A new report from ESPN’s Baxter Holmes details Jerry West’s strained relationship with the Lakers during the final years of his life.
The only three-time Hall of Famer in basketball history, West helped the Lakers win one championship as a player and six as an executive, which includes architecting two dynasties across three decades. One would assume a person who contributed as much would always be cherished by the Purple and Gold.
Yet, West reportedly saw his relationship with the Lakers worsen after he helped the Clippers, whom he worked with as an assistant, recruit Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019.
Shortly after he helped the Lakers’ crosstown rivals, his son, Ryan West, who was the Lakers’ director of player personnel, parted ways with the organization. According to Holmes, West felt his son became collateral damage for his actions.
“I almost wish that I had never played or worked for them,” West told Holmes in 2020 as he contemplated retirement.
At the time of the interview, West was reeling from the death of Kobe Bryant and felt strong resentment towards the Lakers for reportedly firing his son. The Lakers also reportedly took away West’s four lifetime season tickets that were promised to him by Dr. Jerry Buss.
“Those were always Jerry’s seats,” a longtime ex-Lakers staffer told ESPN. “(Buss) always wanted to make sure Jerry was taken care of.”
The report added that some of the fractures in West’s relationship with the Lakers began when they hired Phil Jackson as head coach in 1999. West departed for the Grizzlies in 2002. However, the situation became irreparable in 2019.
“It’s like a soap opera,” a former longtime Lakers executive told Holmes. “There is fallout, which is hurtful. Ryan, to me, it looks like he paid the price for all this pettiness.”
Despite their acrimonious relationship at the end of his life, the Lakers will honor West this upcoming season as their players will wear jerseys with a commemorative No. 44 band.
West will be posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame for a record third time on Sunday, this time as a contributor for his roles with the front offices of the Lakers, Grizzlies, Warriors and Clippers.
