The world is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic people, Jerry West. Not only was West one of the greatest players of all time and one of the founders of the modern NBA, but he was a basketball lifer who did great work in other areas outside the court itself. West rightfully earned the honor of being depicted dribbling a basketball in the NBA's logo, as he, alongside Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and a few others, helped build the league from its infancy into what it would become.
The legend remains one of the most entertaining players to watch across any era of basketball due to his skill and creativity that was long before his time. After his playing career ended, West immediately transitioned into other roles in the NBA and succeeded in all of them. He served as the head coach, a player scout, and general manager for the Lakers and also worked as an executive for the , and .
Until the very end of his great life, West was contributing to the NBA's affairs. It is now time to look back on his legendary, but extraordinarily unlucky career. West played in a time when there were fewer teams in the NBA, spending many years in a league with fewer than ten franchises competing.
With this being the case, all the talent seemed to be concentrated on a few rosters, and mainly the . Russell's Celtics are well-known for capturing eleven titles in thirteen years during the 1950s and 1960s, but the lesser known part of it is that they won six of them at the expense of West's Lake.