Jerry West

At 85 years old, Jerry West has this physical status:

Jerome Alan West (born May 28, 1938) is an American basketball executive and former player.

West played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association during his active time (NBA).

Mr. Byron, who had a nickname, was included in his nicknames. Clutch, for his ability to make a big play in a critical situation, such as his legendary buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks; Mr. Outside, referring to his perimeter play with the Los Angeles Lakers; and Zeke from Cabin Creek, West Virginia.

West played in a small forward position early in his career, and he was a standout at East Bank High School and West Virginia University, where he led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game.

Despite the loss, he earned the NCAA Most Outstanding Player award.

He continued to play for the Los Angeles Lakers for 14 years, and was the co-captain of the 1960 Olympic gold medal team, a squad that was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a unit in 2010. West's NBA career was extremely fruitful.

He was elected 12 times into the All-NBA First and Second Teams and was named as the All-Star MVP in 1972, the year in which he won the first title of his career.

With 486.3, West holds the NBA record for the most points per game average in a playoff series.

He was also a member of the first five NBA All-Defensive Teams (one second and four firsts) who were first introduced when he was 32 years old.

Despite being on the losing team (1969), he has played in nine NBA Finals. He is the first NBA player to be named Finals MVP.

In 1980, West was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. West took over as head coach of the Lakers for three years after his playing career came to an end.

He led Los Angeles into the playoffs each year and once earned a Western Conference Finals berth.

West was hired general manager of the Lakers prior to the 1982–83 NBA season while working as a player-scout for three years.

Los Angeles has won six championship rings under his reign.

West was named general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002 and helped the franchise capture their first-ever playoff appearances.

West received the NBA Executive of the Year Award twice, first as a Lakers boss (1995) and then as a Grizzlies boss (2004).

Jonnie West's uncle played for West Virginia in college basketball.

Early life

In Chelyan, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia, he was born into a poor household. He was the fifth of six children of Cecil Sue West, a housewife, and Howard Stewart West, a coal mine electrician. For a time, West's father physically assaulted him, and West has said he slept with a loaded gun under his bed out of fear that he would have to kill his father in self-defense.

In his youth, West was an outgoing and agressive boy. However, David, his older brother, was killed in combat in the Korean War in 1951, and the war turned West into a shy and introverted boy. Because he was so small, frail, and insecure that he needed several vitamin injections from his doctor and was kept away from children's sports to prevent him from getting seriously injured, he was so sick. West spent his days hunting and fishing, but his favorite pastime was shooting at a basketball hoop that a neighbor nailed to his storage shed. When he returned home early for dinner, West spent days shooting baskets from every angle, avoiding mud and snow in the backyard, as well as his mother's whippings.

From 1952 to 1956, West attends East Bank High School in East Bank, West Virginia. He was suspended by his mentor Duke Shaver for his height in his first year. Shaver stressed the importance of conditioning and protection, which were lessons that the adolescent learned. West became the captain of the freshman team shortly after, and he grew to 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) in 1953. West eventually became the team's starting small forward, and he quickly established himself as one of the finest West Virginia high school players of his generation. He played for All-State from 1953 to 1956, then All-American in 1956, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points per game. When facing resistance from opposing defenses, West's mid-range jump shot became his trademark, and he often used it to score. On March 24th, West led East Bank to a state championship, prompting East Bank High School to rename "West Bank High School" every year in honor of their basketball prowess. This policy remained in place until the school closed in 1999.

Personal life

In April 1960 in Morgantown, West married Martha Jane Kane, a college sweetheart; they divorced in 1976. They have three sons, David, Mark, and Michael.

Kristine "Karen" Bua, Jerry's current wife, married him in 1978. Ryan and Jonnie have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie. Jonnie played guard for West's college team, the West Virginia Mountaineers, and married professional golfer Michelle Wie in 2019.

West was often described as an introverted and tense person, but he also received acclaim for his uncompromising work ethic. Jody Gardner, a WVU freshman who never dated in his entire freshman year, testified, and Lakers coach Fred Schaus twice remembered two weeks before his guard never said a single word. West was never shy: Schaus described him as a "bundle of nerves," Celtics contemporary Bob Cousy as "always on the move," and fellow Laker and Mountaineer Rod Hundley testified that after bar visits, the West would immediately squirm and demand that we move elsewhere before anyone else had settled. Martha Kane, his first wife, recalled that her husband had trouble finding her. After a big loss, the Wests will go home and console him, but West will say "get out" on the back porch and drive away, an occurrence that "killed" her as a wife.

