Jerry West Net Worth - Pulptastic

What is Jerry West’s Net Worth?

Jerry West, a retired American basketball player, has a net worth of $50 million dollars. He spent his entire career in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers. West played as a guard and was voted 12 times to the All-NBA First and Second Teams. He also played in nine NBA Finals throughout his career.

After retiring from playing, West became the head coach of the Lakers for three years. Later, he became the team’s general manager. In 1996, West was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. He was also the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team in Rome.

Jerry West’s Early Life and College Career

Jerry West was born in 1938 in Chelyan, West Virginia. He became introverted after the death of his older brother David in the Korean War. He played basketball under coach Duke Shaver at East Bank High School, where he was named All-State and All-American. West led his school to a state championship title in 1956. He attended West Virginia University, where he achieved a perfect record of 17 wins with no losses during his freshman year. He tied the NCAA five-game tournament record of 160 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four during his junior year. West finished his collegiate playing career with 2,309 points and 1,240 rebounds.

Jerry West’s Early Career

In 1960, West was drafted second overall by the Minneapolis Lakers, who soon moved to Los Angeles. He quickly helped the team improve and reach the 1961 NBA Playoffs. The following season, he became the Lakers’ primary scorer and earned All-NBA First Team honors with an average of 30.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Although the Lakers made it to the playoffs and finals, they lost to the Boston Celtics in the start of a legendary rivalry.

West continued to excel in the 1962-63 season, earning NBA All-Star and All-NBA First Team honors again. The Lakers faced the Celtics in the finals once more but fell short. The team struggled in the following season, winning only 42 games and losing in the first round of the playoffs against the Hawks.

The NBA Logo and Jerry West

The NBA logo, which is recognized worldwide, is a silhouette of Jerry West. The logo is based on a photo of him taken in 1969, which was designed by Alan Siegel in 1971.

In the photo below of Jerry West, the logo on the chairs in the background is the famous logo that is based on his silhouette. The logo has remained virtually unchanged for over 50 years and has become one of the most iconic logos in sports history.

Jerry West’s NBA Career Highlights

Jerry West is known for his impressive NBA career, which spanned from 1960 to 1974. Despite his individual success and numerous accolades, West’s teams struggled to defeat the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals. In 1972, West and the Lakers finally emerged victorious, winning their first-ever NBA title. Here are some of the highlights from West’s NBA career:

– In the 1965 playoffs, West averaged an NBA record of 46.3 points per game, but the Lakers lost to the Celtics in the finals.

– The next season, West averaged a career-best 31.3 points and notched an NBA record of 840 free throws.

– In 1969-70, West led the NBA in scoring average and earned his first of four All-Defensive First Team votes.

– In the 1971-72 season, West and the Lakers embarked on a record 33-game win streak and won 69 games in the regular season. West was named All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense First Teamer, and was voted as the 1972 All-Star Game MVP.

– The following season, West and the Lakers finally won the NBA finals, beating the Knicks for their first championship title.

– West retired in 1974 due to contract disagreements, but at the time of his departure, he had scored more points than any other player in Lakers history.

Jerry West’s Successful Career as a Coach and General Manager

Jerry West became the head coach of the Lakers in 1976 and led the team to a 145-101 record, reaching the playoffs every season and the Western Conference Finals in 1977. He then became the Lakers’ general manager and helped the team win five championship rings from 1980 to 1988.

West later became the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and helped the team achieve its first-ever playoff berth. He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award twice for his management of both the Lakers and the Grizzlies. After retiring as general manager, West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member and later became an executive board member of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017.

Marriages and Children

Jerry West married his college sweetheart Martha Jane Kane in 1960 and they had three sons: David, Mark, and Michael. The couple divorced in 1976. Two years later, West married Karen and they have two sons together: Ryan and Jonnie.