Origins & Early Life

Jerry Alan West (May 28, 1938 – June 12, 2024) was an American basketball player and executive. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is universally regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His nicknames included "the Logo", in reference to his silhouette being the basis for the NBA logo; "Mr. Clutch", for his ability to make a big play in a key situation such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks; "Mr.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Outside", in reference to his perimeter play with the Lakers and "Zeke from Cabin Creek" for the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia. West played college basketball for the West Virginia Mountaineers, leading them to the 1959 NCAA championship game. He earned the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor despite the loss in the championship. He then embarked on a 14-year career with the Lakers and was the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team, a squad that was inducted as a unit into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Playing mostly the guard position, West was voted 12 times into the...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Bond — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Albert Fert — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Pioneering physicist known for the discovery of giant magnetoresistance.
• Behrouz Vossoughi — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Esteemed Iranian actor, celebrated for his intense performances across film and theatre.
• Alain Delon — Contemporary (Died in 2024) (2024): Iconic French actor, producer, and cinematic leading man of the 20th century.
• Anouk Aimée — Contemporary (Died in 2024) (2024): Iconic French actress known for her captivating roles from the 1940s to 2010s.
• Arno Allan Penzias — Contemporary (Died in 2024) (2024): Pioneering radio astronomer known for discovering cosmic microwave background radiation.
• Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau — Shared historical date (05-28 · Born) (1925): Master German baritone, renowned for Lieder and unparalleled vocal versatility.
• Edward VIII — Shared historical date (05-28 · Died) (1972): King of the UK and Duke of Windsor, known for his brief reign and later life.
• Anne Frank — Shared historical date (06-12 · Born) (1929): German-born diarist whose secret writings documented life in hiding during the Holocaust.
• Bounty Killer — Shared historical date (06-12 · Born) (1972): Influential Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay known for aggressive lyricism.
• 1938 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1938
• May 28 (05-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 28
• 2024 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2024
• June 12 (06-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 12