Not every basketball fan may know his name anymore – but his silhouette is certainly known: NBA great Jerry West has died at the age of 86.
The term “legend” is often used indiscriminately – but in the case of former basketball player Jerry West, it could hardly be more appropriate. West, whose dribbling silhouette has adorned the logo of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 1969, has died at the age of 86. This sad news was announced by the Los Angeles Clippers, for whom West played for a long time after his professional career.
A black and white photo of the deceased reads: “Jerry West, the embodiment of first-class basketball art and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86. His wife, Karen, was by his side.” No further details about the circumstances of his death were given.
West began his dazzling career in 1960 and quickly matured into a club icon of the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom he played until the end of his career in 1974. In 1969, he was given the honor of adorning the NBA logo to this day – which subsequently earned him the fitting nickname “The Logo.”
An icon even off the pitch
West’s time after his professional career was just as successful: he stayed in the sport as a coach, sports official and consultant and made history off the field. Under his leadership, the future superstar Shaquille O’Neal (52) was lured to the Lakers. Both as a professional and as an official, West ended up in the Basketball Hall of Fame during his lifetime.
West has also recently made a name for himself in pop culture. In the 2022 series “Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” a cinematic monument was erected to the heyday of the famous NBA team and West. In the HBO production, West was played by “First Man” star Jason Clarke (54).
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
