What was Michael Jordan’s tribute to the late NBA legend Jerry West?

From his career as a player to his success as a coach, Jerry West had a profound impact on the NBA and one that continues to be seen to this day. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Michael Jordan himself was moulded by the Lakers legend.

Michael Jordan’s heartfelt message about Jerry West

In the wake of his death, there have been countless expressions of grief and tribute regarding NBA legend Jerry West who died at the age of 86 on Wednesday. Yet, there is one - certainly amongst NBA alumni - that stands out and that is the message from fellow Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend spoke openly in a statement about his long friendship with West, one that had a major effect on his career. Speaking on ESPN’s ‘First Take’, host Stephen A. Smith read Jordan’s text live on air.

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“I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry’s passing. He was truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me,” Jordan wrote. “I valued his friendship and knowledge. I always wished I could’ve played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate. I admired his basketball insights. He and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game. He will be forever missed. My condolences to his wife, Karen, and sons. Rest in Peace, Logo.”

West of course played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 14 years, averaging 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. During that time, he managed to lead the Lakers to one championship, 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA team nominations, and five All-Defense teams. To this day, he remains the only player in NBA history to win a Finals MVP while playing for the losing team. Indeed, it was during that period that his silhouette was used for the what is now the universally known NBA logo, hence his nickname, ‘The Logo.’ Following his playing career, West would go on to serve as Lakers head coach for five seasons, before working as a scout and later the general manager. Between 2002 and 2007 he would fill the role of GM for the Memphis Grizzlies following his 2000 retirement from the Lakers. In recent years, West was an executive board member of the Golden State Warriors as well as a consultant for the Los Angeles Clippers with whom he had been working since 2017.