NBA legend Jerry West passes away at age 86

They didn't use his likeness as the NBA logo for nothing... Jerry West was one of the greatest athletes the NBA has ever seen.

America is mourning after hearing that Mr. West has passed away at the age of 86.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who Jerry West had been working for as an executive board member and consultant, announced his death on social media:

Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86. His wife, Karen, was by his side. pic.twitter.com/iMwOXmCT2B

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 12, 2024

Jerry West began playing in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers way back in 1960 and spent 14 seasons as a player for them.

Impressively, Jerry West was named an all-star in 12 out of his 14 professional seasons. He also appeared in the postseason a whopping 13 different times, although in 1967 he was credited with appearing in only one game for one minute.

In Jerry West's era, the outside shot was not as much of a weapon as it is in today's game of basketball, but West was definitely ahead of the curve.

As a result of his ability to take and make shots that most other players in his era wouldn't even consider, Jerry West was nicknamed "Mr. Outside."

Another nickname he carried was "Mr. Clutch," primarily because of a 60-foot buzzer-beating shot in the third game of the 1970 NBA Finals.

After his playing career was over, Jerry West became one of the most successful executives in league history.

He helped pair Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant together in the purple-and-yellow, and the team won three straight NBA championships in the early 2000s as a result.

Rest in peace, Jerry West. Your fans will never forget your contributions to the game of basketball.

To learn more about the details of this story, feel free to click on the source link here.