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Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and others react to Jerry West’s death: ‘There’s a reason he was a silhouette’

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On Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Clippers announced the passing of basketball legend Jerry West.

Throughout the day, the basketball world paid tribute to the late guard, a 14-time All-Star and championship-winning player whose silhouette inspired the NBA’s iconic logo.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement Wednesday morning offering his condolences to the basketball great and praising him for his accomplishments not only as a player but also as an executive.

“Jerry’s four decades with the Lakers included a successful career as a head coach and a distinguished front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in the history of sports. He built eight championship teams during his NBA tenure and a legacy that reflected his excellence on the court,” Silver said in a statement. “I value my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared about basketball and life with me over the years.”

The Clippers released a statement on behalf of owner Steve Ballmer praising his friend and colleague West, who had served on the Clippers’ board of directors since 2017.

“Today is a hard day,” Ballmer wrote, speaking of his personal relationship with West. “From the first day I met Jerry seven years ago, his intellect, integrity and passion have inspired me. He never quit.”

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who played his entire career with the Lakers under West as general manager, posted a lengthy tribute to his colleague and friend, sharing some personal anecdotes about West, during which the two won five championships together in Los Angeles.

“Every time I achieved a goal or hit a milestone, one of the first calls I received was from Jerry West. When I started a business, when I was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, when I was named president of basketball operations for the Lakers, he always picked up the phone and personally called to congratulate me,” Johnson wrote. “Beyond his accomplishments in the basketball world as a basketball player and NBA executive, Jerry West was a great person and leader, who loved his family and friends dearly, and was a lifelong Lakers fan despite working for other franchises…Today is a sad day for basketball fans and sports fans everywhere.”

Current Lakers star LeBron James praised West’s friendship on social media. “I will truly miss our conversations, my dear friend!” James wrote to X. “Rest in peace!”

James posted a second time about his “mentor” and “friend,” adding, “I hope I continue to make you all proud.”

NBA great Michael Jordan released a statement via ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who read it on Wednesday’s episode of “First Take.”

“I am deeply saddened by the news of Jerry’s passing. He was a true friend and mentor. He was like a brother to me,” Jordan said. “I always wished I could have played against him as a competitor, but the more I got to know him the more I wish we had been teammates…Rest in peace Logo.”

Smith also spoke about West’s passing on “First Take” and what he meant to the entire basketball world.

“The basketball world around the world is mourning this morning because Jerry West was truly one of the greats. There’s a reason he’s silhouetted,” Smith said.

The Golden State Warriors, where West served as a board member from 2011 to 2017 and helped the team win two NBA championships, released a statement on behalf of majority shareholder Joe Lacob, in which Lacob praised West and spoke personally about idolizing him as a child.

“He accomplished so much in his unparalleled career for the NBA, for basketball and for each team he was involved with, including the Warriors. Jerry had a profound and immeasurable impact on our franchise and was instrumental in our success over the last decade,” Lacob wrote. “To me, he was basketball. He embodied not only the actual game, but the competitive spirit. He was the most competitive person I have ever met and would not settle for anything less than greatness. He had to win. That was what drove him. He was larger than life. He was an icon.”

Additionally, Warriors coach Steve Kerr recorded a video praising West, calling him “one of the architects” of Golden State’s recent success and a “valued mentor.”

“Jerry lived a great life, obviously one of the great figures in NBA history, the greatest player of all time and one of the greatest managers of all time,” Kerr said. “He was a great person and a great leader and I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to know him in his later years.”

Another NBA legend, Pau Gasol, also took to social media to thank West. Best known for his time with the Lakers, Gasol began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2001-2008, overlapping with West’s tenure as general manager there.

“Rest in peace dear Jerry. Thank you for all you have done and given to this game,” Gasol wrote.

College basketball giant John Calipari, head coach at the University of Arkansas, paid tribute to West on social media, calling his death a “shock.” The two had been close friends since West was the Grizzlies’ general manager while Calipari was head coach of the Memphis Tigers.

“This logo has influenced every aspect of our sport,” Calipari said on X. “Our long conversations over the years have been basketball lessons for me.”

Byron Scott, a three-time NBA champion with the Lakers in the 1980s, noted West’s contributions to that team and his importance to him personally.

“Jerry West made Showtime a reality. You made me who I am. You believed in me when no one else did and for that I am forever grateful,” Scott wrote to X, calling West his “father of basketball.”

The West Virginia men’s basketball team also paid tribute to West, who played for the Mountaineers from 1957-1960, calling him “a legend in basketball history.” Born and raised in West Virginia, West’s jersey number 44 was retired by West Virginia University in 2005, making him the first basketball player in the school’s history to receive the honor.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a lifelong West Virginian, also paid tribute to the man.

“When you think of basketball, you think of Jerry West. From the coal mining regions of West Virginia to the biggest stage in sports, Jerry demonstrated mastery of the sport with grace and humility,” Manchin said in a statement. “He was a world-class athlete, a proud West Virginian and a great friend. Rest in peace, Jerry.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers also paid tribute to West, noting his influence in Los Angeles sports, calling him “a staple in Los Angeles sports for more than 60 years.”

Journalists and pundits also expressed condolences over West’s death and praised the late basketball player’s impact on the NBA. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote an article about West’s impact on X shortly after the announcement.

“Jerry West lived an incredible basketball and American life — an iconic figure as a player, an executive and a landmark in basketball history,” Wojnarowski wrote. “His death leaves a huge hole.”

West was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame twice, once as a player in 1980 and again in 2010 as co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team. The hall of fame paid tribute to the late player in a statement on social media.

“His tremendous impact on the game of basketball as a player and businessman was matched only by his character and integrity,” the statement read. “His contributions to the game of basketball will forever be hall of fame.”





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