The NBA Summer League kicked off on Friday in Las Vegas (after warm-ups in San Francisco, Sacramento and Salt Lake City) and one of basketball’s icons was honored before the first meeting between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.
Basketball lost the legendary Jerry West, the man who inspired the NBA logo, a month ago. With the league holding its post-draft event for the summer, his absence from the proceedings was noted and his contributions to the game were honored.
West always occupied a courtside spot at the Thomas & Mack Center, which the league reserved by placing a T-shirt with a photo of West with “The Soul of Summer League” over the chair in honor. A Dairy Queen cup was also placed on the chair to honor West with a treat he enjoyed during Summer League (likely a milkshake).
On the baseline at Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, the NBA honored Jerry West in his usual courtside seat — complete with his favorite summer league gift pic.twitter.com/fVyStyZqbp
-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 12, 2024
The courtside seat will be reserved for Oeste with the honor throughout the Summer League schedule.
Before the first game, a video tribute to West was also shown at the arena, featuring archival footage and photos from his college days at West Virginia, his time on the 1960 Olympic gold medal team and 14-year playing career in the Los Angeles Lakers. and his years as a successful executive with several NBA teams.
Las Vegas Summer League turns off the lights and remembers Jerry West before kickoff at Thomas & Mack.
They are also leaving your chair open throughout the event. pic.twitter.com/3shY9U7GdQ
-Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 12, 2024
The video included memories from figures such as West himself, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, longtime Lakers coach Pat Riley, former teammates Rod Hundley and Tommy Hawkins, Celtics legends John Havlicek and Sam Jones.
“Jerry West, despite all his accolades…never finished researching. His commitment to improving life and embracing the next horizon is something very much worth remembering and celebrating as we are now.”
An excerpt from the tribute to Jerry West before the start of SL pic.twitter.com/9TctzjlwIK
-Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) July 12, 2024
The video was followed by an on-court ceremony to honor West by ESPN announcer Mark Jones.
“Jerry West, despite all his accolades, accomplishments and becoming greater than the life he imagined for himself, never finished his quest,” Jones said in tribute. “His commitment to improving lives and embracing the next horizon is something very much worth remembering and celebrating, as we are now.”
