A Quick Look Into Jerry West Career And Stats; A Legendary Basketball Player Whose Picture Is The Source For NBA Logo
Jerry West might perhaps be the best player to step on the court. He is a G.O.A.T. Combine tenacious defense, a deadly jump shot, obsessive perfectionism, unlatching confidence, and an uncompromising desire to win, and there’s Jerry West, one of the greatest guards in NBA history.
But did you know that logo on NBA is the shade of the greatest Jerry West? Well here’s the story behind the scenes!
The man behind the logo!
Caption: NBA logo on the right and Jerry West on the right.
Photo credit: liverampup.com
The National Basketball Association (NBA) was locked in a bitter battle against its upcoming rival in 1969, the American Basketball Association. Everything was at stake: fans, players, media and millions of dollars.
The NBA then turned to Alan Siegel who is the founder of Siegel+Gale. Looking for inspiration, Siegel glared through the photo archives of a various Sports magazine.
An explicit photo of the All-Star Jerry West grabbed his attention. All in all his photo was dynamic, and it captured the essence of the game.
Siegel who is a branding expert, as well as a basketball fan says he exactly knows why the NBA is resistant to acknowledge the obvious.
"They want to institutionalize it rather than individualizing it. It's become such a ubiquitous, classic symbol and focal point of their identity and their licensing program that they don't necessarily want to identify it with one player."
On the other hand, NBA Commissioner David Stern declines to comment through a representative, saying he doesn't know whether the player in the logo is West. Stern’s spokesman Tim Frank says;
"There's no record of it here,”
Legendary Carrer!
The 78-year-old from West Virginia, the first ballot Hall of Famers, was an extraordinarily versatile player to play in almost every position in the court and was named to the first five NBA All-Defensive Teams.
As of today, he still holds the record for points per game in a single playoff series, Stats averaging 46.3. Even today’s legendary LeBron James isn't doing that in the current series.
Moreover, Jerry awards included six championships as the GM of the Lakers. He was also named NBA Executive of the Year after completely turning around the Grizzlies in 2004. They called him Mr. Clutch and Mr. Outside, and they still must till the game will be played!
Caption: Legendary Los Angeles Lakers and NBA Hall of Fame player Jerry West was joined by his family members and friends during the ceremony to an unveiling of a bronze statue.
Photo credit: ringochiu.blogspot.com
Los Angeles Lakers and NBA legend Jerry West has long been inducted in fame in the field of basketball as the NBA logo. But on February 18, 2011, Jerry’s permanence came in the form of a statue. The basketball icon was honored with a bronze statue at Staples Center, joining the likes of Magic Johnson, Oscar De La Hoya, Wayne Gretzky and Chick Hearn. West said:
"To be honored by the people I admire most is just incredible. ... I played for the fans of L.A. and particularly my teammates. Every time I put on a Laker uniform, I was filled with a tremendous sense of pride."
14-time All-Star legendary player averaged 29.1 points a game in the postseason, and his legendary No. 44 jersey has already hung in the Staples Center rafters.