West Virginian roots made him a victim of some mild jeering early in his career. When he got up to that Lakers captain Elgin Baylor's dubbed West "Weety Bird," he sang with a deep pitch that became even more shriller. His Appalachian accent was so thick that one coach had to interrupt him and tell him to speak English. "Rumors are safe with you," Baylor once said. Tweety Bird, a narrator. They go on, but no one can explain you."

West was also known for his extreme mental agility and his exemplary work ethic. "Obsessive perfectionionism, unabashed optimism, and an uncompromising will win" are all things that could melt lead. Chick Hearn, the Lakers' broadcaster, once said, "He suffered a lot harder than any player I've ever knew." He'll sit by himself and gaze into space. A big loss has just tore his guts out," says the author. "You are, you are, in every sense of the word, a champion," the Lakers' sole champion and perennial rival Bill Russell said on the back of his life. If I had one wish granted, it would have been that you'd always be smiling."

Jonathan Coleman, a West and bestselling author, wrote an essay titled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life in 2011. The book has received acclaim and became a hit New York Times bestseller. During a talk with Bryant Gumbel of HBO's Real Sports, West admitted that as an infant he was the perpetrator of physical assault from his father and has suffered from depression ever since.

West is depicted in the HBO docudrama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty as a vivacious, foul-mouthed executive, vulnerable to angry outbursts and mood swings. As played by actor Jason Clarke, West requested a retraction from the network within two weeks.

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College career

West graduated from East Bank High School in 1956 and more than 60 universities expressed concern for him. He eventually decided to stay in his home state and attend West Virginia University (WVU), which is located in Morgantown. West, a freshman (1956–57), was a member of the WVU freshman squad, which had a perfect record of 17 victories without losing over the course of the season; other team members included Jay Jacobs and Willie Akers. West scored 17.8 points per game and averaged 11.1 rebounds in his first varsity season under head coach Fred Schaus; he also started in all 28 games while shooting 49.6% from the field and 72% from the free throw line. Associated Press and United Nations Press International Third-Team All-American honors, including an All-American Third Team call-up, First Team All-Southern Conference, Most Valuable Player Award, and First Team First Team awards, Chuck Taylor-Converse Second-team All-American honors, among other things, earned him a number of accolades, including an All-American Third Team call-up, Most Valuable Player Award and First Team All-American awards, and First Team All-American International Third-Mex-Me The Mountaineers finished the season with a loss to Manhattan College in postseason tournament play, defeating them 26-2.

West averaged 26.6 points per game and grabbed 12.3 rebounds per game during his junior years (1958-59). In every West Virginia game, he tied for 160 points (32.0 points per game) and led all scorers and rebounders, with some scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds in a 71–70 loss to California in the final, which tied his NCAA record of 160 points (32.0 points per game). West was named Most Outstanding Player of the Year's Final Four by that year. Other prestigious awards included All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP, and Athlete of the Year. He was also selected to be a member of the U.S. Pan American Games basketball team, which earned the gold medal. In a game against the Kentucky Wildcats, West displayed his tenacity for the game. During a game break, he blew his nose, but despite intense pain and having to breathe through his mouth, he continued to play. In the second half, he scored 19 points, leading WVU to an unexpected win.

West had a 3.9 points per game, 134 season-assists, 16.5 rebounds per game, and a shooting average of 55.6 percent from the free throw line in his final collegiate season (1959-60). He was honoured with several accolades including a call-up to the All-American selector and being named Southern Conference MVP. West's best result came in a game against Virginia, in which he grabbed 16 rebounds and scored 40 points. In addition, he had 30 double-doubles and fifteen 30-point games in his last year. West had 2,309 points and 1,240 rebounds in his collegiate career. He had 24.8 points per game and 13.3 rebounds, with 13.3 rebounds. As of 2011, West holds 12 WVU all-time records. The U.S. men's basketball team, which earned the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, was captained by West and Oscar Robertson.

