This time as ‘contributor to the game’
Basketball legend Jerry West will enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for a record third time, ESPN reported this week.
His latest election comes as a contributor to the game, sources told the sports network on Wednesday.
West, 85, has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1979 and as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team in 2010.
The contributor enshrinement will honor his work as a general manager with the Lakers (1982-2000) and Memphis Grizzlies (2002-07), in addition to his time as a consultant with the Golden State Warriors (2011-17) and in his current position with the Clippers.
While in those roles, West has won eight championships and was twice named NBA Executive of the Year.
West also won an NBA championship as a player.
He was credited as the architect of the Lakers in the 1980s and 1990s during his 18 seasons as general manager, including the deal that brought Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles.
Before joining the Clippers in 2017, West spent six years with the Warriors and helped the team win titles in 2015 and 2017. He also spent five years in Memphis' front office, rebuilding the franchise.
As a player, West was a 14-time All-Star with the Lakers, and was the inspiration for the NBA's logo.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will officially be announced April 6 in Phoenix during the NCAA Men's Final Four. The ceremony will take place Aug. 16-17 in Springfield, Mass.
