Jerry West is remembered as the "logo" of the NBA because his silhouette was used as the actual logo of the league. However, he has also left his imprint as a true master of the game.
For those who shame LeBron James for his NBA Finals series record of 4-6, Jerry West has it worse with 1-8. He kept on losing to the pre-ABA merger Boston Celtics, and won his sole title in 1972 with one of the greatest teams ever assembled, setting the record for the longest winning streak ever in the NBA with 33 straight.
Side note: LeBron James and Jerry West have identical win-loss records in the NBA Finals (22-33).
West's other distinction is being the first NBA Finals MVP, and the only person to win the award playing for the losing team in 1969, another epic battle with the Boston Celtics. It's easy for casual fans to tag West as the NBA's biggest loser, but that would be a narrow-minded observation. Casual fans often use Michael Jordan's immaculate 6-0 NBA Finals record, basically saying that not making the NBA Finals is better than losing in the NBA Finals.
It's like saying you would rather have your child not win any award or honors rather than finishing second place. That's exactly how absurd it is. But it's not a fashionable argument when used in LeBron's defense. They would only listen if it's argued for Jerry West.
Genius, Not Perfect
West is often more appreciated for his exploits after he retired from playing. While many players often tarnish their career accomplishments by being bad coaches, general managers, or co-owners, West cemented his legacy as one of the true masters of the game far beyond his retirement from the actual court.
Side note: For me, West along with Larry Bird are the true masters of the sport. West has been involved in the most number of championship teams after he retired. Meanwhile, Bird has won awards in all levels of the game: MVP, Finals MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
West was the primary architect of the Showtime Lakers, even as he left actual coaching. He was still involved with the storied Laker franchise. However, it was building the next dynasty after Showtime that proved to be his crowning achievement. The Shaq-Kobe tandem was the ultimate high-risk, high-reward maneuver, and West was brave enough to gamble.
Genius involves a lot of bravery, and sometimes you have to lose as well. In 1985, Bill Walton wanted to make a comeback, and wanted to play for an established team. It was not well-known that he called the Lakers first, but it was Jerry West who became hesitant, considering Walton's injury history.
Walton eventually won his last title and Sixth Man of the Year award with the 1986 Boston Celtics. It was probably a miss for West, but they eventually retaliated the following year, acquiring another first overall pick, Mychal Thompson. That was instrumental for the Lakers winning the next two championships, and winning the head-to-head Lakers-Celtics record for the decade.
Prudence Also Wins
Speaking of Mychal Thompson, another West legacy involved his son, Klay Thompson. While West's hesitation made the Lakers lose an opportunity, there was another time when West was cautious.
In 2014, West was involved with the Golden State Warriors. They were a team on the rise, but they had a thin frontline. On the other hand, they had two great shooters in their backcourt: Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
At that time, the NBA's top trade draw was Kevin Love, a double-double machine rotting away with the Minnesota Timberwolves. There was heat all over the Klay for Love trade, and pundits thought it was the obvious move.
The Warriors were divided over the trade, with one camp, supposedly even ownership, in favor of pulling the trigger. West was reportedly the most adamant on keeping Klay. We all know how that story ended, and West had another dynasty feather in his cap.
More than just an iconic player, West was a true genius of the game. Relentless and dedicated, it's never too late to win.
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