On Friday it was announced that West Virginia legend Jerry West is a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Contributor Committee class.
After a successful playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, including being an all-star in all 14 seasons he played and winning one NBA championship, West became the Lakers’ coach in 1976, holding the position for three seasons going 145-101.
He would stay on Los Angeles’ staff as a scout for three years before becoming general manager in 1982, helping the Lakers become a dynasty in the 80’s.
West would earn six rings in his time with the Lake Show, having had NBA legends such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, later adding Shaquille O’Neal in free agency and trading for Kobe Bryant after he was drafted.
He then became the Memphis Grizzlies GM in 2002, leading a rebuild before stepping down in 2007. West was hired by the Golden State Warriors as an executive in 2011, serving in that position for six years before becoming a consultant for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017.
West was a two-time NBA Executive of the Year (1995,2004) and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 as a player.
West is among coach/broadcaster Doug Collins and owner Herb Simon as finalists.
