I’ll leave you with this, Jerry. If you had one word to describe his impact on the league, what would it be? Jerry West: Well, there’s probably — leadership, in a time of need. His unique leadership in a time of need, when this league was really undergoing a lot of stuff that wasn’t always privy to the newspaper. The drugs, the declining attendance, every bit of turmoil that this league has had was under his leadership, every bit of it. And he handled that so beautifully, I can’t tell you. He was strong-willed, and his leadership through those times got this league back up and running at the highest level that we had ever seen it.
Tag: Jerry West
It’s important to Payton that Russell …
It’s important to Payton that Russell and all the members of his generation get their due. “I always tell kids, and people in this generation, I don’t care what you think about your game, you’re game ain’t like that. Your game ain’t start like that. People came before that paved the way for what you’re doing. Get up. If you see Dr. J, if you see Bill Russell … all these dudes, man, if you see these types of guys, man, Jerry West, man, get up and shake their hand and tell them, ‘Hello. How’re you doin’? I’ve idolized you.’ And even if you don’t, go YouTube ’em.”
NBA legend Jerry West has sold his …
West’s leaving behind a …
West’s leaving behind a 3,468-square-foot Bay Area home with four bedrooms and five baths. It features a master and a junior suite and a patio with both ceiling heat and a fireplace, among many other amenities, including membership in the Stonebrae Country Club.
The series stars Jason Clarke as Laker …
The series stars Jason Clarke as Laker legend Jerry West, the team’s general manager for much of the ’80s; John C. Reilly as team owner Jerry Buss; newcomer Quincy Isaiah as Earvin “Magic” Johnson; and former UC-Berkeley basketball player and Harlem Globetrotter Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Jerry West: So at the end of the day, …
Jerry West: So at the end of the day, we gave up three of our draft picks and a terrific young player in Shai, who I think we all feel horrible about. And Gallo (Gallinari), who is a very good player himself. Those are the difficult things, letting players go who you really like. I think Shai is going to be an All-Star player in this league for a long time, and he’ll keep getting better. But we have two finished products right in the prime of their careers (in Leonard and George) – or just getting in the prime of their careers. Two of them who have the same DNA – great offensive players, but more importantly really great defensive players. And I’m not talking about good defensive players, I’m talking about great defensive players. Those players decide games on both ends of the floor.
What is this LA scene like for you to …
What is this LA scene like for you to see? You’re always going to be a founding father of hoops out here, and we’ve never seen a landscape where the Clippers and Lakers were both this good at the same time. With you and your history here, what is it like now that it’s real? Jerry West: I think LeBron James said it best: It’s the best for basketball fans in Southern California right now. …I’m sure Christmas Day (between the Lakers and Clippers) is going to be a huge day for basketball watching in Southern California, and we should – barring any injuries – we should be at full health and hopefully they’ll be at full health. But it’s a great time to be a basketball fan in Los Angeles, because who are you going to root for?
Jerry West: You’re playing on the same …
Jerry West: You’re playing on the same court, with better shoes. It might have been even easier (back) then if we would’ve had all those things. But as I say, the pressure and strain that you put on your body – some bodies react differently. And we’re talking about these 6-(foot)-10 guys who weigh 250, 260 pounds… You think about the enormous amount of torque you put on your body when you’re that big. I marvel at LeBron James. My gosh, you just watch him out there and how he gets around the court and, more importantly, all the time that he puts in conditioning and I marvel that, at this age, he’s still able to perform. It’s amazing. He pays attention, and he’s dedicated. That’s why he’s lasted so long, and I think, more importantly, why he’s still one of the great players that the game has ever seen.