Professional career

West made himself available for the 1960 NBA draft, and the Minneapolis Lakers selected him with the second overall pick shortly before the team relocated to Los Angeles. West was the first draft pick of the relocated franchise. The Lakers also hired him as a college coach. In comparison to West's time as a forward, he played West as a guard. The Lakers' captained Elgin Baylor, who was complemented by center Jim Krebs and Ray Felix; forwards Rudy LaRusso and Tom Hawkins; and guards Rod Hundley (from West Virginia, like West) and Bobby Leonard were captained by Kenny Algin Baylor. This squad had good forwards and guards, but they were always poor at center, putting them in a disadvantage against the Boston Celtics' Hall-of-Fame center Bill Russell.

West was odd in his new environment at first. He was a loner. His high-pitched voice earned him the nickname "Tweety Bird" (his nickname paid tribute to his country roots, but his coworkers also referred to him as "Zeke from Cabin Creek) (his nickname confirmed his country roots, and his accent was so thick he squeaked his name sheepishly, "Zeek from Cab'n Creek." However, West impressed his coworkers with his vertical leap, ensuring they could reach up 16 inches above the rim when he first started, and with his work ethic, he could spend countless more hours on his game. West scored 17.6 points, grabbed 7.7 rebounds, and gave 4.2 assists per game. West gained Schaus' trust and played 35 minutes per game and established himself as the Lakers' second scoring option, alternating with Hundley, Selvy, and Leonard. The NBA said the Lakers now had a potent one-two punch, with "Mr. com." "Mr. Outside" (the low-post scorer, Baylor) and "Mr. Outside" (the long-distance shooter, West) are inside (the long-distance shooter). West received his first of fourteen NBA All-Star Game call-ups as a result of his appearances.

As the Lakers went from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins in the 1961 NBA Playoffs, West helped them advance from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins. To put away the Detroit Pistons, the team needed all five games, but they lost in seven games to the St. Louis Hawks, losing the final game 105-103.

The Lakers could only make limited use of Baylor, who was called up by the US Army Reserves and could only play 48 games in West's second NBA season. However, West seamlessly assumed the role of team leader and established himself as the main Lakers scorer, scoring 38 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, winning All-NBA First Team honors. In a 129-121 victory over the New York Knicks on January 17, 1962, West scored a career-high 63 points. West became known for making crucial late-game shots, and Lakers' announcer Chick Hearn named him "Mr.." Clutch" is a handle that has been with West for his entire career.

In the 1962 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers won 54 regular-season games and gained a first-round bye. They defeated the Boston Celtics four games to two in the 1962 NBA Finals. The teams split the first two games, and at Game 3 in Los Angeles, West tied the game at 115 points. With three seconds remaining, Sam Jones of the Celtics bounded the ball at halftime. As the buzzer sounded, West stole the ball, raced upcourt, and converted a running layup. In Game 6 at three games apiece, the Celtics tied the series for three games in a row, and the Celtics and the Celtics are headed to Boston for Game 7. The Lakers trailed for the majority of the game, but West and Frank Selvy had several clutch baskets and tied the game at 100. Selvy was unsuccessful on an open 8-foot shot that would have won the Lakers their first title. Sam Jones foiled Baylor's tip-in bid. Jones had several clutch baskets in overtime to give the Celtics a 110-107 victory. The 1962 NBA finals will be the start of the world's biggest rivalry.

Baylor was back full-time in the NBA season 1962-63. West averaged 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists during his second season as the NBA's All-Star and All-NBA First-Team; however, he appeared in only 55 games during the season, missing the last seven weeks due to a hamstring injury. The Lakers advanced to the finals once more, and the Celtics faced them once more. With West still in form, Baylor and the Lakers dropped 3–2; then they succumbbed in Game 6 in front of their home crowd with a 112–109 loss. As the game came, Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy threw the ball high into the rafters of the L.A. Sports Arena.

West became the Lakers' scoring leader for the first time in the NBA's 1963–64 season. His 28.7 points per game beat the 25.4 by Baylor, who said he suffered from knee injuries. During the first round of the 1964 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers struggled through the entire season, winning only 42 games, and the Hawks were beaten by the Hawks in five games.

