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IT WAS NEAR midnight on February 27, 2020, when Jerry West found himself seated in his car outside his home in Bel-Air. He was reflecting on the prospect of retirement.
“At times,” West shared with ESPN, “I feel an urge to focus on myself.”
“There are moments when I think it might be beneficial to step back from involvement.”
As one day transitioned into the next, he remarked: “At times, enough is just enough.”
This topic would arise annually, sometimes during the season or perhaps in the offseason. Yet, it consistently presented itself for decades, as those close to him noted. There was a routine he would go through. He would proclaim that this year would be his last, insisting that he truly meant it this time. However, as a new season approached, West would contemplate the challenge of assembling a winning team, seeking out the right components that fit perfectly. His competitive spirit would ignite once more, prompting him to return for yet another opportunity.
This became somewhat of a longstanding joke, one source close to him mentioned — here was Jerry West discussing retirement after nearly sixty years in the NBA. However, according to those around him, West needed the game. They believed that returning to basketball would help restore a sense of balance within him, assuring them that Jerry West would indeed come back — because he always did.
Yet, during this specific period of struggle in 2020, those in his inner circle noted that the anguish was particularly intense for West, who was then an 81-year-old consultant for the LA Clippers.
Still in his car, West continued, ”Consider all the daily tragedies that unfold. You start to wonder, ‘Are you tempting fate by putting so much pressure on yourself in an effort to make a difference?’ … I thrive under pressure, but over time, I truly question whether it’s beneficial. I’m not sure — especially at this stage of my life.”
This moment came almost a month after the tragic death of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash.
In the spring of 1996, West, then serving as the Lakers’ general manager, observed Bryant’s pre-draft workout. After just a few minutes, he declared,“`html
“I’ve spent my entire life involved with teams,” West stated. “I’m a long way from basketball.”
This Sunday, West will be honored with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, recognizing his significant roles with the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as his consulting positions with the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers.
This will be his unprecedented third induction into the Hall; he was first inducted as a player in 1980, followed by his inclusion as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team in 2010. The ceremony will have a poignant undertone, as West passed away earlier this year on June 12 at the age of 86.
In a series of unreleased interviews with ESPN, West spoke about reaching a pivotal moment in both his life and career.
He revealed that he had been severely impacted by events from the previous summer, events that ultimately severed his last remaining ties to the Lakers, the franchise he dedicated 40 years to developing.
Throughout his career—as a player, a coach, and an executive—West played an instrumental role in elevating the organization to remarkable heights before this bitter conflict. Since then, he had hoped for reconciliation. However, in 2019, following his family’s involvement, one of the most iconic Lakers expressed a previously unthinkable sentiment, one he would reiterate both privately and publicly in the years to come.
“I almost wish,” West confessed to ESPN, “that I had never played or worked for them.”
Jerry West began his role with the LA Clippers in 2017. Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER, on July 9, 2019, the Clippers caused a stir in the NBA by acquiring Kawhi Leonard, the top free agent who had just led Toronto to a championship.
Inside the Clippers’ organization, excitement surged, while the Lakers experienced frustration. Both teams had vied for Leonard, who wished to return to his Southern California roots, but he opted for the franchise sharing their arena—one that, for decades, was mostly recognized for its history of losses.
The day after Leonard’s decision to join the Clippers, the team traded for superstar swingman Paul George, instantly positioning themselves as title contenders.
Later that month, on July 27, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Jerry West’s son, Ryan, who had spent a decade with the Lakers and most recently held the role of director of player personnel, was departing the organization.
Sources within the team clarified that Ryan was not leaving of his own free will. According to two sources familiar with the situation, his exit was related to a perceived lack of growth opportunities within the franchise, as reported by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Jerry, however, viewed the situation differently.
“They let him go because of me,” he stated just a week after Ryan’s departure.
He regarded his son, who now works as a pro personnel scout for the Detroit Pistons, as collateral damage in his disputes with Lakers leadership.
The Lakers chose not to comment for this article.
