(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in “The TEN”)
- Former Lakers great/ Hall of Famer Jerry West passed away Wednesday at the age of 86.
- West was the third player in NBA history to score 25,000 points and was an All-Star every year of his 14-year career with the Lakers.
- West led the Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times, and one championship – in 1972. West was the only player to win an NBA Finals MVP on the losing team in 1969. That was also the first year the award was given out.
- West is the model for the NBA logo although the league never officially confirmed that.
- West became the General Manager of the Lakers following his playing career and was instrumental in building the Showtime Lakers of the 1980’s featuring Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that won five titles. He also oversaw the formation of the Kobe Bryant -Shaquille O’Neal Lakers tandem that went on to win three championships.
- West also worked in the front office of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors before becoming an advisor for the Clippers in the twilight of his career.
- The Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 Wednesday night to take a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
- The Dodgers acquired utility-man Cavan Biggio from the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday.
- New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not participating in the team’s mandatory minicamp due to a previous commitment.
- “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.”- Jerry West.
@ #5: Jerry West drafted Kobe Bryant and traded for Shaquille O’Neal; those decisions by West as general manager also illustrated his exceptional ability to evaluate players and work deals. Having Dr. Jerry Buss’ money at his disposal didn’t hurt, either.
The fact that West was also instrumental in building top-notch teams with Memphis and Golden State made his career all the more remarkable. His Golden State teams won several NBA titles.
Jerry West brought excellence everywhere he went. May he rest in peace.
From T. Peterson: West actually signed Shaquille O’Neal as a free agent and traded for Kobe Bryant who was originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets. But I get your drift. West did indeed bring excellence.
@ Question Mark: Jerry West is certainly on a relatively short list of all-time great NBA players.
My favorite Lakers team was the 1971-72 squad which won 33 straight games and beat the New York Knicks, four games to one, for the league title. That team had a starting lineup of West, Gail Goodrich, Wilt Chamberlain, Happy Hairston, and Jim McMillian. The Lakers’ bench that season included Flynn Robinson, Keith Erickson, and Pat Riley.
At the time, the best teams in the NBA were the Lakers, Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Boston Celtics. L.A. had to beat the defending champion Bucks, a team that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, to even reach the NBA Finals in ’72.
My second-favorite Lakers team (or era) was the Showtime squad of 1979-88, which won five NBA titles in nine seasons. And yes, Jerry West built that team by drafting players such as Magic Johnson and James Worthy, and by pulling off some good trades.
Jerry has always been my GOAT.
West is the only sports figure to dominate ‘The Ten’ by being the subject of seven listings. And that’s a good thing.