This statue is long overdue. None the less, he earned it. For his contributions as a player and GM.
ESPN: The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue honoring Hall of Fame guard Jerry West during this season’s NBA All-Star weekend, multiple sources confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Los Angeles is the host city for All-Star weekend, running from Feb. 18-20.
West retired as the Lakers all-time leading scorer before Kobe Bryant eclipsed his point total of 25,192 points during the 2009-10 season. Known as “Mr. Clutch” during his playing days, West won a championship with the Lakers in 1972 and holds the distinction of being the only player in league history to be named NBA Finals MVP while playing on the losing team (1969). West was a 14-time NBA All-Star and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996.
West transitioned from Lakers backcourt to the front office and worked for the team as the head coach and a scout before being named general manager prior to the 1982-83 season. With West as the GM, the Lakers went on to win seven championships and he was named NBA Executive of the Year in 1995.
The statue will be the fifth to be erected at Staples Center and the third that is Lakers-related, following Wayne Gretzky, Magic Johnson, Oscar De La Hoya and broadcaster Chick Hearn.
Continue reading ‘Lakers to reveal Jerry West stature during All-Star weekend’
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