West mentioned that he apologized to Ryan, whom he“`html
Standing at a lectern on stage, West expressed gratitude to the event organizers and shared insightful, humorous anecdotes about Murray, the legendary sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times, whom West had previously dubbed “The Michael Jordan of sportswriters.” As he wrapped up his five-minute speech, he paused to look over the room at a group of college students from different parts of the country who had been awarded scholarships from the foundation.
“I don’t know if you enjoy reading,” he remarked. “I despised school because I had no desire to read. Nowadays, all I do is read, but I do it to learn.”
He concluded his speech shortly thereafter, yet West’s thoughts lingered on the most recent episode in his ongoing dispute with the Lakers.
It had been a week since the team had severed their last remaining connection with him, breaking a promise made by the franchise’s patriarch.
“Can you believe they took my tickets away?” West murmured quietly at his table. “I just can’t fathom it.”
For weeks, West and his family had eagerly awaited a mail delivery that had come every preseason for nearly two decades: four season tickets to all 41 Lakers home games at Staples Center.
The tickets were highly coveted — situated in section 101, row 8, seats 1-4, right along the aisle behind the scorer’s table and close to midcourt. They provided West and his family an exceptional view of the team for which he played 14 All-Star seasons starting in 1960 (winning a championship in 1972) and later served as general manager for 18 years (during which they clinched five more titles). They could see the team’s retired jerseys, including West’s No. 44.
“Those were always Jerry’s seats,” recalled a longtime former Lakers staff member.
West had stated that these tickets were promised to him by Dr. Jerry Buss, the Lakers’ owner when he left the team in 2000. West claimed Buss had specifically assured him that he would have the tickets as long as the Buss family owned the team. Buss passed away in February 2013. One source close to the Buss family mentioned they were unaware of this specific promise, but acknowledged it aligned with Buss’s intentions.
“He always wanted to ensure Jerry was taken care of,” the source noted.
However, as the season’s opener on October 22 approached, and with the tickets still not arrived, West began to brace for the worst.
Following unsuccessful attempts to connect with Tim Harris, the Lakers’ president of business operations, West reported that his family received an email from Dan Grigsby, the team’s general counsel, stating they could request tickets on a game-by-game basis and would be accommodated.
West perceived the cancellation of the season tickets as a personal affront — “That’s about as low as you can go,” he later asserted.
Several Lakers executives were taken aback upon learning of the situation, which quickly spread throughout the organization.
“You don’t just take something away without any justification — especially considering who it was taken from,” remarked one team insider at the time.
West aimed to bring the story to the public’s attention — and parts of it did surface. Yet, those familiar with West and the Lakers’ internal dynamics regarded it as a minor but ultimately inconsequential development in the long-standing tension between West and the Lakers’ leadership.
For West, it symbolized something far more significant.
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and West, along with the relationship between West and Rambis’ wife, Linda, who is the Lakers’ executive director of special projects and a close confidant of Jeanie Buss, now serving as the team’s governor.
In the following months, a new factor heightened the tension: the romantic involvement between Jeanie and Jackson, a relationship that made West uneasy, prompting him to share his concerns privately with trusted associates. Eventually, his dissatisfaction made its way back to Jeanie.
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As time went on, the rift between West and the team’s management widened, with West feeling increasingly alienated from the only NBA franchise he had ever been a part of. After the team’s sixth championship with him in an executive capacity, he retired in 2000. “I felt undervalued by the leadership, and leadership is ownership,” West revealed to the L.A. Times. “As we transitioned from the Forum to Staples Center, I found myself asking, ‘What am I doing here? What am I doing to myself?’ It felt destructive, with a new drama each day. Leaving was the greatest relief of my life.”
Two years later, West became the general manager of the Grizzlies and joined the Warriors as a consultant in 2011. Throughout this time, however, he continued to root for the Lakers, according to sources close to him. In 2017, West began to entertain hopes not just for reconciliation but also for a possible reunion. That February, the Lakers executed a significant overhaul of their front office, resulting in Jeanie firing her brother, Jim, alongside longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak.
While West was still with the Warriors, he anticipated a call from the Lakers, but it never came.
