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NBA honors Jerry West at Game 3 of the Finals with a moment of silence and touching tribute video after the Lakers' 'Mr. Clutch' died at 86
The NBA honored Jerry West with a moment of silence and a brief tribute video before Game 3 of the Finals in Dallas following the 86-year-old basketball legend's passing on Wednesday.
'The NBA family mourns the passing of a basketball giant, Jerry West, an NBA cornerstone for over six decades,' ABC broadcaster Mike Breen said before the Boston Celtics seized a 3-0 Finals lead with a 106-99 win over the Mavericks.
Known as 'Zeke from Cabin Creek,' the West Virginia native and Olympic gold medalist teamed with Elgin Baylor to turn the Los Angeles Lakers into a perennial contender in the 1960s. West and Wilt Chamberlain led the Lakers to the 1972 NBA title, albeit without the retired Baylor. West then had a remarkable front-office career, winning eight NBA crowns and two Executive of the Year awards.
'West was an All-Star every year he played and helped the Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times,' Breen said. 'Off the court, West's brilliance continued, serving as the architect of eight championship teams. An NBA champion, he was recognized by the Hall of Fame as a player, contributor and as a member of the 1960 US men's Olympic team.
'Jerry West was also the first player ever recognized as finals MVP and his ability to deliver in pressure situations time and time again earned him the appropriate nickname, ''Mr. Clutch,''' Breen added.
A video tribute to Jerry West plays on the scoreboard before Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Dallas
West won an Olympic gold medal alongside friend and rival Oscar Robertson in 1960
Images of West's storied career played on the overhead scoreboard in Dallas as Breen spoke to the crowd.
Also on Wednesday night, West's wife Karen issued her own statement on behalf of the family.
'We are overwhelmed by the love, support, and appreciation we have received from friends, colleagues, and basketball fans around the world,' the statement began.
'Jerry took incredible pride in his life-long association with the NBA. He felt fortunate to have been a player, coach, and executive during a time of explosive growth in the league. Above all else, Jerry cherished the close friendship and mentorships he formed with teammates, coaches, and players throughout his 64-year-career.
'We want to thank you, basketball fans everywhere, for supporting him. You fueled his burning desire to win--he did it for you.'
One particularly interesting comment on West came from Newsday reporter Barbara Barker, who has been covering the NBA since the mid 1990s.
'Jerry West was one of first GMs to return my call,' Barker revealed on X. 'I can remember the hotel room I was sitting in because I was petrified and in awe.
'At a time when not everyone was thrilled dealing with female reporters, he was a funny, smart and generous source. Legendary player and person.'
Karen West, former NBA player Jerry West and son Jonnie West at an event in 2012
Jerry West looks on walking up court against the Milwaukee Bucks during a 1972 game
The current NBA logo was created by Alan Siegel in 1969 by incorporating Los Angeles Lakers star Jerry West's silhouette from a photo (above) taken by Wen Roberts
The iconic NBA logo was made by using the silhouette of Lakers legend Jerry West
To many, West is known simply as 'The Logo.'
Legend has it that the current NBA shield was created by Alan Siegel in 1969 by incorporating West's silhouette from a photo taken by Wen Roberts.
The logo was modeled after Major League Baseball's, which was a silhouette of a player that many erroneously believe to be Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew. (The image is supposedly a composite of several players in the late 1960s).
The West logo debuted in 1971, and although the NBA has never confirmed that it is, indeed, him, there have been no denials either.
'It sure looks a lot like him,' a coy NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in 2021.
Siegel has since confirmed in interviews that West was, in fact, the inspiration for the design.
'I saw the picture of Jerry West,' Siegel told NBA.com in 2021. 'Of course I watched him in college and the NBA. I always admired him, but I liked the picture because it was a nice vertical and had this motion to it.'
He offered more detail a decade earlier, telling the LA Times in 2010: 'It had a nice flavor to it, so I took that picture and we traced it. It was perfect. It was vertical and it had a sense of movement. It was just one of those things that clicked.'