LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 06: Jerry West is announced to the crowd in front of Gail Goodrich and Pat Riley as the 1972 NBA Championshipi team is honored at halftime during the game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on April 6, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ArticlesNBABy Stacey Mickles on

The NBA fans and sports fans in general were rocked once again by the news of the passing of another NBA great, Jerry West who passed away at the age of 86.

West was an NBA champion with the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers, a two-time NBA Executive of the Year, and perhaps most notably, he was the logo of the NBA which has become one of the most recognizable in sports

Naturally, fans from around the country are paying tribute to one of the greatest who ever played the game.

ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said about West:

“Jerry West lived a profound basketball and American life — iconic as a player, executive, and looming figure in the history of the game. He was an MVP, a champion, a gold medalist, a dynasty-builder and literally the league’s logo. His loss leaves a massive void.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers also paid tribute to West.

“The Dodgers mourn the passing of NBA Hall of Famer and Lakers legend Jerry West, an indelible figure on the Los Angeles sports landscape for more than 60 years. We send our most sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

On “First Take” Wednesday morning, host Stephen A. Smith also paid tribute to West.

“It’s incredibly sad,” Smith stated. “Jerry West was simply one of the great ones, he was the logo (for the NBA) for a reason. My heart goes out to him and the West, we know how special Jerry West was.”

“Just a brilliant, brilliant basketball mind somebody who loved the game, somebody who cared passionately about the game, about uplifting the game, and about people understanding and comprehending,” Smith added.

https://twitter..com/FirstTake/status/1800899554918764596

West passing is a tremendous loss to not only the NBA and the world of basketball but the sports world.

{First Take}

About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.

View all posts by Stacey Mickles