Took this photo during a pre-season game back in 2014. We played the Dubs for what turned out to be a total rout. A lifelong Lakers and hoop fan, even if we lose I still appreciate watching any of the greats do their thing live. This particular game, it really felt like Steph just couldn’t miss from anywhere on the court. Like an eager, young Kobe going at Jordan at the end of his playing career, Steph put on a real show. That was also a glimpse of what was to come that season, as he ended up winning that year’s MVP and led his team to their first of four rings.
But ofc, this isn’t a Dubs appreciation post. (Unless we’re considering Mr. West’s Midas touch…)
So we were down by 50 or so late in the game, and it’s always been part of our hoophead code to stick out the game even—especially—if our team is going to take an L. So we stayed. Eventually, as the stadium emptied, we spotted Mr. West at the tunnel. By this time, every player, coach, and staff member had long ago exited. Except for Mr. West.
He stayed till every last fan, till every child got an autograph. Which was when this photo was taken. He wasn’t at all hurried, he was generous and gracious. Though his days donning the forum blue and gold preceded my lifetime, I feel privileged that I still had a chance to see him do “his thing” live. He really gave everything he could’ve to this game.
For various reasons, I never got a chance to share this photo but I didn’t want the day of his passing to go by without doing so. Thank you for reading.
Rest in love, Jerry West. Legends never die.
by waxprose
3 Comments
Really great photo! I don’t think I’ve seen him sign for fans like that before, at a game (I always imagine him stressed lol). Looks happy to do it
Beautiful tribute.
How nice!
Lakers used to have their training camp in Palm Desert at a community college about a mile from where I grew up. It wasn’t open to the public but my Dad and I went over there to look around anyway. There wasn’t much to see, but as we were leaving a BMW 7 series pulls up, and out comes Jerry Buss and Jerry West. My Dad walks up to West, tells him he loved watching him as a kid and asks him to sign my hat. He did even though you could tell he was all business, and we were in the way. Jerry Buss was smiling, almost laughing at West having to deal with a 6 year old kid bothersome kid.
I still wear the hat to my fantasy drafts