West averaged 31.0 points in the 1964–65 NBA season (at the time, a career high), just shy of perennial scoring champion Wilt Chamberlain. L.A. defeated the Baltimore Bullets in the first round of the 1965 NBA Playoffs, but then team captain Baylor sustained a career-threatening knee injury. West defeated Baylor's leading role by scoring 49 points and bringing the stunned Lakers to victory. Baltimore was unable to stop the Lakers guard, who had scored 52 points, nearly half of L.A.'s total in Game 2. Despite West scoring 44 and 48 points respectively, the Bullets won by 42 points in a close 117-115 victory. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a record in NBA history. The Celtics won by 4–1 in the 1965 NBA Finals, but the Lakers were evicted by the Celtics. K. C. Jones, the Boston Celtics' defensive guard, held West to only 26 points in Game 1, but Boston defeated Boston 129-123. West scored 49 points in Game 3, and L.A. finally won a game, but the Lakers were defeated by double digits in Games 4 and 5; in the last quarter of Game 5, the Lakers were defeated by 14 of 15 shots; and still no Celtics beat the Lakers could not prevent yet another Celtics victory. Nonetheless, the Lakers guard stole 40.6 points per game in the playoffs.

West averaged a career-best 31.3 points, as well as 7.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game during the 1965-66 NBA season. He made an NBA record of 840 free throws and earned another pair of All-Star Team and All-NBA First Team nominations. The Lakers defeated the St. Louis Hawks in a close seven-game series, and then met the Boston Celtics in the 1966 NBA Finals. West was aided by Baylor, who was a self-estimated "75 percent" of his pre-injury self. The two long-serving opponents split the first six games, with West's usual scoring dominance countered by Celtics forward John Havlicek, who's size and speed causing serious mismatch issues for the Lakers. West and Baylor shot a total of 18 in the first half, while the Lakers fell far behind; Los Angeles dropped to a respectable 95-93 with four seconds remaining, but the Celtics ran the clock out and the Lakers were denied yet again.

West played just 66 games in the NBA from 1966-67 due to injury; his stats fell just slightly to 28.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. In the first round of the 1967 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers had a disappointing season, winning just 36 games and being swept by the San Francisco Warriors. Fred Schaus retired, and Butch Van Breda Kolff took over; the Lakers won 52 games in the 1967–68 NBA season, their first season in The Forum, when they were under new owner Butch Van Breda Kolff. Despite West's fact that he played just 51 games in the regular season due to sickness and scoring 26.3 points, the lowest average since his rookie year: he was only a member of the All-NBA Second Team for six years.

The Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls and the Warriors in the 1968 NBA Playoffs to create yet another Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals match, but the Celtics had trouble guarding prolific L.A. outside shooters Baylor, West, and fellow guard Gail Goodrich. West only hit seven of 24 shots in Game 1, and the Lakers lost 107-101, but L.A. also finished the series at two games per week. West, who had scored 38 points in a Game 4 victory, suffered an ankle injury and did not play at full throttle the remainder of the game. In Game 5, an injured West scored 35 points, but Boston took the lead by three points. The Lakers lost by 40 points in Game 6 in Boston, and West said the Lakers lost two games they should have won, and they should have lost two more: "We gave them the first game and we gave them the fifth." However, I take nothing from them... They're all the same on the Celtics, and you can't teach it."

The Lakers made a trade that took reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers to Los Angeles at the start of the 1968–69 NBA season on July 9, 1968. The Lakers traded West's backcourt partner Archie Clark, starting center Darrall Imhoff, and backup forward Jerry Chambers to Philadelphia in order to get the center of the game. After losing Clark and losing Goodrich in the Phoenix Suns expansion draft, coach Van Breda Kolff was concerned about the staff positions. Johnny Egan, who was physically handicapped, was the only one left next to West. Although West himself enjoyed the recruitment process, Chamberlain often disagreed with team captain Elgin Baylor and had a bad working relationship with Van Breda Kolff. Van Breda Kolff referred to Chamberlain as "The Load" earlier in life, claiming that the former president was egotistical, never acknowledged him, and that too often practiced too much on his statistics. In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever." Chamberlain was going to punch Van Breda Kolff before Baylor intervened. West was agitated by locker room politics; he was used to playing on teams with a strong sense of teamwork, his execution became erratic, and his scoring average of 25.9 points was his lowest level since his rookie season. However, he was part of the inaugural All-Defensive Team's Second Team.

