Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jerry West

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jerry West made an impact.

Jerry West was an iconic American basketball player and executive, primarily known for his remarkable career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Revered as one of basketball's all-time greats, West earned nicknames like "the Logo" due to his silhouette inspiring the NBA logo, and "Mr. Clutch" for his exceptional performance in critical moments, exemplified by his legendary 60-foot buzzer-beater in the 1970 NBA Finals. He was also called "Mr. Outside" for his perimeter skills and "Zeke from Cabin Creek" referencing his West Virginia roots. He left an indelible mark on the sport.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1958: Junior Year at WVU

During his junior year in 1958, Jerry West averaged 26.6 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game for WVU.

1959: NCAA Championship Game

In 1959, Jerry West led the West Virginia Mountaineers to the NCAA championship game and earned the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor.

1959: Final Collegiate Season

In his final collegiate season of 1959-1960, Jerry West achieved several career highs, including scoring 29.3 points per game and averaging 16.5 rebounds per game.

1960: Gold Medal at Summer Olympics

In 1960, Jerry West co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics.

1960: Drafted by Minneapolis Lakers

In 1960, Jerry West was drafted with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, becoming the first draft pick of the relocated franchise in Los Angeles.

1960: U.S. Olympic Gold Medal

In 1960, Jerry West was the co-captain of the U.S. Olympic gold medal team.

1961: Reached NBA Playoffs

In 1961, Jerry West helped the Lakers improve, reaching the NBA Playoffs, but they lost to the St. Louis Hawks.

January 17, 1962: Career High 63 Points

On January 17, 1962, Jerry West scored a career-high 63 points in a 129–121 win over the New York Knicks.

1962: NBA Finals Against the Celtics

In 1962, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, marking the beginning of a significant rivalry, but the Celtics won the series.

1963: Lakers Scoring Leader

In the 1963-64 NBA season, Jerry West became the Lakers' scoring leader for the first time.

1964: Averaged 31.0 Points Per Game

In the 1964-65 NBA season, Jerry West averaged 31.0 points per game, marking a career-high at the time.

1965: NBA Season Statistics

In 1965, Jerry West achieved a career-best average of 31.3 points per game, along with 7.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

1966: Injury and Reduced Stats

In 1966, Jerry West played only 66 regular-season games due to injury, leading to slightly reduced averages of 28 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game.

1967: Playoff Sweep and Coaching Change

In 1967, the Lakers had a disappointing season, winning only 36 games and being swept by the San Francisco Warriors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs; veteran coach Fred Schaus retired.

July 9, 1968: Trade for Wilt Chamberlain

On July 9, 1968, the Lakers traded Archie Clark, Darrall Imhoff, and Jerry Chambers for Wilt Chamberlain, leading to locker room tension and affecting West's play.

1968: Gail Goodrich returns to Lakers

In 1968, Gail Goodrich came back from the Phoenix Suns after playing for L.A. until 1968.

1969: Finals MVP on Losing Team

In 1969, Jerry West was named Finals MVP, making him the only player in NBA history to receive this honor despite being on the losing team.

1969: NBA Logo Design

In 1969, the NBA logo, designed by Alan Siegel, was created incorporating a silhouette based on a photograph of Jerry West. This solidified West's image as the face of the NBA.

1969: All-Defensive Team Selections

In 1969, when the All-Defensive Teams were introduced, Jerry West made every one of them until his career ended in 1974. This highlighted his defensive skills and contributions to the game.

1970: NBA Finals Loss to Knicks and Historic Shot

In 1970, Jerry West led the NBA in scoring, but the Lakers lost to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals despite West's incredible 60-foot shot in Game 3 to tie the game.

1970: Tied Game 3 of NBA Finals with Buzzer Beater

In 1970, Jerry West made a famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, contributing to his reputation as "Mr. Clutch."

1970: Reacquires Gail Goodrich

In the 1970-71 NBA Season, the Lakers reacquired Gail Goodrich who came back from the Phoenix Suns after playing for L.A. until 1968.

1971: Considering Retirement and Coaching Change

In 1971, Jerry West considered retirement due to frequent injuries and losses; Bill Sharman was hired as head coach.

1972: Deferring Team Captain Role to Chamberlain

In 1972, Jerry West deferred the role of team captain to Chamberlain. This year marked a shift in team dynamics as West took a backseat in leadership to accommodate Chamberlain's presence.

1972: NBA All-Star MVP and NBA Title

In 1972, Jerry West was chosen as the All-Star MVP and won the only NBA title of his career.

1972: Record-Breaking Season

In 1972, despite Elgin Baylor's retirement, the Lakers achieved a record-breaking season with a 33-game win streak and 69 regular-season wins; West led the league in assists and was named All-Star Game MVP.

