OT: NBA legend Jerry West dies at age 86

[BadNewsBarnes]

Jerry West, the inspiration for the NBA's logo, died peacefully at his home at the age of 86, the Los Angles Clippers announced Wednesday.

One of basketball's most accomplished contributors, West was a staple of the sport across eight decades, winning nine championships as a player, scout, coach, executive and consultant. He was an architect of the Los Angeles Lakers' 10 titles in the 1980s and 2000s and an advisor to the dynastic Golden State Warriors.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-legend-jerry-west-dies-at-age-86-134646038.html

[G_K_F]

Nooooooooooo my favorite ‘old timer’ of all time. The man is literally basketball personified. A genius in all forms. Without him, it’s hard to say if the league is where it is today.

[Stannis]

RIP!

An absolute LEGEND!!

[KnicksGadfly]

Just a legend on and off the court. RIP.

West was motivated by a relentless drive to succeed. Years after a game in which he hit 16 of 17 shots from the field, sank all 12 free throw attempts, and notched 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 blocked shots, West told the National Sports Daily, “Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didn’t feel I played very well. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played.” This obsessive quest for perfection was a constant during West’s playing years, and it continued in his later roles as coach and general manager of the Lakers and in similar front-office roles he held with the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers.

Equally legendary was West’s tolerance for pain. Not blessed with great size, strength, or dribbling ability, West made up for these deficiencies with pure hustle and an apparent lack of regard for his body. He broke his nose at least nine times. On more than one occasion West had to be helped to the court before games in which he ultimately scored 30 or 40 points.

Despite a level of intensity so high it could melt lead, West was one of the NBA’s most admired and well-liked figures. His ferocity rarely, if ever, rubbed players, coaches or fans the wrong way. After the Lakers’ heartbreaking loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1969 NBA Finals, John Havlicek walked up to West and said, “Jerry, I love you.” Such comments were not uncommon.

https://www.nba.com/news/history-nba-legend-jerry-west

[moocow007]

He was an OG on the court as well as in the front office. RIP.

[2010]

Melo gonna eat 3 hole bags of Takis when he find out this unfortunate news.

R.I.P. to the logo.

[mpharris36]

RIP to the logo!

[gavran]

OP's username checks out.

[dakomish23]

Legend is an understatement. Top 5 SG of all time and he'd probably have 45K points if there was a 3PT line

[MrDollarBills]

Rest well, logo and legend.

We lost both Walton and West in a span of weeks. Wow.

[Capn'O]

Brilliant Player and executive. Crazy that the announcement came from the Clippers. It feels like a piece of basketball itself just passed. RIP Logo.

Too soon but too good:

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

[WaltFrazier]

Saw him play live once in Toronto.

https://www.nba.com/game/cin-vs-lal-0027000754/box-score

And many times on TV from 1970 on. Classic battles with Clyde in the 1970, 72 and 73 Finals. Great stop on a dime pull-up J from anywhere.

The Big O is now the only living member of the 1960s all decade team. Wilt, Elgin, Russ, and now Jerry are gone.

[Bob Ross]

Sucks. RIP Mr. West.

[HarthorneWingo]

Nooooooooooo my favorite ‘old timer’ of all time. The man is literally basketball personified. A genius in all forms. Without him, it’s hard to say if the league is where it is today.

And here I thought that I was.

[thebuzzardman]

RIP. I can't add to all the accolades others have mentioned.

[HarthorneWingo]

I've never heard anyone print or say a bad word about Zeke From Battle Creek.

[Knick4Real]

[BKlutch]

Two of the best, playing against one another:




RIP, Jerry West, The Captain

[3toheadmelo]

RIP to the legend who gave the Knicks great advice and helped us get to where we are now!

[F N 11]

Jeez bad news. RIP legend!!

Goat all around words can’t describe.