“There were moments when I thought I might have the opportunity to return, or that they would consider bringing me back,” West told “The Dan Patrick Show” in June 2017. “But that never materialized. I wouldn’t exactly say I was disappointed at times, but it did convey a message to me.”
According to one source close to West, “I can confirm that [Jerry] would have liked to come back, but they had no intention of bringing him on board again.”
Instead, that spring, the Lakers appointed Rob Pelinka, who had been Bryant’s agent, and Magic Johnson, who had led the Lakers during the iconic Showtime era of the 1980s. In June,It’s so intense when you desperately want a team to succeed, so intensely,” West remarked.
His routine had become a habit. At Clippers games, West would position himself behind the basket closest to the Clippers’ bench, not far from owner Steve Ballmer, who occupied a spot along the baseline.
The contrast between the two men was remarkable: Ballmer in the limelight, cheering exuberantly and making animated gestures; West, composed and almost hidden from sight. Occasionally, Ballmer would approach him to ask for his insights.
West consistently had valuable insights to offer, as Ballmer shared with ESPN. It could be a minor observation. “He could watch anyone shoot,” Ballmer said, ”and he’d comment, ‘Oh wow, that guy needs to adjust his thumb by a quarter of an inch.’ Alternatively, he might critique someone’s defensive play. ’He’s not putting in the effort. He completely missed the angle, and he failed this assignment.’
His honesty was striking, with the competitive spirit still alive within him at 81.
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In some instances during halftime, West would step into the owner’s room across from the Clippers locker room to discuss strategies with Ballmer. Other times, his frustration kept him away. Regardless of the game’s outcome, West would exit before the final buzzer, discreetly slipping into the nearest tunnel with his head lowered, as if trying to escape the rain. Nearby fans would shout “Logo!” but West seldom broke his focused pace.
He would leave the venue where his statue—revealed in 2011—stands outside, and commence the nearly 17-mile journey from downtown Los Angeles to his home in Bel Air, where he would examine the box scores from the day’s games and read articles from around the league.
West never enjoyed restful sleep, even as a young boy, always driven by an almost boundless supply of energy and restlessness. In bed, basketball was ever-present. Thoughts, questions, and recollections flooded his mind, preventing him from sleeping for hours. “Even now, I dream of games,” he shared in February 2020.
This nightly routine persisted for years, but he found respite in reading. As a child, he savored Field & Stream magazine and books on big-game hunting in Africa. However, in 1951, his older brother David tragically lost his life in the Korean War, marking a pivotal moment in West’s journey. He found comfort in shooting hoops with David’s basketball and sought understanding through reading about war, military leaders, and dictators. He explored works about Lincoln, Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, and Hitler, delved into the accounts of cartels in Mexico and Colombia, and devoured the latest historical narratives by David Halberstam, alongside the writings of Joan Didion, John McPhee, Joseph Campbell, and Bernard Malamud.
“As you progress in life, being ill-informed about many subjects, especially history, is a terrible thing,” he remarked. “I’ve always been inquisitive about everything in my life. I mean“`html
/>Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and West forged a close relationship during his tenure as a consultant for the team. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
WEST COULDN’T HAVE anticipated the significant changes that would unfold just weeks afterward.
Shortly after he began contemplating leaving the game, the NBA suspended its season following Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive COVID-19 test prior to a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although West continued to communicate daily with the Clippers’ leadership, there was uncertainty about when games would resume or what the future would hold. West noted that the hiatus allowed him to feel revitalized.
“Honestly, this has truly opened my eyes,” West remarked. When reflecting on his potential departure from the game, he expressed, “You know, I was considering that one more year wouldn’t hurt me.” His desire was to witness the Clippers capture a championship. “That would be an extraordinary way to depart from the game,” he stated.
He was enthusiastic about their plans for a new arena. “It’s going to be something special,” he declared. He heaped praise on Ballmer. “He is simply a fantastic individual. His philanthropic efforts are immense, and his wife mirrors his generosity. They are incredibly giving.” Conversations with Ballmer reminded him of his time spent with Dr. Buss, where they would engage in lengthy discussions about building something remarkable with the Lakers.
