Jerry West’s Heartbreaking Lakers Admission Revealed

Los Angeles Lakers and former Clippers executive Jerry West shared a heartbreaking story

NBA great Jerry West is honored for being selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during halftime in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The story between Jerry West and the Los Angeles Lakers has been a tragic one. After helping make the Lakers the franchise that it is today by drafting Kobe Bryant, trading for Shaq, and numerous other game-changing decisions, West was discarded.

In a new piece by Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Holmes chronicled various moments of West's life as he contemplated retirement after being let go of by the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I almost wish," West told ESPN, "that I had never played or worked for them."

March 20, 1973; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West (44) is guarded by Atlanta Hawks guard Pete Maravich (right) during the 1973 season at the Omni. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-Imagn Images / Manny Rubio-Imagn Images

The rivalry between Jerry West and the Los Angeles Lakers, specifically Jeanie Buss, became so petty that the organization released his longtime season tickets. West was always taken care of by Dr. Jerry Buss for his lifetime of contributions to the organization, but those days were over.

"Can you believe they took my tickets away?" West said to ESPN. "I just can't believe it."

As West's divide with the Lakers grew, he moved toward helping the Clippers. It only grew his separation from the Lakers, but he established a genuine friendship with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. In West's final days, all he wanted to see was the LA Clippers win a championship before leaving the game of basketball.

Jerry West, special consultant for the Los Angeles Clippers talks with team owner Steve Balmer prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

"You know, I was thinking one more year wouldn't hurt me." West said. "That would be an incredible way to leave the game."

Unfortunately, Jerry West never lived to see that final mission come through. Regardless, The Logo had one of the greatest basketball careers ever and should be treated as such by every organization., especially the ones he helped create.

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