Legendary Basketball Player And Executive

NBA Icon and Hall of Famer Jerry West Passes Away at 86

Legendary Basketball Player and Executive

Jerry West, the legendary basketball player and executive who helped shape the NBA for decades, has passed away at the age of 86.

West, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame three times, was a 12-time All-NBA guard and a member of the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.

Born in West Virginia, West played college basketball at West Virginia University before being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1960. He played for the Lakers for 14 seasons, winning the NBA championship in 1972.

Architect of the Showtime Era

After retiring as a player, West became the general manager of the Lakers and was the architect of the team's "Showtime" era in the 1980s. He drafted Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and helped build a team that won five NBA championships.

West's legacy extends beyond his playing and executive career. His silhouette is featured on the NBA logo, and he is considered one of the greatest players in basketball history.