“He’s just like Jerry Buss,” West said. “Except he’s considerably wealthier.”
Although West appreciated his time away, the familiar urge to return to the game emerged once again.
On May 22, 2020, West acknowledged that he was ready to come back.
“I’m still capable,” he affirmed, “and I’m still performing. I know when I’m not at my best. Nobody needs to tell me. I simply love winning. More importantly, I enjoy the process of contributing and being involved in building a team that can compete every year.”
“I’ll recognize when it’s time for me to bid farewell,” West asserted. “Trust me, I will.”
Continuing his role with the Clippers, the divide between him and the Lakers widened.
In December 2020, a voicemail surfaced in which West could be heard expressing to a confidant that the Lakers were a “s— show.” In an April 2021 podcast with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Jeanie Buss mentioned her five most significant Lakers, naming Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Phil Jackson. A month later, during a conversation with journalist Peter Vescey, West referred to his exclusion from Buss’s list as “one of the most offensive things I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Some individuals close to West downplayed her remarks, noting that she hadn’t even included her father among the top five most important Lakers of all time. However, for West, it was yet another perceived slight.
In 2022, West shared with The Athletic regarding his career, “One disappointing aspect is that my relationship with the Lakers is terrible. I still don’t understand why. Ultimately, when I reflect, I think, ‘Perhaps I should have played somewhere else, where my contributions and dedication would have been appreciated.'”
Reconciliation never materialized.
At 7:27 a.m. on June 12, the Clippers announced West’s passing, stating that his wife, Karen, was beside him. The Clippers subsequently released heartfelt statements from the team, Ballmer, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, and Lawrence“`html
p.m.
All times Eastern
His No. 44 adorns the wall of the team’s practice facility. Prior to the tipoff of the Lakers’ first preseason game on October 4 in Palm Desert, the team honored West’s contributions and observed a moment of silence. This season, the Lakers will don a commemorative No. 44 band on the left shoulder of their uniforms. During the opening night on October 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers will celebrate West’s legacy with an in-game tribute and present a No. 44 jersey to every Lakers fan in attendance. Additionally, this Sunday, the team intends to hold events at the Hall of Fame to pay homage to West and former Lakers guard Michael Cooper, who is also being inducted.
Two weeks following West’s passing, Clippers front office members convened in a conference room at the team’s practice facility in Playa Vista, California. The NBA draft — an event that West had cherished for years — was about to begin. During interviews with draft prospects, West would always pinpoint aspects of their game that could be improved — and he was never shy about it. At the combine, West and Ballmer would sit together, with West sharing insights on everything he observed.
However, during the late June draft in the room designated for decision-making, the Clippers executives were met with an empty chair, kept vacant in West’s honor.
On the back of that chair hung a jacket similar to those West frequently wore. On the table before it lay an NBA ball imprinted with West’s dribbling silhouette and a white cap embossed with the words “LOGO” in bold blue-and-white lettering. Accompanying these mementoes was a small plaque inscribed with a quote:
“I enjoy winning, but more importantly, I enjoy the people I’m around. – Jerry West.”
MONTHS LATER, on a Friday afternoon in early September, Ballmer occupied his second-floor office at the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. During a speakerphone conversation, he was asked to reflect on his memories of hiring West in 2017. Ballmer provided a detailed reminiscence that lasted seven and a half minutes.
He reminisced about his first encounter with West in July 2014, just two months after Ballmer purchased the Clippers for $2 billion. Having traveled to Las Vegas for the NBA’s annual summer league, he encountered West, who was still affiliated with the Warriors, during one of the many meetings among team and league officials.
“You paid too much for the team,” West teased, lightly ribbing Ballmer.
Ballmer chuckled. Yet, as he acclimated to his role, his college roommate, Dennis Wong — a former minority owner of the Warriors who had become a minority owner of the Clippers — advised, “We need a guy like Jerry West.” They brainstormed various names but found no suitable options. Then, three years later, in the summer of 2017, West’s tenure with the Warriors concluded.
