The Golden State Warriors paid tribute to legendary NBA player, coach and executive Jerry West on Wednesday news of his death at the age of 86 broke.
Although best known for his long stint with the Los Angeles Lakers from the 1960s to the 1980s, West served on Golden State’s board of directors for six seasons beginning in 2011 and was part of the front office staff of two of the Warriors. ‘ four most recent NBA titles. He left the team to work for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017 and was still with the Clippers at the time of his death.
Although he had already left the team by the time Kevin Durant joined the Warriors to help Golden State win two more championships, West was instrumental in bringing forth the strength to join the team as a free agent to draw.
A statement honoring West, attributed to co-executive chairman and CEO Joe Lacob, was posted on the Warriors’ website and shared on social media.
“Jerry West was an incredible and unique individual who reached immeasurable heights in the game of basketball. He reached the absolute pinnacle of the sport as both a player and executive, something few in the business can claim,” the statement said. “He did so much for the NBA, the game of basketball and each of the teams he was associated with during his unparalleled career, including the Warriors. Jerry had a profound and immense impact on our franchise and was instrumental in our recent decade of success .”
Lacob also noted that although he grew up a Celtics fan, West was his idol.
‘For me, him used to be basketball. He wasn’t just about the actual game, but he personified competitiveness. He was the most competitive person I have ever met and would settle for nothing less than greatness,” Lacob’s statement read. had to win. It consumed him. He was larger than life. He was an icon.”
The statement offered condolences to West’s wife Kathy and the rest of his family, as well as “the NBA community.”
The Warriors’ home court also paid tribute, with the Chase Center displaying a commemorative photo on the screen outside the arena.
Warriors star Klay Thompson also remembered West, posting a photo next to the NBA legend with the caption “I’m going to miss Mr. West” with a goat emoji.
