Early Life and Education of Jerry West: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of Jerry West. A timeline of key moments.
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.
May 28, 1938: Jerry West's Birth
On May 28, 1938, Jerry Alan West was born. He would later become an iconic American basketball player and executive.
1951: Brother's Death in Korean War
In 1951, Jerry West's older brother, David, was killed in action in the Korean War, leading Jerry to become shy and introverted.
1953: Grew to 6 feet Tall
During the summer of 1953, Jerry West grew to 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m).
1955: Attended Mountaineer Boys State
In 1955, Jerry West attended the session of Mountaineer Boys State.
1956: All-American and West Virginia Player of the Year
In 1956, Jerry West was named All-American and West Virginia Player of the Year.
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.
April 1960: Marriage to Martha Jane Kane
In April 1960, Jerry West married his college sweetheart Martha Jane Kane in Morgantown. This marked the beginning of their family life together.
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.
1961: Baylor Called to U.S. Army Reserves
During the 1961-62 NBA season, Elgin Baylor was called up by the U.S. Army Reserves and could play only 48 games.
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.
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: Divorce from Martha Jane Kane
In 1976, Jerry West and Martha Jane Kane divorced. They had three sons together.
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.
1978: Second Marriage to Kristine "Karen" Bua
In 1978, Jerry West married his second wife, Kristine "Karen" Bua. This marked a new chapter in his personal life.
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.
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: 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.
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.
2011: Release of Memoir "West by West"
In 2011, Jerry West and Jonathan Coleman released a memoir entitled "West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life". The book became a New York Times bestseller and received critical acclaim.
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.
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.
2019: Jonnie West's Marriage to Michelle Wie
In 2019, Jerry West's son Jonnie, who played guard for West's college team, the West Virginia Mountaineers, married professional golfer Michelle Wie. Jonnie is the director of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Warriors.
December 17, 2020: NBA Investigation
On December 17, 2020, it was reported that Jerry West and the Los Angeles Clippers were under investigation by the NBA following a lawsuit filed by John Wilkes regarding the recruitment of Kawhi Leonard. This introduced a controversy during his tenure with the Clippers.
April 19, 2022: Demanded Retraction from HBO
On April 19, 2022, Jerry West demanded a retraction from HBO within two weeks for the "cruel" and "deliberately false" depiction of him in the series "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty". He was portrayed as a temperamental and foul-mouthed executive.
