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[Saba Sports News] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently spoke about Jerry West’s legacy, expressing profound sadness at his passing and reflecting on their long-standing relationship.
“My first thoughts were, I was really sad. You know, Jerry’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s going to be around all the time. And, uh, he’s not going to make it. I had known Jerry since I was 14 years old.”
Abdul-Jabbar recalled meeting West when he was just 14, as his high school was near Madison Square Garden, where NBA teams practiced. West, not yet a professional player, approached Abdul-Jabbar and struck up a conversation, showing a genuine interest in the young student’s life and aspirations.
This early interaction left a lasting impression on Abdul-Jabbar, who admired West’s ability to make friends easily and appreciated his kindness and interest.
“He wanted to know what my interests were. He was interested in me. I doubt if there’s any place that Jerry has been that he didn’t make friends. I will always appreciate who he was, the man, and what he meant to athletics.”
Reflecting on a significant moment in his career, Abdul-Jabbar highlighted the importance of defeating the Boston Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals.
“I started going to games in Madison Square Garden when I was 14 and seeing these guys play and seeing how much it meant to them. They were really serious about that game. It wasn’t a joke. Beating them in Boston Garden was very special, and I was glad that Jerry was still associated with the team when that happened.”
West’s illustrious career includes being inducted into the Hall of Fame three times: as a member of the US Olympic team, as a player, and soon, as a team executive. Abdul-Jabbar emphasized that West was perfectly suited for basketball, both on and off the court.
“Well, I think that he was someone who was made for the game, and the game was made for him. He proved it on the court and he proved it from his executive role that he knew what he was doing and he did it right.”
Abdul-Jabbar’s reflections highlight West’s significant impact on basketball and his ability to inspire and connect with others throughout his remarkable career.