Jerry West Gets the Ultimate Show of Respect in Ex-UFC Champ’s Gesture After NBA Legends Sad Demise

Jerry West was a legendary figure in the NBA and practically everybody in the sports industry knows who he is. Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, he created unforgettable moments like his 60-foot shot against the New York Knicks in the 1970 NBA finals. West is also the face of the NBA because the three-time Hall of Famer is a silhouette in the NBA logo. Unfortunately, the world is mourning as he passed away at the age of 86 in Los Angeles.

Apart from the NBA industry, celebrities from other sports are also paying tribute to the legendary figure. One of them is Jamahal Hill who recently fought against Alex Pereira in UFC 303.

Jamahal Hill pays tribute to Jerry West

Hill shared a post of the legendary NBA player from Bleacher Report and wrote a simple caption in his Instagram story. He wrote, “RIP to the Logo Man !”

The three-time basketball Hall of Fame inductee and the inspiration for the NBA logo passed away but left the entire sports industry extremely sad. He was nicknamed Mr Clutch for his late-game heroics among other achievements.

Even UFC’s famous reporter Ariel Helwani, who is a well-known basketball fanatic, reacted to West’s passing. While Helwani is never at a loss for words, his tweet was short and paid tribute to West. He even included a picture of the basketball icon from his prime days, as he tweeted, “Rest in Peace, Jerry West. What a life”.

Jerry West spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers and achieved world championship glory in the 1972 NBA Finals. The king of the NBA also appeared in the JAXXON podcast in April 2024 and spoke about his love for the UFC.

West said that he loved the technicalities and the teaching aspect of combat sports, but admitted that he could not imagine working with someone and having to fight them. He said that fighting one’s colleague was like, “beating your brother up.”

Jerry West and his love for UFC and MMA

Jerry West even talked about Fedor Emelianenko and impressed the hosts of the JAXXON podcast. He said that the heavyweight was a beast. When the hosts invited him to a UFC fight, West was elated to join the audience, but unfortunately, that will not happen anymore.

West was not only a basketball legend but he was also an executive in the NBA. He became the first member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to be inducted both as a contributor and as a player. The tragic news of his death has shaken the whole world but the athletes will remember him long after he is gone. “The Logo Man” is a legend and his light will hopefully guide the NBA and the UFC to get even better.