NBA legend Jerry West died at the age of 86 on Wednesday. He won nine NBA titles as a player and executive, seven with the Los Angeles Clippers and two with the Golden State Warriors.
As an executive, West transformed the NBA with his trading ability. He has made some of the most important behind-the-scenes decisions ever. He has been in the front offices of some of the finest NBA teams like Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers.
West was undoubtedly one of the best executives in NBA history. Let us have a look at five of his best decisions as an NBA executive.
Signed Shaquille O’Neal
West played an important role in the signing of free agent Shaquille O Neal in 1996. O’Neal went on to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. He won an MVP and three Finals MVPs with the Lakers and averaged 27.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks in eight postseasons.
Traded Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant
In 1996, White traded superstar Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant. Bryant averaged 22.6 points in the playoffs only behind Shaquille O’Neal. They formed a formidable partnership together winning three straight NBA titles in a row. He further averaged 29.2 points in playoff games in the post-O’Neal era.
Bryant went on to win two more championships in 2009 and 2010 to bring his total to five.
Assembling the Warriors Superteam
White switched to the Golden State Warriors in 2011 and spent six seasons there. During this time he changed the history of NBA. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were his first two drafts followed by Andre Iguodala in 2013.
His famous move came in 2016 when he convinced Kevin Durant to join the Warriors. Under his guidance, the Warriors won four NBA championships.
“West’s influence turned the Warriors from a league laughingstock to the league’s lodestar,” Dieter Kurtenbach wrote for the Mercury News
Signed Kawhi Leonard
West convinced recently crowned Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to join the Clippers in 2019. He also managed to trade Paul George in the same season making the Clippers contenders again. Clippers made their first and only conference finals appearance under West’s guidance in 2021.
Building the Lakers dynasty
Jerry West was an integral part of the Lakers and NBA’s success. He helped to build the ‘LA Showtime Dynasty’ where he won five NBA titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988 in Los Angeles. He won Executive of the Year Award in 1995.
West left the Lakers at the end of the 1999-2000 season. He also laid the foundation of Laker’s three championships between 2000 and 2002.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
