Former Los Angeles Lakers star Jerry West, whose silhouette inspired the NBA logo, has died at the age of 86, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday morning.
“Jerry West has passed away at age 86,” Charania tweeted.
Jerry West passed away at the age of 86.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 12, 2024
West was one of the league’s first stars, being selected to the All-Star team in every game he played in his 14 years in the NBA. seasonHe played his entire career with the Lakers and was the 1969 NBA Finals MVP.
His Lakers reached the NBA Finals an astounding nine times during his career, but he only won once, in 1969.
Still, West’s Hall of Fame career earned him mutual admiration from his peers and across the league, leading to his likeness being used on the NBA’s current logo. (Related article: Ex-NBA player receives emergency medical treatment during police arrest: Report)
The NBA is official maintain The logo is not based on any particular player, but is widely believed to be inspired by a photo of West dribbling the ball.
Does a logo have a birthday? Yes, the man in the logo does. A photo of Jerry West, the star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who later became a successful general manager, was the inspiration for the NBA logo. He turns 82 today. pic.twitter.com/rFZvbCCcEi
— Joy Bhattacharj (@joybhattacharj) May 28, 2020
