Jerry West

Jerry West
Name	Jerry West
Caption	West with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.
Position	Shooting guard
Weight lb	175
Birth date	28 May 1938
Birth place	Chelyan, West Virginia
High school	East Bank High School (East Bank, West Virginia)
College	West Virginia (1957–1960)
Draft year	1960
Draft team	Minneapolis Lakers
Career start	1960
Career end	1974
Career number	44
Years	1960–1974
Team	Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers
Highlights	* NBA champion (1972) * NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award (1969) * 14× NBA All-Star (1961–1974) * NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (1972) * NBA scoring champion (1970) * 10× All-NBA First Team (1962–1967, 1970–1973) * 2× All-NBA Second Team (1968, 1969) * 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1970–1973) * NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1969) * NBA All-Rookie First Team (1961) * NBA 35th Anniversary Team * NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team * NBA 75th Anniversary Team * No. 44 retired by Los Angeles Lakers * NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1959) * Consensus first-team All-American (1959, 1960) * Second-team All-American (1958) * No. 44 retired by West Virginia Mountaineers
Hoophall	Jerry West

Jerry West. An American basketball icon, he is celebrated as one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. His entire 14-year playing career was spent with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, where his clutch performances earned him the nickname "Mr. Clutch" and his silhouette became the basis for the league's iconic logo. Following his playing days, West achieved further acclaim as a successful executive for the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Golden State Warriors, shaping multiple championship dynasties.

Early Life and High School Career

Born in Chelyan, West Virginia, West grew up in a challenging environment, finding solace in basketball. He attended East Bank High School in East Bank, West Virginia, where he led his team to the state championship in 1956. His prolific scoring and all-around play made him a highly sought-after recruit, earning him a scholarship to play for the West Virginia Mountaineers under coach Fred Schaus.

College Career

At West Virginia University, West became a national star. He was a key figure in leading the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA Tournament Final Four, where he was named the Most Outstanding Player despite his team's loss to California. A two-time Consensus All-American, he finished his collegiate career averaging 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game and played on the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Professional Career

Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers with the second overall pick in the 1960 NBA draft, West moved with the franchise to Los Angeles his rookie year. He formed a legendary duo with center Elgin Baylor, and later with Wilt Chamberlain. Renowned for his scoring, defense, and late-game heroics, West led the Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times, capturing his only championship as a player in 1972. He was named the Finals MVP in 1969, the first year the award was given, despite his team losing the series to the Boston Celtics.

Legacy and Personal Life

West's legacy is immortalized by his silhouette serving as the model for the NBA logo. His intense competitiveness and ability to perform under pressure defined his "Mr. Clutch" persona. Off the court, he has been open about his lifelong struggles with depression and anxiety. He has three sons, including Jonnie West, who also worked in basketball operations. His life and career were depicted in the HBO miniseries Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

Awards and Achievements

West's individual accolades are extensive, including 14 consecutive NBA All-Star selections, the 1972 All-Star Game MVP, and the 1970 NBA scoring title. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team ten times and the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, and has his No. 44 jersey retired by both the Los Angeles Lakers and West Virginia Mountaineers.

Later Life and Retirement

After retiring as a player in 1974, West transitioned to a highly successful front-office career. As general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, he built the "Showtime" dynasty around Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He later served as general manager for the Memphis Grizzlies, winning Executive of the Year, and as an executive board member for the Golden State Warriors, contributing to multiple NBA Finals appearances. He currently serves as an executive with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Category:1938 births Category:Living people Category:American basketball players Category:Los Angeles Lakers players Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees