NBA all-time great Jerry West dies at age 86

ESPN ^ | 6/12/2024

[hole_n_one]

Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning at the age of 86, the LA Clippers announced.

West was the third player in NBA history to reach 25,000 points, was an All-Star every year of his career and led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times, winning one title in 1971-72. He was also a 12-time All-NBA selection, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and part of the NBA's 75th anniversary team.

"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."

"... 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."

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Cassius Clay was never very bright, and was manipulated by people around him, but on the whole a decent individual. Lew Alcindor was an impressionable kid, but he never descended into racial bigotry (like Maxim Waters) or anti-Americanism like Angela Davis. He was fortunate to have John Wooden as a coach, and in some ways a mentor. He had to appreciate the white staff at Power Memorial, who helped him and other black kids. I just don’t think that Alcindor/Jabbar is a truly evil person, and not particularly racist, like MSNBC contributor Al Sharpton.

[Bob434]

Yeah, Sharpton and “the reverend” jesse are definately racists out and out. Oth of them are hugely responsible for the black community turning more hateful towards the white community.

In high school, I tried to perfect the “sky hook”, but never really got good at it- but still was fun sinking a few here and there.

Another idol of mine back then was Bob Cousey (sp?)- he was a phenomenal player too. Like pistol Pete, he would practice dribbling all the time, and passing, was fun to watch the other teams try to stop his dribbling/drives to the board

[dfwgator]

Ali was a Reagan supporter.

[Reily]

My big problem with Ali\Clay is in regard to the legacy he left sports. He is the originator of bad “sportsmanship & arrogance is cool!”. Yes, there were probably others but no one else had the public reach and the ability to make the PR splash that Ali could. Now everyone is a “show boater\hotdog” and people applaud and emulate. LeBron’s on court antics are the natural evolution to that. Sportsmanship what does that mean today? I guess even most the readers here don’t think sports lost anything when it lost “sportsmanship”! (Probably never saw sportsmanlike behavior!)