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NBA legend Jerry West has passed away at the age of 86 years old, according to reports. West is famously known as “The Logo” as it’s his silhouette that adorns the NBA’s official logo.
In addition to his Hall of Fame playing career with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry West was also an accomplished head coach and executive.
Jerry West has passed away at 86 years old.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 12, 2024
“Jerry West lived a profound basketball and American life — iconic as a player, executive and looming figure in the history of the game. He was an MVP, a champion, a gold medalist, a dynasty-builder and literally the league’s logo. His loss leaves a massive void,” said ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in a statement on Twitter.
During his NBA career, West was a 14-time All-Star and a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection. West won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. He was also the MVP of the 1969 NBA Finals despite the fact that the Lakers lost the series to the Boston Celtics.
After his storied playing career, West coached the Lakers from 1976 to 1979 before transitioning to the organization’s front office, where he was named Executive of the Year in 1995.
“I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you, ” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said when reporting on the news of West’s passing on the June 12 episode of Get Up!, “But one of the greatest figures in the history of American sports, one of the greatest players and one of the most important people in the history of basketball in this or any country has died. Jerry West has died at the age of 86.”
In the year 2002, West joined the Memphis Grizzlies as the team’s general manager. West remained in the position until 2007 and was named Executive of the Year, for the second time in his career, in 2004.
Following his time as the GM of the Grizzlies, West spent the latter years of his career as an executive board member and consultant for the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
In 2019, West was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Our thoughts are with West’s family, friends, colleagues, former teammates, and various loved ones during this time.