Honoring Jerry West: The Most Impressive Resume in NBA History

 

Photo Taken By Heinz Kluetmeier / Sports Illustrated

According to multiple reports, it was announced this morning that NBA legend Jerry West has passed away at the age of 86. The cause of death has yet to be reported.

West is undeniably one of the most important figures in NBA history, carrying a legendary legacy that spanned over 60 years.

My personal belief is that Jerry West’s accomplishments and accolades are second to none. To pay tribute to the legend, I will introduce to some and remind others of why Jerry West has the greatest résumé in NBA history.

Before we dive into his NBA career, I think it’s important to note that West had a terrific basketball résumé before even becoming a pro. West grew up in East Bank, West Virginia. West was selected to the All-State team all 4 years of school. In his senior year, West was the first player in state history to score over 900 points in a season (averaged 32.2 points per game) and was named West Virginia Player of the Year. West was so instrumental in his high school basketball career, East Bank High School changed their school’s name to West Bank High School.

West was heavily recruited by colleges and ultimately decided to stay local and attend West Virginia University. As a sophomore, he averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game, earning him numerous awards, most notably First Team All-Southern Conference, Southern Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player Award and First Team honors. As a Junior and Senior, West led WVU to the final four and was a First Team All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Conference Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year.

West’s success at the college level drew the attention of several NBA teams. West was selected 2nd overall in the 1960 NBA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers, who would relocate to Los Angeles a few months later.

West ended up playing 15 seasons, all for the Lakers. Unfortunately for West, he played in an era where Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics absolutely dominated the league, which is why West was only crowned an NBA champion once in his 15 year playing career. However, the Bill Russell led Celtics did not stop West from having a masterful list of individual awards. West is a 14x NBA All-Star, 10x All-NBA First Team, NBA Finals MVP (1969), NBA Scoring Champion (1970), 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1970–1973), NBA Assists Leader (1972), NBA Champion (1972), NBA All-Star Game MVP (1972) and West was named to the NBA Anniversary Team (35th, 50th & 75th)

West retired as a player at the end of the 1975-1976 season and spent the next 3 seasons as a head coach of the Lakers (1976-1979). The Lakers made the playoffs in each year West was head coach, making it to the conference finals in 1977.

After the 1978-1979 season, West thought his knowledge would be put to better use as a scout. West was the Lakers scout for 3 seasons, before being promoted to General Manager for the 1982-1983 season. West’s importance in forming the 1980’s Lakers dynasty cannot be measured. From 1980 to 1990, the Lakers were named NBA champions 5 times (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988). After the retirement of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the Lakers went through a drought during most of the 1990’s. West played a leading role in the Lakers' rebuild, most notably drafting Kobe Bryant in 1996 and trading for Shaquille O’Neal the same year. This began a new Lakers dynasty. West would win his 6th NBA championship as an executive in 2000, before leaving his role as the GM of the Lakers.

West took the year off from the NBA in the 2000-2001 season. In 2002, he was named the new General Manager of the Memphis Grizzlies. West spent 5 seasons with the Grizzlies and was named Executive of the Year in 2004. West announced his retirement from the NBA in 2007.

West returned to the NBA in 2011 as an executive board member for the Golden State Warriors. West assisted in selecting Klay Thompson in the 2011 NBA Draft, who was the second best player on a Warriors dynasty that gave West 2 more NBA Championships (2015, 2017)

On June 14, 2017, West announced that he would be leaving his role on the Warriors in order to join the Los Angeles Clippers as an executive board member and consultant. West held this position with the Clippers until his passing.

Jerry West's extraordinary contributions to basketball have left an indelible mark on the sport. From his remarkable high school and college careers to his legendary tenure with the Lakers and impactful executive roles, West's legacy is unparalleled. His influence spanned over six decades, showcasing his dedication, talent, and love for the game. Jerry West's passing is a profound loss, but his achievements and the inspiration he provided to countless fans and players will endure forever.

Do you agree that Jerry West has the best resume in NBA history? Comment below to share your thoughts.