MJ Bids a Touching Farewell to Jerry West

Basketball legend Jerry West passed away at the age of 86 on June 12. West began his tenure in the NBA as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1960-1974. In that time, West earned many accolades, including being a 14-time All-Star, a one-time NBA Champion (1972), and a one-time Finals MVP (1969).

West got awarded the Finals MVP in 1969, even though his team lost because he scored 42 points in the last game. West averaged 37.9 points per game in that series. This makes West the only player in NBA history to win a Finals MVP on the losing team.

West's achievements solidify him as one of the most accomplished people in the NBA. So, understandably, West's passing drew attention from former players, including Bulls great Michael Jordan.

Bulls News: Michael Jordan reacts to Jerry West's passing

In a text sent to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, Jordan expressed his farewell, which Smith shared on "First Take".

Jordan said, "I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry's passing. He was truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me. ... Rest in Peace, Logo."

Jordan's sentiments on the passing of West made it clear that he has a lot of respect for West. Jordan's respect for West started before he was in the NBA, as he often cited West as one of his influences. Jordan's respect for West's game ultimately led him to be one of the best players in NBA history, just like West. Although this was a sad day in the NBA, hearing how legends like Jordan remember West makes the situation easier to handle.

After retiring as a player, West became the Lakers coach for three seasons (1976-1979). In that span, he led the team to a record of 145-101, which was good enough to make the playoffs all three seasons and make the Western Conference Finals once. In 1979, West assumed the general manager position with the Lakers and secured six championship rings for the franchise before departing in 2000.

After leaving the Lakers, West took a few seasons off and then became the Memphis Grizzlies general manager in 2002. During this stint with the Grizzlies, West made the team a consistent playoff contender, which earned him his second Executive of the Year award. However, the Grizzles were never able to reach the NBA Championship with West as their general manager. West ended up stepping down as the general manager of the Grizzlies in 2007.

Following his time in Memphis, West took four seasons before returning to the NBA as an executive. In 2011, West became a board member of the Golden State Warriors. While in Golden State, West secured two more championship rings (2015 and 2017) as an executive. West ended up leaving the Warriors in 2017 to join the Los Angeles Clippers executive board. West stayed a member of the Clipper board through the end of the 2024 season.

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