Remembering the Incomparable Jerry West

Reflecting on the NBA’s most consequential personality and why losing him weighs so heavily on the basketball community

It can be said that no one has impacted the NBA and its history more than Jerry West. He is the player that the league’s logo is modeled after. He was an integral part of the story of the first chapter of Lakers vs Celtics, and he was an integral part of the formation of multiple pivotal teams as an executive. He was a fierce competitor and a basketball man through and through. West passed away this week at the age of 86. He gave so much to the game of basketball, and his impact on the game and multiple generations of players will be sorely missed. West is a modern success story; a person that overcame an abusive upbringing to find peace and a calling in basketball that spanned six decades.

Overcoming Abuse

It is estimated that roughly 600,000 American children are victims of child abuse and neglect every year. 16% of these children are victims of physical abuse, bearing scars that are left for years after the wounds on their bodies have healed. It is a terrifying thing to think about let alone to experience. This was Jerry West’s…