Who was Jerry West?
Jerry West was an extraordinary player who led the Lakers to nine appearances in the NBA Finals, winning his only title in 1972. For many years, his great obstacle was the legendary Boston Celtics dynasty.
West was named to the All-Star Game 14 times and is the only player in history to win the NBA Finals MVP while being part of the losing team (1969). He won the gold medal with the United States in the Rome Olympic Games (1960) and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.
As an executive, Jerry West conquered eight championships. He was the mastermind behind the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s with Magic Johnson, and two decades later, he made the key trade that paired Kobe Bryant with Shaquille O’Neal on the Lakers.
Is Jerry West the player of NBA logo?
The silhouette of Jerry West has been the NBA logo for decades due to the impact he had on the league. In 1969, the NBA believed that West was the right figure to expand the game among a new generation of fans.