Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Photo: Jerry West to Be Honored with Lakers Jersey Band for 2024-25 NBA Season

Scott Polacek

The Los Angeles Lakers will honor a legend this season.

The Lakers announced Tuesday they will wear a commemorative No. 44 band on their jerseys during the 2024-25 campaign to recognize Jerry West. West, who was a Lakers icon as both a player and an executive, died in June at the age of 86.

His death was felt throughout the league, as West's silhouette is used in the NBA logo.

"Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement after his death. "He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons, but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments."

Silver also recognized his impact as a player, coach and "one of the greatest executives in sports history" during his time with the Lakers:

Los Angeles selected him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 1960 NBA draft, and he played all 14 seasons of his Hall of Fame career on the team. His resume included the 1972 NBA title, the 1969 NBA Finals MVP even though his team lost, a scoring title, an assist title, 12 All-NBA selections and five All-Defensive selections.

In all, he averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field.

West wasn't done helping the Lakers after his retirement, as he coached the franchise for three seasons that included three playoff appearances and a trip to the Western Conference Finals. From there, he transitioned to the front office and eventually became the general manager by 1982.

He won six championships with the front office and helped build another Lakers dynasty by pairing Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal together.

West was also the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and a member of the front offices for the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers following his time with the Lakers. While he helped put together the Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green trio in Golden State, he is still most closely associated with the team that drafted him.

There is a statue of West outside Crypto.com Arena, and the team will give away West jerseys as part of the celebration of his life for the season opener on Oct. 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The players will also honor him with this band on the jerseys.

   

Read 0 Comments

Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation

Install the App
×
Bleacher Report
(120K+)