The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, and one of their icons will be a part of the team's 2024-2025 campaign.
On Tuesday, the Lakers announced that they’ll wear commemorative No. 44 bands on the left shoulder of their jerseys to honor the late Jerry West, who passed away June 12.
The second overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, West became a 14-time All-Star and 12-time All-NBA selection. He played so well that he wasn’t just a face of his generation, but the man behind the NBA logo’s mask. Starring for the Lakers in their first season after relocating from Minneapolis, he helped build the franchise’s popularity from the outset.
With a career that resembles that of LeBron James’ in some ways, West went 1-8 in the NBA Finals. However, when he led the Lakers to a victory over the New York Knicks in the 1972 NBA Finals, it was all but a storybook ending for the eventual Hall of Famer. Less than two seasons later, West retired as the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer.
After a brief stint as the Lakers’ head coach during the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era, he became one of the most respected executives in the NBA. West stayed with his beloved Lakers and was a part of some of the most successful and sensational teams. Dubbed the “Showtime Lakers,” this squad ran on the magic of a different point guard.
They would win five championships before West set the wheels in motion to acquire two of the most iconic stars in franchise history: Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
West was with the franchise for the duo’s first championship season then departed for the Memphis Grizzlies, seeking a new challenge.
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