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Late last month, the NBA world was shocked to its core when the news broke that Hall of Famer Bill Walton had passed away at 71 years old after a long battle with cancer.
The two-time NBA champion was a beloved member of the basketball community and mourned by all who loved him for what he had done on and off the court.
On Wednesday, basketball fans around the world, especially die-hard Los Angeles Lakers supporters, were rocked to their core once again when the news came out about the passing of another NBA legend, Jerry West.
West was one of the original superstars in the NBA, and his silhouette is on the league’s logo, which has given him the nickname “The Logo” by many, along with his other iconic nickname, “Mr. Clutch,” as one of the best performers in league history when the game is on the line.
The passing of West marks one of a few costly blows fans and the league has taken over the last few years, with his former teammate Elgin Baylor and former on-court rival Bill Russell also passing away recently.
According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, following the news of West’s passing, former Lakers teammate and head coach of the storied franchise Pat Riley released a statement.
Pat Riley statement on Jerry West: pic.twitter.com/yJ3wkxSR1z
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) June 12, 2024
Riley and West won an NBA title together on the Lakers in 1972, which they shared with fellow NBA icons Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain.
Despite West’s numerous trips to the NBA Finals and being the only NBA Finals MVP winner on a losing side, he won only one title during his playing days due to the juggernaut of Russell and the Boston Celtics at the time.
As for Riley, he was an incredibly successful head coach for the Lakers, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat and has followed in West’s footsteps as one of the greatest NBA executives in league history.
The post Pat Riley Issues Statement On The Passing Of Jerry West appeared first on The Cold Wire.