Jerry West
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain

Person in history

Jerry West

Jerry West, American basketball player and executive (born 1938)

Life at a glance

Died
2024 · June 12
Known as
basketball player, basketball coach, and sports executive. Citizenship: United States

Their story

Who they were

Jerry Alan West was an American basketball player and executive. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is universally regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His nicknames included "the Logo", in reference to his silhouette being the basis for the NBA logo; "Mr. Clutch", for his ability to make a big play in a key situation such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks;

Early life

Educated at: West Virginia University.

Early life West was born into a poor household in Chelyan, West Virginia , on May 28, 1938. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] He was the fifth of six children of Cecil Sue West, a housewife, and Howard Stewart West, a coal mine electrician. [ 3 ] West's father physically abused him, and West has stated that for a time he slept with a loaded shotgun under his bed out of fear that he might have to kill his father in self-defense. [ 4 ] West was an outgoing and aggressive child in his youth. In 1951,

Path and career

Awards / honours: All-NBA Team, All-NBA Team, All-NBA Team, and All-NBA Team.

Professional career Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974) 1960–64: Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside West made himself available for the 1960 NBA draft , and he was drafted with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers , shortly before the team relocated to Los Angeles. West became the first draft pick ever of the relocated franchise. [ 1 ] His college coach, Schaus, was also hired that same season to coach the Lakers. He played West as a guard , in contrast to West's college days as a forward . [ 2 ]

Why this date

Jerry West appears on our June 12 calendar for 2024 as a death entry.

Sources

Cite this page

“Jerry West”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/people/jerry-west, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about Jerry West

When did Jerry West die?

June 12 2024.

Who else was born on this day?

The date page lists everyone we hold for that calendar day.

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