Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently spoke about the legacy of Jerry West, expressing profound sadness at his passing and reflecting on their long-standing relationship.
“My first thoughts were, I was really sad. You know, Jerry’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s going to be around all the time. And, uh, he’s not going to make it. I had known Jerry since I was 14 years old.”
“The background on it is my high school was only 12 blocks away from Madison Square Garden and the NBA used to practice there. And I met Jerry before he had played any professional games. That’s kind of crazy.”
“I was 14 years old, a freshman in high school, and I got there in time for practice and while we were waiting for the Lakers to finish practicing, Jerry just came up to me and started talking to me. You know, I was someone that he knew from high school or something like that.”
“He wanted to know what my interests were. He was interested in me. I doubt if there’s any place that Jerry has been that he didn’t make friends. I will always appreciate who he was, the man, and what he meant to athletics.”
“Just as a general manager, I played for him, you know, when he coached that year. And he gave everything his all. He didn’t hold back.”
Abdul-Jabbar recalled meeting West when he was just 14 years old, as his high school was near Madison Square Garden, where NBA teams practiced. West, not yet a professional player, approached Abdul-Jabbar and struck up a conversation, showing a genuine interest in the young student’s life and aspirations.
This early interaction left a lasting impression on Abdul-Jabbar, who admired West’s ability to make friends easily and appreciated his kindness and interest.
Reflecting on a significant moment in his career, Abdul-Jabbar highlighted the importance of defeating the Boston Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals.
“I started going to games in Madison Square Garden when I was 14 and seeing these guys play and seeing how much it meant to them in here. They were really serious about that game. It wasn’t a joke.”
“That was very special, you know, beating him in Boston Garden. That was very special and I was glad that Jerry was still associated with the team when that happened.”
Having attended games at Madison Square Garden since his teenage years, Abdul-Jabbar understood the seriousness and intensity of the competition. The victory in the Boston Garden was particularly meaningful, and Abdul-Jabbar felt it was special that West, still associated with the Lakers at the time, could share in that achievement.
West’s illustrious career includes being inducted into the Hall of Fame three times: as a member of the US Olympic team, as a player, and, soon, as a team executive. Abdul-Jabbar emphasized that West was perfectly suited for basketball, both on and off the court.
“Well, I think that he was someone who was made for the game, and the game was made for him. He proved it on the court and he proved it from the executor, from his executives here that he knew what he was doing and he did it right.”
"He was someone who was made for the game, and the game was made for him. He proved it on the court, and he proved it from his executive chair that he knew what he was doing, and he did it right." – @kaj33 on Jerry West. pic.twitter.com/C1wEzY6uIa
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) June 14, 2024
West’s exceptional talent and deep understanding of the game were evident in his accomplishments as a player and his successful transition to an executive role. Abdul-Jabbar’s reflections highlight West’s significant impact on basketball and his ability to inspire and connect with others throughout his remarkable career.
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