When we consider the combined history of collegiate, Olympic and professional basketball, the facts are undeniable: Jerry West is the most impactful person of all time!
Dennis Butkovich
Northern hills
::
What a sad day for all of us. Jerry West was one of the greatest players, coaches, executives and people to ever walk the earth. He is the NBA logo for a reason. I was fortunate enough to meet Jerry several times and just talk about life and basketball. His wife, Karen, was one of my teachers in high school and will always be special to me. My heart breaks for the family and everyone Jerry West touched. RIP Jerry West, you will be missed.
Gene Apicella
Placentia
::
I have to applaud Jerry West making his final shot. Timing his passage to ensure that everyone will continue to talk about the Lakers instead of the hated Celtics during the NBA Finals is certainly a move by Mr. Clutch. Well played, sir.
Bryan Wiedeman
San Clemente
::
When describing a man like Jerry West you might use words like classy, humble and modest. After an All-Star playing career for the Lakers, he went on to become an All-Star manager for several organizations (mainly the Lakers). But despite all that, does anyone else in sports history have better nicknames than Jerry West? “The Logo” and “Mr. Clutch” are as good as it gets. Rest in peace, Mr. West, and thank you for all the wonderful memories.
Chris Sorce
Fountain Valley
::
We lost two LA basketball legends in two weeks. For the younger generation who never saw Jerry West and Bill Walton play, try to imagine the year 1972. The Lakers, led by West, still won a record 33 straight games en route to the NBA title. That same season, Walton and the UCLA Bruins went 30-0 and won a sixth straight NCAA championship. Our city was truly the basketball capital of the world, and it was a time that will never be repeated or forgotten.
Jim Bendat
Los Angeles
::
I don’t want to make light of the passing of the great Jerry West, but I do take some comfort in the fact that he won’t have to live to see another Celtics championship.
George Metalsky
Redondo Beach
That’s a ‘no thanks’
As for his decision to turn down the Lakers coaching job, Dan Hurley is not only an excellent basketball coach, he is also a wise man.
Wayne Muramatsu
Cerritos
::
Why would a very successful college coach want to get involved with a questionable organization, a mediocre team and a star approaching 40 with a huge ego and a big mouth, when he can wait for a good team to throw money at him?
Bert Bergen
La Canada
::
How bad does the Lakers organization have to be? How about turning down $70 million bad?
Russell Morgan
Carson
::
Rob “Don Corleone” Pelinka apparently made Dan Hurley an offer he could refuse. Hardly surprising, considering the same Lakers’ Godfather idiotically selected Lonzo Ball over Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram over Jaylen Brown and Jalen Hood-Schifino over Jaime Jaquez. Time for Jeanie Buss to slap Pelinka instead of the countless coaches who have been shamefully hired over the past decade.
Mark S. Roth
Playa Vista
::
Hey Bill Plaschke, stop simmering, Hurley’s rejection is a blessing in disguise. His hybrid of the triangle offense will be addressed because teams play each other a lot more than in college and scouting will stifle this. Hurley’s crazy histrionics on the sidelines will drive him crazy, alienate the officials and make his players shake their heads.
The college game is a coach’s game, the professional game belongs to the players. If Rick Pitino couldn’t make it in the NBA, no one can. Front offices make good teams in the NBA, and the Lakers need both new and new ownership. It’s a long road, Bill, stay calm, buddy.
Dell Franklin
Cayucos
Consider this
If the Lakers want coaches who have recently won championships, they should also consider someone who has NBA coaching experience, like Becky Hammon, who won the last two WNBA championships after being a well-trained assistant coach to one of the NBA’s best coaches , Greg Popovich. . And it would be basketball history for her, and for the Lakers, to hire the first female head coach. Or would the Lakers prefer a male college coach over this highly qualified woman?
Judith Levin
Los Angeles
An Olympic-sized mistake
I finally agree with Bill Plaschke. The members of the US Women’s Basketball Committee have proven themselves to be idiots for leaving Caitlin Clark off the Olympic team.
I played basketball for 30 years and coached a high school girls team for two years, but I’ve never watched the WNBA or the women’s Olympic team.
That would have changed if Clark had been added to the team. As Plaschke predicted, I would have looked to see if the Clark hoopla was justified. Now I won’t do that.
A big blunder indeed!
Ray McKown
Torrance
::
How can Caitlin Clark not get picked for the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team? At least let her ride the couch.
Just imagine the ratings if she was there in Paris. Wake up WNBA!
Thanks, Bill Plaschke. Leaving Clark at home is a major blunder indeed.
Joan Fingon
Ventura
::
I was a little baffled when I looked at the June 9 article about how the Olympic women’s basketball team will be poorer without Caitlin Clark.
Do not get me wrong. Clark is an exceptional talent. However, her game is still full of turnovers and the Fever have about three times as many losses as wins.
A gold medal, not Miss Popularity, is the goal of the Olympics, Mr. Plaschke.
Jonathan Goudstein
La Jolla
::
Caitlin Clark could not have been more gracious in her attitude when she was not selected for the 2024 Olympic squad. Young people everywhere will see her gracious perspective and wonder how this grace can be obtained. Thank you, Mrs. Clark, for your bright vision of your future hopes.
Susan Dalton
Redlands
Word of caution
I’m glad to see Jack Harris’ story about Kiké Hernández making a mistake in the hot corner while Dontrelle Willis asks a question. (At least the Dodgers won the game.)
Hopefully, MLB will finally realize that the only time players are required to have a microphone on the field is during spring training or the All-Star Game.
Ken Veldman
Tarzana
::
The Dodgers have no shortage of banjo hitting middle infielders, with the exception of Mookie Betts. So what do they do? They trade for another middle infielder, Cavan Biggio, who barely punches his weight and puts him at third base, a position he has rarely played. Has the term “Dodgers organization” become an oxymoron?
Mike Gamboa
Buena Park
::
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters must be short and become the property of The Times. They can be edited and republished in any format. Each email must contain a valid postal address and telephone number. No pseudonyms will be used.
Email: sports@latimes.com
Sign up for the LA Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and an inside look at what makes prep sports so popular.
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
