Jerry West was so great at basketball that he became the NBA’s logo.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend, who passed away on Wednesday at 86, also holds a place in basketball history that might never be replicated.
West made 14 All-Star teams, won the 1972 NBA championship and was named to the league’s 75th Anniversary Team.
But a prestigious award that West received in 1969 best captures his passion and power on the court.
The Boston Celtics won the 1969 Finals 4-3 over the Lakers.
While Bill Russell and John Havlicek wore green for Boston’s dynasty and took the series, West was the best overall player on the hardwood.
He averaged a superb 37.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds while playing 307 total minutes for the Lakers.
Los Angles fell one win short of the world title.
But West was impossible to ignore and he made history in 1969.
The Finals MVP award went to the best Laker, not the best Celtic.
Fifty-five years later, West is still the only player in NBA history to win Finals MVP while playing for the losing team.
West was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times.
He was the third player in NBA history to reach 25,000 points and led the Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times.
West was “the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him,” the Los Angeles Clippers said in a statement.
West was general manager of eight NBA championship teams and helped create the Lakers’ “Showtime” dynasty.
He later worked for the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Clippers.
West drafted Los Angeles legends Magic Johnson and James Worthy, then added Shaquille O’Neal with Kobe Bryant.
“While it’s never been officially declared that the logo is Jerry West, it sure looks a lot like him,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Celtics is Wednesday night.
Boston holds a 2-0 series lead.
West’s passing will shadow the Finals and he will surely be remembered as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
“Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years,” Silver said. “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.
“Jerry’s four decades with the Lakers also included a successful stint as a head coach and a remarkable run in the front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in sports history.
“I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life. On behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry’s wife, Karen, his family and his many friends in the NBA community.”
News Summary:
- ‘The Logo’ Jerry West still holds incredible NBA Finals record after 55 years that might never be replicated again
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