The 55-win Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks and the San Francisco Warriors in the 1969 NBA Playoffs, bringing their sixth finals series against Boston in eight years. West privately pleaded with Bill Russell of exhaustion before Game 1, but the Lakers guard snagged Boston by 53 points in a close two-point victory. West scored 41 points in Game 2 in Los Angeles, California. Russell requested to double-team West in Game 3, and the guard's exhaustion showed: West twice requested to be subbed for longer stretches, and the Lakers lost by six points and then lost by six points. Sam Jones, the Celtics' guard, scored an off-balance buzzer beater to tie the series, but the Lakers responded heinously and lost by 13 points, but they were not able to recover until the series's end. In Game 6, a limping West scored 26 points, but the Celtics defeated 99-90 thanks to a superb Bill Russell, who held Chamberlain to only eight points in the entire game. In Game 7, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had balloons inflated in the rafters of the Forum in Los Angeles. The Celtics were inspired by their zealousness and angered the West. The Lakers trailed the entire game and fell behind 91-76 after three quarters, but the Lakers closed the gap to 103–102 with two minutes remaining and had the ball. Despite a triple-double of 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists from West, the only winner of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award from the losing team, West made the game 108–106, but the losing team's only recipient of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was lost. After West's loss, the team was seen as the ultimate tragic hero: Bill Russell took his hand after the game, and John Havlicek said, "I love you, Jerry."

The Lakers' season began with a jolty in 1969–70 NBA seasons under new head coach Joe Mullaney. Wilt Chamberlain suffered a serious knee injury and missed virtually the entire regular season. West stepped into the void, leading the NBA in scoring average with 31.2 points per game and 7.5 assists per game, his first All-Defensive First Team vote and his first appearance in two years after Baylor's injury years. The Lakers won 46 games, and they barely beat the Phoenix Suns in seven games and swept the Hawks in four, setting up the first NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Tucson Knicks, led by Hall-of-Famers Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Walt Frazier. The first two games between Los Angeles and New York were split, with center Reed and the still-hobbling Chamberlain determining the first two games respectively. DeBusschere's left a three-second jump shot to put the Knicks ahead of 102–100, with no timeouts remaining. Chamberlain threw the ball to West, who raced past Walt Frazier and threw up a 60-foot shot. "The guy's crazy," Frazier later observed. He seems to be steadfast.

He thinks it's going in!"

The basket was later described as one of the best basketball moments ever. The shot just tied the game as the three-point line hadn't been introduced yet. West strained his left hand and missed all five of his shots in overtime, but the Knicks defeated the Knicks 111–108. In Game 4, the guard had 37 points and 18 assists, and the Lakers won. In Game 5, however, more thigh muscle and seemed out for the series; instead of capitalizing on a double-digit lead and reeling off a quick win, the Lakers committed 19 second-half turnovers, and lost 107-100 in what was dubbed one of the best comebacks in NBA Finals history. The Lakers were favorites going into Game 7 after Chamberlain scored 45 points and West 31 points plus 13 assists in a series-equalizing 135-113 victory. However, West had to suffer his right hand and received several manual injections, and Reed was bumbled up court after Game 7: the Knicks center scored the first four points and led his team to one of the most memorable playoff upsets of all time. West still shot nine of his 19 shots with his injured hands, but Walt Frazier, who had 36 points and 19 assists and was credited with several crucial steals on Lakers guard Dick Garrett, was outplayed by his 19 shots.

The Lakers recalled Gail Goodrich, who came from the Phoenix Suns after playing in Los Angeles until 1968. West averaged 24.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the Lakers' win 46 games and 1971 NBA Playoffs, and at age 32. The Milwaukee Bucks lost in five games after losing Elgin Baylor to an Achilles tendon injury that effectively ended his career; West himself sustained his knee injury and was out for the season; veteran Hall-of-Fame guard Oscar Robertson led them to the Western Conference Finals.

West was savvy before the 1971–72 NBA season, avoiding retirement due to his frequent injuries and absences. Bill Sharman, the Lakers' former Celtics guard and potential Hall-of-Fame coach, has been hired as head coach. Despite the fact that injured captain Elgin Baylor's career ended, the Lakers had a good season to remember. Sharman's strong defense and quick break offense set the team apart, and L.A. embarked on an incredible 33 game winning streak en route to a then-record 69 victories in the regular season. West himself had 25.8 points and led the league with a career-best 9.7 assists per game. He was voted All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense First Teamer, as well as 1972 All-Star Game MVP.

