Legendary NBA figure Jerry West, who recently passed away at the age of 86, was influenced not only on the court but also behind the scenes. Popularly referred to as ‘The Logo,‘ West carved strong bonds with today’s NBA stars. From when he played for the Lakers as a point guard to a four-decade tenure with the franchise, he later brought his expertise to the Golden State Warriors as an executive. His influence can still be seen in the Warriors’ early rebuild, shaping the careers of budding stars like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
During this transformative period for the Warriors, West played a crucial role in shaping the Warriors as the franchise was in the early stages of building a dynasty. From 2014-2017, the Dubs had made their way into the list of one of the greatest teams ever assembled. As great of a feat as this was, West was also a part of it. Draymond recalled his character with the players in the latest episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Fans around the league are familiar with Green’s on-court personality. Getting technicals left, right, and center, arguing furiously over calls, getting ejected in crucial situations, Green’s been through all. Jerry did notice Draymond’s intense passion for the game and even tried getting hold of it during his early contract days. “Me and Jerry had a great relationship. I’m super close with Johnny, Jerry’s son. And, you know, one thing I loved about Jerry was, he tell me, ‘Draymond they’re going to pay you. Relax. Like listen, I’m telling you right now, they’re going to pay you. Just relax. Do what you need to do, okay.“, said Green.
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Jerry knew what type of an asset Green would become. It became clear that Green was the missing piece of the puzzle after he made it to the starting lineup. On the other hand, the logo’s mentorship also played a crucial role in Draymond’s development as a primary power forward. It is safe to say that West played a huge role in helping build a dynamic roster for the Dubs before he left.
Jerry West left the Warriors a memorable dynasty
Furthermore, the Dubs had just come out of the struggling bubble back in 2016. Going back and forth with the Cavaliers, the Warriors had the chance of bringing in former MVP, Kevin Durant. West, who was the executive board member of the Dubs at the time was active in talks around KD. Not only that, but he also saved Klay Thompson from getting replaced by Kevin Love, also a great shooter and defender.
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Moreover, the logo helped shape the dynasty in many ways other than having a say in roster changes. While West was a huge part of the Lakers organization, he was seen as no less by the Warriors. The franchise paid tribute to the Hall of Famer, with Steph, Klay, owner Joe Lacob, and others paying homage.
Although the Dubs are in a pretty tight situation at the present, their past speaks volumes. Do you think the logo could’ve helped the Warriors out in this scenario? Let us know in the comments.
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But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese.
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