“What about Jerry West?” Ballmer and Wong suggested to one another.
West and Ballmer convened in a suite at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, where they discussed the team, their ambitions, and each other’s perspectives. “It felt right,” Ballmer remarked. “The chemistry was positive.” They finalized an arrangement for West to serve as a consultant, which aligned with his desire to step back and contribute his voice without being the central figure.
Ballmer always recognized the tremendous
in the roles we could play.”
As Ballmer recounted tales about West, he fluctuated between the present and past tenses. At times, prolonged pauses were necessary for him to regain his composure, with his voice frequently breaking. Nevertheless, he pressed on, endeavoring to express how significant West was to him. “I loved working with Jerry — loved, loved, loved working with Jerry,” Ballmer remarked. “He was simply a remarkably, remarkably special human being to me.”
Ballmer reflected on how he wished to remember West and how he hoped others would do the same. The idea of West’s legacy weighed heavily on many who were close to him. They recognized that West could be complex, experiencing both good days and bad. His recent depiction in the HBO series “Winning Time” greatly annoyed many in his close circle, particularly West himself, as it portrayed him as an exaggerated caricature during the Lakers’ Showtime era. Those around him felt this misrepresented his generosity, humor, and warmth. More importantly, it signified another wound for a man already enduring countless others.
Ballmer perceived West differently. He was indeed a legend who had crafted arguably the most illustrious career in basketball history, but he was also a friend, someone who could always make him laugh.
When the announcement came that West would be inducted into the Hall of Fame for the third time, Ballmer extended his congratulations, but West merely shrugged it off, expressing uncertainty about the reason for this latest induction.
Reflecting on their time together, Ballmer acknowledged two regrets. “Regret number one,” he stated, “Jerry and I often talked about playing some golf, yet we never did. Regret number two: Jerry thought I wasn’t a very stylish dresser. One time, he gifted me shirts and even joked about getting me a suit because he believed my attire was lacking. I regret that we never accomplished that. We never got that suit.” As he reminisced, his body shook with laughter, yet his voice faltered, caught in his throat, prompting him to take a moment to compose himself.
Ballmer mentioned that the team’s practice of asking, “What do you think Jerry would say about this one?” would continue for quite some time. West consistently expressed his desire for the Clippers to win, as he cherished the people there, and it would mean so much to their devoted fans, the city of Los Angeles, and to Ballmer.
The Clippers offered West a welcoming environment when he lost his place with the Lakers, making him feel valued at a time when he needed it the most. “It’s not easy to face rejection,” West said in February 2020. “And I’ve endured my share of it.” He attempted, as best he could, to look toward the future. There was always another season.
On June 2, he and Ballmer discussed the upcoming season while Ballmer drove through Seattle, where he resides. It was a bright and beautiful day, Ballmer recalled. “I remember it very vividly.” West shared particularly encouraging news: his health was on the mend. “I’ve got this thing,” he informed Ballmer. “I’m coming back.”
West was filled with anticipation. He intended to be there for opening night once more.
Just ten days later, he was gone.
Jerry West: A Legacy of Unmatched Passion and Heartbreak in the NBA
Early Life and Rise to Stardom
Jerry West, born on May 28, 1938, in Chelyan, West Virginia, showcased a natural talent for basketball from a young age. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, he dominated the court during his high school years, leading his team to a state championship. West’s prowess earned him a scholarship to West Virginia University, where he further honed his skills. He led the Mountaineers to the NCAA championship game in 1959, ultimately losing to California in a heartbreaking fashion, a foreshadowing of the heartbreaks to come in his professional career.
The NBA Career
Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1960, Jerry West quickly became a linchpin for the franchise. His scoring ability, combined with a relentless work ethic, allowed him to achieve remarkable success. Throughout his career, West was known for his exceptional shooting, court vision, and competitive spirit.