1973: Final Season as a Player

The 1973 NBA season marked Jerry West's last as a player, averaging 20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game despite a strained groin that limited him to 31 games. He earned a spot in his final All-Star Game and served as team captain for the first time. After the 1973 season, West retired due to contract disagreements.

1974: End of NBA career

In 1974 Jerry Wests's NBA career came to an end. This was also the last year he was on an All-Defensive Team.

1976: Asked to Coach the Los Angeles Lakers

In 1976, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke recognized Jerry West's leadership and teaching qualities and asked him to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. This marked a transition from player to coach for West.

1977: Western Conference Finals

In 1977, Jerry West, as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, led the team and star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Western Conference finals. This was part of his three-year coaching stint where he achieved a 145-101 record.

1980: Lakers Win Championship

In 1980, as general manager, Jerry West helped the Lakers secure a championship ring. This was part of the Lakers' dynasty known as Showtime.

1982: Named Lakers General Manager

Before the 1982-83 NBA season, Jerry West was named general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.

1982: General Manager of the Lakers

Before the 1982-83 season, Jerry West became the general manager of the Lakers, succeeding Bill Sharman. He played a pivotal role in building the 'Showtime' Lakers dynasty, which brought multiple championships to Los Angeles.

1985: Lakers Win Championship

In 1985, as general manager, Jerry West contributed to the Lakers winning another championship ring, adding to the team's dynasty era.

1987: Lakers Win Championship

In 1987, Jerry West, in his role as general manager, assisted the Lakers in securing another championship ring, continuing the success of the 'Showtime' era.

1988: Lakers Win Championship

In 1988, Jerry West, as the general manager, played a vital role in the Lakers winning their fifth championship of the 'Showtime' era, solidifying the team's dominance.

1995: Executive of the Year Award

In 1995, Jerry West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his pivotal role in turning the Lakers around. This recognized his contributions to rebuilding the team and achieving success.

1996: Drafted Kobe Bryant and Signed Shaquille O'Neal

In 1996, Jerry West propelled the Lakers to championship contender status by trading Divac for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant and signing free agent center Shaquille O'Neal. These moves were crucial in forming a dominant team.

1999: Signed Phil Jackson as Coach

In 1999, Jerry West signed six-time NBA champion Phil Jackson as the Lakers' coach. This move was instrumental in setting the stage for a successful era, leading to multiple NBA titles.

2000: Departure from the Lakers

At the end of the 1999-2000 season, Jerry West departed from the Lakers after winning his sixth championship as an executive. He laid the foundation for the Lakers' three-peat from 2000 to 2002.

2002: Lakers Three-peat

Although Jerry West had left the team, in 2002 the Lakers completed a three-peat of NBA titles. This was something he laid the foundation for prior to his departure.

2002: General Manager of the Memphis Grizzlies

In 2002, Jerry West became the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, motivated by the desire to build a winning franchise that had not experienced much success. This marked a new chapter in his executive career.

2002: Named Grizzlies General Manager

In 2002, Jerry West became the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies.

2004: Executive of the Year Award

In 2004, Jerry West won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award during his tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies. That same year, Hubie Brown, who West signed as coach, became Coach of the Year.

2007: Retirement as Grizzlies General Manager

In 2007, Jerry West retired as the general manager of the Grizzlies and turned over managing duties to Chris Wallace. This concluded his stint with the Memphis franchise.

May 19, 2011: Joined Golden State Warriors

On May 19, 2011, Jerry West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member, reporting directly to the new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. This role also included a minority ownership stake in the team.

2015: NBA Title as Consultant with Golden State Warriors

In 2015, Jerry West won an NBA title as a consultant with the Golden State Warriors.

2015: Golden State Warriors title

In 2015, as a member of Golden State's front office, West was part of the team when the Warriors won a title.

2015: Warriors Championship

In 2015, the Golden State Warriors won their first championship in 40 years with Jerry West serving as a team executive. This championship marked the seventh earned by West in his executive career.

2016: Potential Clippers Move

During the 2016 season, Clippers coach Doc Rivers floated the idea of Jerry West joining the organization. This hinted at potential future changes in West's career path and alliances.

2016: Eighth Championship as an Executive

In the 2016-17 season, Jerry West earned his eighth championship while serving as a team executive. This further solidified his legacy as a successful executive in the NBA.

June 1, 2017: Expressed Interest in Returning to the Lakers

On June 1, 2017, Jerry West publicly stated he would have been interested in returning to the Lakers, but the opportunity did not materialize as they hired Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. This marked a potential turning point in his career path.