Hall Of Famer And Former Lakers Executive Was 86

Jerry West, NBA Legend and Logo, Dies at 86

Hall of Famer and Former Lakers Executive Was 86

Jerry West, the NBA legend and Hall of Fame player whose silhouette became the inspiration for the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning at the age of 86, the LA Clippers announced. West was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player, coach, and executive.

How West Became The Logo

In 1969, the NBA commissioned a new logo for the league from designer Alan Siegel. Siegel was inspired by a photograph of West dribbling the ball and created a silhouette that has become one of the most iconic logos in all of sports.

West was a 14-time NBA All-Star and won a championship with the Lakers in 1972. He later served as the Lakers' general manager and won another championship in 1980. In 1996, he was named the NBA's Executive of the Year.

West was also a successful businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Jerry West Foundation, which supports underprivileged children. He was also a member of the board of directors of several companies, including Nike and Adidas.