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For the children's author, see Jerry West (author). Jerome Alan West (born May 28, 1938) [3] [4] is an American basketball executive and former player. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Sep 13, 2021 · Learn about the life and career of Jerry West, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. From his humble beginnings in West Virginia to his 14 All-Star seasons, his famous buzzer-beater, his championship and his front-office roles, West was a true basketball icon.
Jerry West is a Hall of Fame point guard and shooting guard who played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1960 to 1974. He won one NBA championship, one Finals MVP, and four All-Star selections, and averaged 27 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game in his career.
- May 28, 1938
May 7, 2024 · Jerry West (born May 28, 1938, Cheylan, West Virginia, U.S.) is an American basketball player, coach, and general manager who spent four noteworthy decades with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A frail youth, West overcame his early physical shortcomings by putting in long hours practicing his shot and ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Early Life
- West Virginia Mountaineers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Finals Bridesmaid
- At Long Last
- West Retires
- West Becomes Coach of The Lakers
- Stellar Executive Career with La
- Executive Stints with The Grizzlies, Warriors, and Clippers
- Legacy and “Logo” Conversation
Jerome Alan West was born on May 29, 1938, in Chelyan, West Virginia. He was one of six children who grew up poor in coal country. West’s father was a coal mine electrician who would frequently take out his anger on his children. As he got older, his father’s abuse got so bad that West slept with a loaded shotgun in case he was attacked at night. W...
One of the many college teams offering West a scholarship was West Virginia. It was a no-brainer for him as he grew up worshipping the team. During his first year in Morgantown, West and his fellow freshman teammates went a perfect 17-0. He became part of the varsity squad as a sophomore and continued to excel. That season, West Virginia cruised th...
Before the 1960-61 NBA season, the Minneapolis Lakers relocated to Los Angeles. The Lakers were already a strong team, having won the NBA title in 1950 and 1952-1954. After the 1959-60 season, Minneapolis lost in the Division Finals to the St. Louis Hawks 4-3. With the second pick of the 1960 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected West. Then, the team upro...
During the 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons, the Lakers won more than 50 games and made it to the NBA Finals where they faced Boston. Los Angeles would lose both finals in seven and six games, respectively. Meanwhile, West became a leader of the team and averaged close to 30 points per game both years, leading to yet another moniker, “Mr. Clutch.” After...
West and the Lakers’ playoff woes continued in 1970-71 when they defeated the Chicago Bulls in the Conference Semis’ then lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Finals. However, everything finally clicked for the franchise in 1971-1972. That season, the Lakers went 69-13 with West and center Wilt Chamberlin leading the way. In the Conference...
The following year, the Lakers returned to the Finals against New York. This time, they lost in five games. In 1973-74, LA finished the regular season 47-35 and lost to the Bucks in the Conference Semifinals. West averaged 20.3 points, 3.7 boards, and 6.6 assists per game. He intended to return for another season but reportedly was rebuffed by Lake...
Although Cooke didn’t envision West returning for a 15th season, the owner believed his now-former player could be a great coach. Before the 1976-77 season, West was hired to be the Lakers’ new head coach. For the next three years, West worked with league MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to establish the core of what would be the next LA dynasty. From 1976 ...
West spent the next three seasons as a scout for LA and then became their general manager in 1982. His eye for talent was impeccable and he spent the next decade building championship teams. With players such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, the Lakers won world titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. The franchise als...
In April of 2002, West was hired by the Memphis Grizzlies to be their general manager. The hiring shocked the public as Memphis was not a marquee NBA location like LA. However, West looked at the opportunity as a chance to build something special. West quickly built the team around players such as Pau Gasol and Mike Miller and he hired coach Hubie ...
As a player and executive, West has won eight world titles. He is considered one of the best players in NBA history, as evidenced by frequent appearances on the NBA Anniversary teams. However, even the younger generation who might not be familiar with West’s playing and executive career actually know who he is. That’s because, since 1969, West’s si...
Jan 26, 2022 · Jerry West spent a lifetime becoming one of the most decorated figures in N.B.A. history as a player and an executive, but these days, his routine includes daily workouts, coronavirus testing and ...
Mar 13, 2022 · A tribute to Jerry West, the legendary player and executive of the Lakers, who earned the nickname \"Mr. Clutch\" for his clutch shots and leadership. Watch rare footage of his career highlights, interviews and moments, from his early days to his championship glory.
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