The basketball world is mourning the loss of Jerry West, the iconic NBA figure whose silhouette famously inspired the league's logo. The Los Angeles Clippers announced his passing at age 86 on Wednesday, describing him as 'the personification of basketball excellence.' 🌟
West, nicknamed 'Mr. Clutch,' spent his entire 14-season playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming a 14-time All-Star and leading the team to its first LA-era championship in 1972. His 1969 Finals MVP honor—awarded despite his team losing—remains one of sports' most legendary underdog stories. 🏆
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West 'a basketball genius' who 'embraced the biggest moments.' Beyond his playing career, West shaped modern basketball as an executive, helping build dynasties like the Showtime Lakers and the Warriors' championship rosters. 🏀💡
Fans worldwide are sharing tributes to the man who gave the NBA its visual identity—proof that true legends never fade. 💜💛
