Jerry West, Lakers legend, Hall of Famer and executive who was inspiration for NBA logo, dies at 86

LOS ANGELES -- Jerry West, the Hall of Fame subordinate and enforcement who was the inspiration for the NBA logo, has died astatine property 86.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who West was presently moving for successful a beforehand bureau role, announced Wednesday helium passed distant peacefully with his wife, Karen, by his side.

West, nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" for his late-game exploits arsenic a player, went into the Hall of Fame arsenic a subordinate successful 1980 and again arsenic a subordinate of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team successful 2010. He volition beryllium enshrined for a 3rd clip aboriginal this twelvemonth arsenic a contributor.

West was "the personification of hoops excellence and a person to each who knew him," the Clippers said.

He was a 14-time All-Star, a 12-time All-NBA selection, portion of the 1972 Lakers squad that won a championship, an NBA Finals MVP arsenic portion of a losing squad successful 1969 and was selected arsenic portion of the NBA's 75th day team.

West was wide manager of 8 NBA title teams with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping physique the "Showtime" dynasty. He besides worked successful the beforehand offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers.

Among his many, galore highlights arsenic an enforcement with the Lakers: helium drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy, past brought successful Kobe Bryant and yet Shaquille O'Neal to play alongside Bryant.

Even successful the last years of his life, West was considered hoops royalty. He routinely sat courtside astatine Summer League games successful Las Vegas, often watching galore games successful a time portion greeting agelong lines of players - LeBron James among them - who would attack to shingle his manus and wage him respect.

"The crippled transcends galore things," West said portion attending Summer League past year. "The players change, the benignant of play whitethorn change, but the respect that you larn successful this crippled ne'er changes."

He's 25th connected the NBA's all-time scoring list, and portion the league has ne'er confirmed that West was successful information the exemplary for its logo - a subordinate dribbling a ball, acceptable against a red-and-blue inheritance - the league has ne'er said otherwise, either.

"While it's ne'er been officially declared that the logo is Jerry West," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said successful 2021, "it definite looks a batch similar him."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.