Jerry West, a basketball legend renowned for his exceptional skills and accomplishments, has passed away at the age of 86. The Los Angeles Clippers confirmed his death. West, a native of West Virginia, rose to fame as a college basketball player at the University of West Virginia. He led his team to the National Championship Game in 1959 and earned the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.
West’s stardom continued after college as he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 2 overall pick in 1960. Along with Elgin Baylor, he became the first major stars for the team after its move to Los Angeles. Despite reaching the All-Star Game in all 14 of his NBA seasons and making it to the Finals nine times, West’s Lakers struggled against the dominant Boston Celtics led by Bill Russell.
Following his playing career, West remained with the Lakers as head coach and later as general manager. He won six more championships with the team in the front office before adding two additional championships in an advisory role with the Golden State Warriors. Recognized for his contribution to the sport, West’s silhouette was used to create the NBA logo.
The basketball community is mourning not only West’s passing but also that of another Los Angeles basketball icon, Bill Walton, on May 27 at age 71. Both men were legends whose impact on basketball will be remembered for years to come. CBS Sports will provide updates on this story as more information becomes available.
