Jerry West stands out as the man whose silhouette graces the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation emblem, however he is additionally the person charge
Jerry West stands out as the man whose silhouette graces the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation emblem, however he is additionally the person chargeable for making Kobe Bryant a Los Angeles Laker.
The eight-time NBA champion spoke to CNBC’s “The Information with Shepard Smith” about his relationship with the previous Lakers famous person and his ideas about his late buddy, who might be inducted into the Basketball Corridor of Fame on Saturday.
“I am going to bear in mind [Bryant] as somebody that I liked like a brother. The playful moments with him, a few of the humorous issues and exchanges we had. Watching him when he first began to what he grew to become,” West instructed CNBC.
Bryant, 41, his daughter Gianna, 13, and 7 different folks died Jan. 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash close to Calabasas, California.
West, a former participant and 14-time NBA All-Star, went on to educate the Lakers and finally moved to the group’s entrance workplace. He was behind the Lakers’ dynasty within the ’80s and is the proud proprietor of 9 championship rings over his lifetime. He’s additionally the person who’s credited with bringing Bryant to the Lakers after orchestrating a draft-day commerce with the Charlotte Hornets.
West noticed Bryant’s expertise for basketball early on and did not draw back from the 17-year-old, regardless of his solely taking part in in highschool.
Jerry West and Kobe Bryant greet earlier than the sport between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on December 18, 2017 at STAPLES Middle in Los Angeles, California.
Andrew D. Bernstein | NBAE through Getty Photographs
“We simply fell in love with him. From the time we labored him out in Los Angeles, and notably the second time we labored him out … from then on was like, I really like this, how will we get this man?”
The 2 developed a bond all through the years. West mentioned his son would drive Bryant round and his spouse would cook dinner him Italian meals for dinner.
“He was one of many best gamers we have ever seen, however he additionally was one of many very smartest gamers we have ever seen,” mentioned West.
Whereas Bryant achieved a lot on the courtroom, West additionally was pleased with his off-court contributions, notably when it got here to serving to ladies’s basketball.
Bryant helped give a voice to the Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation and its gamers, usually attending video games together with his daughter.
“He was a vivid gentle” for girls basketball gamers, West mentioned. “No matter he did turned to gold, and I believe that is who he was as an individual.”
On Saturday, Bryant’s idol, Michael Jordan, might be inducting him into the Corridor of Fame. From a younger age, Bryant appeared as much as Jordan and even tried to mannequin his recreation after him.
“This might be a historic night time to honor an iconic participant who’s not with us, and it simply does not appear proper, to be trustworthy with you,” mentioned West. “To have his idol there introducing him … I believe all of us really feel a little bit bit robbed due to that.”