Jerry West, a three-time Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and the widely recognized silhouette believed to be the basis of the NBA logo, passed away Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Clippers announced.
He was 86.
Nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" for his late-game heroics, West was an NBA champion inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again in 2010 as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team. He was set to be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor.
The Clippers, announcing his death, described West as "the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him." His wife, Karen, was by his side. West had served as a consultant for the Clippers over the past seven years.
Throughout his 14-season NBA career, West was an All-Star each year, a 12-time All-NBA selection, a key player on the 1972 Lakers championship team, the 1969 NBA Finals MVP despite his team losing, and was named to the NBA's 75th anniversary team.
As a general manager, West built eight NBA championship teams with the Lakers, instrumental in creating the "Showtime" dynasty. He also contributed to the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Clippers. His achievements with the Lakers included drafting Magic Johnson and James Worthy, and bringing in Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Even in his later years, West remained a revered figure in basketball, often seen courtside at Summer League games in Las Vegas, warmly greeted by players like LeBron James. "The game transcends many things," West reflected, "The players change, the style of play may change, but the respect that you learn in this game never changes."
Ranked 25th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, West’s silhouette is widely thought to be the NBA logo, though the league has never officially confirmed this. "While it's never been officially declared that the logo is Jerry West," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted in 2021, "it sure looks a lot like him."
Tributes poured in following the announcement of West's death. The Los Angeles Dodgers hailed him as "an indelible figure on the Los Angeles sports landscape for more than 60 years," and the NBA planned a pregame tribute before Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.
"Jerry West is one of my favorite people that I had the honor to get to know in the NBA," said Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison. "He welcomed me to the league, offered advice from the first day, and asked nothing in return. He will be missed."
