The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Tuesday they will honor the late Jerry West by wearing a commemorative No. 44 band on the left shoulder of their jerseys during the 2024-25 season, which tips off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, West played his entire 14-year career with the Lakers, leading the franchise to the 1971-72 NBA championship. He was also a 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Defensive Team member.
West finished his career with 25,192 points, 6,238 assists and 5,366 rebounds and is the only player to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team, as he averaged 37.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds in a 4-3 series loss to the Boston Celtics in 1968-69.
He was later a successful coach and executive, coaching the Lakers from 1976-79 and spending time in their front office from 1979-2000, winning six championships and laying the foundation for Los Angeles’ three-peat from 2000-02.
West, who passed away in June at the age of 86, was also the general manger of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002-07 and executive board member of the Golden State Warriors from 2011-17 and Los Angeles Clippers from 2017-24.
He won two more titles with the Warriors in 2014-15 and 2016-17, adding to a resume that will saw him inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame a record three times, including as a player (1980), a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team (2010) and as a contributor to the game (2024).
The Lakers also plan to honor West, whose silhouette is the inspiration for the NBA iconic logo, during the season opener against the Timberwolves with a fan giveaway featuring jerseys with West’s No. 44.