Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images The basketball world is in mourning on Wednesday following the death of legendary Los Angeles Lakers star Jerry West. Tributes have poured in over the course of the day and one of the latest came from fellow Lakers legend Magic Johnson. He took his time to compose a stirring and heartfelt tribute to one of the sport's most iconic players.
"I met Jerry West for the first time in 1979 at the Forum where he introduced me to Bill Sharman, Chick Hearn, and then Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke," Johnson said on social media this afternoon . "My father, agent and I negotiated over lunch then Jerry took me to the locker room to show me my Lakers jersey. I started to cry and Jerry explained to me the expectation of wearing the purple and gold, how he saw my role, and how he envisioned me fitting into the organization.
I’ll never forget that moment." Not only did Jerry help bring Magic into the organization, he also taught Johnson to be a student of the game. "When training camp began, he gave me so many golden nuggets and really critiqued every facet of my game.
After every practice he would give me notes on how I could get better and those sessions carried over to the regular season," Johnson said. "Once a week we went over what I needed to improve and how I could dominate in the league. Those meetings meant everything to me because I learned so much from him.
" Johnson was heartbroken by the loss of a "great friend" who was there for him through his darke.
