Jerry West’s Heartbreaking Final Reflections: “I Wish I Had Never Played or Worked for the Lakers”
NBA legend Jerry West, who passed away in June 2024, shared surprising and emotional reflections in an interview with ESPN just months before his death. West, who spent his entire 14-year playing career and later served as an executive with the Los Angeles Lakers, revealed that he wished his path had never crossed with the iconic organization.
West played a pivotal role both on and off the court for the Lakers. After retiring as a player, he served as an executive from 1979 to 2000, helping to shape the franchise during some of its most successful years. However, his tenure ended after conflicts with Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss, which led to his departure.
In the interview with ESPN, West expressed his struggles, saying, “Look at the tragedies happening around the world. As I witnessed everything, I started to think, ‘Have I pushed my luck too far by constantly putting pressure on myself to make a difference?’ I normally thrive under pressure, but at some point, I realized it wasn’t good for me. Looking back, I sometimes think I wish I had never played for or worked with the Lakers.”
Jerry West, known as “The Logo” due to his silhouette being used as the NBA’s logo, had an illustrious career, averaging 27.0 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. He was a 14-time NBA All-Star and led the Lakers to a championship in 1972. His contributions to the game were recognized when he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.
