Olympic champion and NBA logo inspiration Jerry West dies aged 86 - Basketball legends pay tribute

Jerry West, the USA basketball icon, Olympic champion, and the inspiration for the NBA logo, has passed away at the age of 86.

Legends of the sport were quick to pay their tributes after the news was announced by the Los Angeles Clippers, where West had served as executive board member and consultant since 2017.

In a statement, the team announced, “Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86. His wife, Karen, was by his side.”

West won gold with the US at the Olympic Games Rome 1960, the country’s fifth straight triumph in the men’s basketball competition. The following year he was named in the NBA All-Star Game, one of the first athletes to achieve these two feats together.

The hall of famer spent his entire playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning the NBA Finals in 1972 and being named in the NBA All-Star Game in every one of his 14 seasons as a pro player in LA.

West’s status has long been immortalised in the iconic NBA logo, which is based on a photo of the point guard dribbling the ball in a match. This earnt him the nickname ‘the Logo’, as well as ‘Mr. Clutch’ for his influence in making game-defining shots or plays.

Following his retirement from playing, West moved into coaching and team management, and as an executive helped create the successful LA Lakers team which won five titles in nine years including storied players such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also signed Shaquille O'Neill and drafted Kobe Bryant, with NBA players including LeBron James paying tribute on social media following the news.