Key Achievements
- 14-time NBA All-Star (1961–1974)
- 1969 NBA Finals MVP
- NBA scoring champion in 1970
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980
- Member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
Heartbreaks in the Finals
Despite being one of the most decorated players in NBA history, West’s career was marked by a series of near-misses in the NBA Finals. He reached the Finals nine times with the Lakers but only secured one championship in 1972. This pattern of heartbreak began to shape West’s narrative in the league.
1970 NBA Finals
In the 1970 Finals, the Lakers faced the New York Knicks. Despite West’s heroic efforts, including an iconic performance where he averaged 38 points per game, the Lakers fell short in a thrilling seven-game series. West’s frustration was palpable, and his desire to win only deepened.
Emotional Impact of Losses
These defeats haunted West, influencing his later career decisions. His competitive nature drove him to pursue excellence, and this was evident not just in his playing days but also in his roles as a coach and executive.
Transition to Coaching and Executive Roles
After retiring in 1974, Jerry West transitioned into coaching and later became a front-office executive. His basketball IQ and understanding of the game allowed him to excel in these roles. He served as the head coach of the Lakers for a brief period before moving into the executive realm, where his impact was profound.
Success as an Executive
As a general manager for the Lakers, West was instrumental in building championship teams. He played a pivotal role in drafting stars like Magic Johnson, who would help the franchise secure multiple championships in the 1980s. His eye for talent and strategic thinking established a legacy that would influence the NBA for decades.
The ‘Logo’ of the NBA
Jerry West’s silhouette serves as the NBA’s logo, symbolizing his impact on the game. This iconic image reflects not just his skill as a player but also his enduring legacy in professional basketball. The logo is a tribute to West’s contributions, both on and off the court.
Contributions Beyond the Court
West’s work ethic and passion for basketball extend beyond championships and accolades. His dedication to the game has inspired many. Here are some notable contributions:
- Mentorship: West has mentored countless players and executives, sharing his wealth of knowledge.
- Advocacy for Players: He has been a vocal advocate for player rights and welfare in the NBA.
- Community Involvement: West has engaged in various charitable efforts, focusing on youth sports and development.
Personal Reflections and Legacy
In interviews, West has candidly discussed the emotional toll of his career, especially the disappointments. He often reflects on the importance of resilience and the drive to overcome adversity, lessons that resonate with many aspiring athletes.
Case Study: Overcoming Adversity
One of the most poignant moments in West’s life was his reflection on the 1969 Finals loss. Despite the heartbreak of failing to win a championship, he learned to channel that pain into motivation. This mindset has been vital in his professional life, showcasing how setbacks can fuel future success.
Benefits of Jerry West’s Approach to Basketball
Jerry West’s journey in the NBA offers valuable insights for players and executives alike:
- Work Ethic: West’s relentless commitment to improvement is a cornerstone for success.
- Resilience: Learning to cope with losses is crucial for long-term success in sports.
- Visionary Thinking: West’s ability to see potential in players and strategies has made him a successful executive.
First-Hand Experiences and Anecdotes
Many players have shared anecdotes about Jerry West’s influence, often highlighting his approachability and willingness to help. Former Lakers player Shaquille O’Neal recalled how West’s guidance helped him develop his game during his early years in the NBA.
Jerry West’s Impact on Modern Basketball
Today, West’s philosophy continues to shape the NBA. With a focus on teamwork, strategic thinking, and resilience, his legacy lives on in the strategies employed by teams across the league.
Jerry West’s Career Highlights
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1960-1974 | 14-time NBA All-Star |
| 1969 | NBA Finals MVP |
| 1970 | NBA Scoring Champion |
| 1980 | NBA Hall of Fame Inductee |
Conclusion
The story of Jerry West is one of passion, perseverance, and heartbreak. His journey through the NBA, marked by incredible achievements and poignant losses, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. As the ‘Logo’ of the NBA, West’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of basketball players and fans.
This article is structured to provide comprehensive information about Jerry West, his career, and his lasting impact on the NBA while adhering to SEO practices. It contains sections that highlight his achievements, struggles, and contributions, along with a table summarizing key career highlights. The tone is friendly and engaging, making it accessible to a broad audience.
