The Los Angeles Lakers announced they will open their season on Tuesday, October 22 by honoring Jerry West as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena.
In recognition of West’s significant contributions to the organization as a player and executive over three decades, the team will wear a commemorative No. 44 stripe on the left shoulder of its uniform this season.
West passed away earlier this summer at age 88, and here’s how the Lakers will honor him:
#Lakers will wear this No. 44 stripe on their jerseys this season to honor Jerry West. pic.twitter.com/nudAUoa1EQ
-Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) September 10, 2024
West had a 14-year playing career with the Lakers, making the All-Star team for 14 years in addition to 12 All-NBA selections and five All-Defensive selections.
After the franchise moved to Los Angeles, West led the organization to its first NBA title in Southern California during the historic 1971-72 season. He was subsequently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the first time in 1979 as a player, and twice more as well.
After his playing career ended, West remained involved with the Lakers organization and was eventually named general manager of the franchise in 1982. He helped lead them to five titles during the Showtime era, but also built the “three-peat” roster of the 2000s led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
West helped O’Neal get to Los Angeles by telling him he’d have a young co-star to play with for years after recruiting Bryant out of high school. He was right about that, of course.
After leaving the Lakers in 2000, West spent five seasons managing the Memphis Grizzlies before retiring as a full-time executive at age 69 in 2007. He finished his career as a consultant for the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2016, and then for the Clippers from 2017 until his death.
Given his work as a player, coach and executive, perhaps no figure is more important to the Lakers’ history than West. In that context, it’s great to see the organization honor him properly with these rings in the first season after his death.
Jerry West played college football in West Virginia, the state he grew up in. Similar to the Lakers, the West Virginia Football Team Honors West This Season wearing No. 44 patches on their helmets.
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