“Rest in Peace, Logo”: Michael Jordan Is “Deeply Saddened” by the Death of Jerry West, Sends Text Message to Stephen A. Smith

“I think Michael Jordan is the greatest. I think he deserves it,” Jerry West had said about the league’s logo changing from him to His Airness, as per Stephen A. Smith. However, MJ always looked up to West as an “older brother” and only wished to be his teammate. The mutual respect the two shared for each other was put forth by the ESPN analyst, who read out Jordan’s statement upon the Los Angeles Lakers icon’s passing.

Michael Jordan sent a message to Smith, paying tribute to one of the greatest NBA players and person. “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. I valued his friendship and knowledge. I always wished I played against him as a competitor but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate.”

He further stated how the two of them connected on the same wavelength when talking about basketball. “I admired his basketball insights, and he and I shared many similarities to how we approach the game. He will forever be missed. My condolences to his family, Karen and his sons. Rest in Peace, Logo.”

There are not many NBA greats with more championships than His Airness but Jerry West was one of the few. While he won just 1 championship as a player, he won 8 titles as an executive in a storied career. His contributions were so great that the NBA incorporated his silhouette for the logo in 1969 and it has remained unchanged since. But he was never arrogant about it. In fact, he was even ready to let someone else take the spotlight on the NBA logo. That someone being Michael Jordan.

While reading MJ’s tribute to West, Smith also revealed how his first conversation with Mr. Clutch went. “The first time I ever had this conversation with him, that’s when our relationship took off because he heard me saying that Michael Jordan… the silhouette should be changed to Michael Jordan from him. And he wasn’t calling to refute it. He was calling because he felt like I sounded like it’s something he would refute. And he was saying, ‘Absolutely not. I think Michael Jordan’s the greatest. I think he deserves it,’” Smith said.

Further, Smith also shared that even though West was outspoken, he still was very articulate with his words. He truly embodied the game of basketball. Since he not only passionately cared about the game, he was also important in uplifting the game. Smith also shared his own message on West’s passing.

Smith Echoed Michael Jordan’s sentiment

“It’s incredibly sad. The basketball community the world over is mourning on this particular morning because Jerry West was simply one of the great ones. He was the silhouette for a reason,” said Smith.” We know that he was a champion. We know all those times he was going to the Finals. We know that he was relevant to the game of basketball, literally,  from the sixties until he passed away in his sleep last night.”

In his executive career, West won 8 NBA championships: 6 with the Lakers and 2 with the Golden State Warriors. West was one of the primary reasons Shaquille O’Neal signed with the Lakers in 1996 and he was the one who saw potential in an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant. He is also credited for building the core of the Warriors’ dynasty of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. More importantly, he threatened to quit if the Warriors traded Klay Thompson for Kevin Love in 2014. We all know how these decisions played out.

A visionary, a pioneer, and more importantly, a strong personality that people could look up to. Jerry West, both an on-court and off-court icon, has left behind a legacy that spans his playing and executive careers.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.