The Lakers won the Chicago Bulls in a four-game sweep and then went on to face the Milwaukee Bucks, beating them in six games. The Lakers also met the New York Knicks in the 1972 NBA Finals. Despite West's terrible shooting slump during Games 1 and 2, the Lakers tied the series at one win each, and in Game 3, he scored 21 points and helped the Lakers beat Game 3. He now had 4,002 playoff points, a game that tied for the first NBA record. West scored 23 points and dished out 9 assists in Game 5, helping the Lakers win the game and the NBA championship after winning Game 4 due to Wilt Chamberlain's spectacular outing. The championship was West's first-ever NBA championship. West confessed to playing a bad movie and praised the team for the success. "I played awful basketball in the Finals," he said, and we won... It was particularly frustrating because the team beat me when I was playing so poorly that I was overruled. Perhaps that's what a crew is all about."

West reached his 13th NBA season in 2013 after overcoming this long-awaited suspension. Goodrich was the primary scoring player in the 1972–73 NBA season, and West was now a playmaker rather than a scorer. However, West averaged 22.8 points per game but also averaged 8.8 assists per game, and was also a First Teamer in the All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense Teams. The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. In Game 1 West scored 24 points before fouling out with three minutes left, and L.A. defeated Game 1 115–112. Despite the fact that the Knicks lost Game 2 and 3, and West strained both of his hamstrings: in Game 4, the vain, but injured West, and Hairston had miserable games, and the Lakers lost 102-93 and the series.

West's last as a player was set to be 1973-74 NBA seasons. The veteran guard, who is now 36 years old, had averaged 20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. He had 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game in two recently introduced figures, robbery, and blocks. Despite playing only 31 games due to a strained groin, West was still considered an elite guard, earning another call-up to his final All-Star Game. The Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career. Following this setback, West resigned as a result of labour controversies with Cooke, and filed a lawsuit for unpaid back wages. West wanted to re-negotiate his deal and keep playing, but Cooke said, "basically told my agent to go to hell." I felt deceived. If you suspect you're deceived, you don't want to work for the company that deceived you. I may have had another good year. Every athlete claims so. But I could've, and I knew I should have. Well, I could never have played for the Lakers again, and I wasn't going to play for someone else." West had more points at the time of his release than every other Laker in franchise history.

Coaching career

Jack Kent Cooke, the current owner of the Lakers, was known for his keen eye on identifying leadership and teaching abilities (he also gave Hall of Famers Sparky Anderson and Joe Gibbs their first managerial/head coaching positions), and he asked West to assist and assist in player personnel decisions. West was the Los Angeles Lakers' coach from 1976-1977. He led the Lakers and star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to a 145-101 record in three years, winning the Western Conference Finals for the third time in 1977.

Executive career

West spent three years as a scout before joining the Lakers as the general manager from 1982-83. West was instrumental in the creation of the great 1980s Lakers dynasty, which also known as Showtime, which gained five championship rings (1980, 1982, 1987, 1988, and 1988) to Los Angeles.

Pat Riley coached the championship-winning Lakers, and the roster featured superstars Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. West rebuilt the team of coach Del Harris around center Vlade Divac, forward Cedric Ceballos, and guard Nick Van Exel, which played 48 games and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals after a slump in the early 1990s. In 1995, West was named as the first Executive of the Year Award for his part in the Lakers' revival.

West maintained its laxation by trading Divac for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant (1996), as a coach (1999). At the end of the 1999-2000 season, West was fired from the Lakers. However, he laid down the foundation of the Lakers three-peat, which saw L.A. win three NBA titles from 2000-2002.

West became the Memphis Grizzlies' general manager in 2002. "I've always wondered how it would be to create a winning franchise that hasn't seen much success since being a part of the Laker's fame for so many years." I want to make a difference." West's Memphis stint was not as good as his Los Angeles stint, but he transformed a franchise that was likely to be sold into a solid playoffs unit, making few trades but getting the most out of the players he had available (such as Pau Gasol, James Posey, and Jason Williams) and signing coach Hubie Brown, who was named Coach of the Year in 2004. In the same year, West himself received his second NBA Executive of the Year Award. West assumed responsibility for managing Chris Wallace at age 69 and left him at the Grizzlies general manager in 2007.

West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member on May 19, 2011, directly to new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. An undisclosed minority stake in the company was also attached to the position. The Warriors won their first championship in 40 years in 2015; this was the seventh championship won by West during his time as a team executive. In the 2016–2017 season, he earned his eighth rank.

West revealed on June 14, 2017 that he would play for the Los Angeles Clippers as an executive board member.

Following a complaint brought by John Wilkes against the Los Angeles Clippers over the signing of Kawhi Leonard to the team, it was announced on December 17, 2020, that the NBA had an investigation into West and the LA Clippers.

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