him dribbling a basketball was used as the silhouette which graces the NBA logo.

West’s impressive Hall of Fame career featured as much heartache as celebration, with the Lakers often finishing runner-up to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

The Celtics denied the Lakers six times from winning the NBA title, despite the valiant efforts from the unrelenting West.

When L.A. fell to Boston in the 1969 NBA Finals, West became the only player from an losing team to be named the series MVP, after averaging nearly 38 points a game.

West reached nine NBA Finals with the Lakers, but only in 1972 did it end with joy.

It was West’s lone championship in uniform, but he would go on the collect eight more as an executive with the Lakers and Golden State Warriors.

West coached the Lakers from 1976-79 after retiring in 1974, but his real impact came later when he became the team’s general manager. He successfully pulled the levers to acquire center Shaquille O’Neal and guard Kobe Bryant in continuing L.A.’s long string of success.

Oddly, West had issues accepting the accolades that went with him having such an impact on the Lakers and the NBA. In his book, “West By West, My Charmed, Tormented Life” he revealed how his athletic highs never eclipsed the depression and low esteem he constantly battled.

When West was in the Lakers’ front office, he would often stand deep in the bowels of the Forum, sneaking a peak at the game while looking conflicted on what was transpiring on the court.

It was the same demeanor he had as a player, as a smile of self-satisfaction was seldom revealed by West.

“He took a loss harder than any player I’ve ever known,’’ Chick Hearn, the longtime and late Lakers radio announcer, once said. “He would sit by himself and stare into space. A loss just ripped his guts out.’’

West, the co-captain of the USA basketball team for the 1960 Olympics, was a star forward at West Virginia before the Lakers drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick.

In a city that worships stars, West quickly become one as the Lakers were trying to establish their fan base after moving from Minnesota. West was the first ever pick of the relocated franchise.

West quickly became the marquee name the Lakers craved as he not only thrilled the hard-core fans, but he appealed to the casual followers as well with his accurate shooting, unflappable persona and dedicated pursuit of perfection.

West was such an integral part of the NBA for so long, that his loss was felt across the league, and really, wherever basketball is played.

“Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years,’’ NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons, but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments. He was the league’s first Finals MVP and made rising to the occasion his signature quality.”

West, who averaged 27 points a game in his career, will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in October. He’ll become the only person to be enshrined twice for their excellence.

West was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.