In a series of unpublished interviews with ESPN, West described reaching a crossroads in life and in work.
He had been deeply wounded, he said, by events the previous summer and continuing into that fall – ones that fully and finally severed any remaining ties to the Lakers, the franchise he spent 40 years helping to build.
During that tenure, first as a player, then a coach, then an executive, West had helped lift the organization to historic heights before this coldest of wars. In the years since, he had hoped for reconciliation. Then, in 2019, after his family became involved, one of the most famous Lakers in history shared a once-unthinkable sentiment, one that he’d repeat privately and publicly in the years ahead.
“I almost wish,” West told ESPN, “that I had never played or worked for them.”
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41698701/jerry-west-los-angeles-lakers-simmering-20-year-feud
Absolutely deplorable. What happened to taking care of your stars? That’s what Jeannie and her media cronies go on about every second they get on the air. I’m tired of the Lakers being run like the Oakland A’s. We are one of the most important and well known franchises in the world in any sport, and yet we don’t have a top of the line building, medical department, scouting, analytics.
I hate to be the one defending the lakers here but west was known to be a very angry person who would say very harsh things during his outburst. He would always apologize after and was a softie at heart but I think us casting judgement on the buss family decision to stop fuckign with Jerry is unfair. We don’t know why they started beefing. Jerry got kicked out right after the shaq 3 peat by dr.buss himself lol. This didn’t start with Jeanie
Jeanie Buss is a disgrace.
Take off that patch. Lakers don’t deserve to “honor” west.
If the Lakers weren’t in LA, Lebron never goes there and Jeanie has one of the longest streaks of terrible performance of almost any NBA franchise.
Lakers treated him so badly.
Come back from the dead type beef
Makes sense, the perception of the way the Lakers treat their stars is overrated. Magic was a horrible president, but he even says he felt backstabbed by Pelinka/Lakers. Jerry is probably the most impactful member of the Lakers organization, yet they took his season tickets away, Jeanie didn’t even list him as one of the most influential members of the Lakers org.
Everyone likes to talk about the Kobe contract but it was just good timing considering the Lakers were in a rebuild phase.
Strip their titles. It’s only fair
Jerry West is one of the most pivotal figures in the History of the NBA, player, coach, general manager is no slouch and to be successful at every one is astonishing to say the least it’s disrespectful as hell that the way he was treated when it came in those final years in the Lakers organization. I hope he found some peace in the afterlife, after what he endured in his 86 years. (Yap session concluded)
“I almost wish that I had never played or worked for them”
That is a really indicative statement, goddamn. Really petty by the Lakers to pull the tickets from him, considering how insanely monumental he was for the team’s success.
You act like if the West family notified the Lakers they wished to attend a game they wouldn’t do everything possible to accommodate them perfectly. This whole “season tickets rescinded” story is such a non issue. Who knows what was going on. Maybe sections got rearranged. We also know corporate sponsors are buying into seats. Some people really desperate for any angle to shit on the Lakers. The relationship soured like any other relationship can in the real world. All we have is always Jerry’s side of the story as Dr. Buss/Jeanie never spoke about it. I think it’s fair to assume both sides fucked up. Jerry West passed away. Let’s not dig up drama now. Just insensitive and frankly disgusting.
lol this thread is being a tad bit dramatic
Jeanie Buss is a worthless fucking piece of shit
Jeanie really did a number on him. I’m guessing this all stems from Jerry and Phil having different personalities and opinions on how to run a basketball team. Jeanie is clearly team Phil. Office politics at its worst
I agree Jeannie has to be one of the worst owners in sports, she lacks the backbone to be an owner and make tough decisions so she hired all her friends to run the organization into the ground. But there are two sides to every story so we are only hearing Jerry’s side
I don’t think you watch much sports if you think Jeanie is one of the worst owners in sports. lol
I watch plenty of sports, just because she spends money doesn’t mean she is a good owner. Just look at the organization since she has taken control mismanagement galore, allowing the team to be run a way past his prime star, no leadership
Success. That’s the measure of an owner. Some might say money (worth) is the measure of an owner. They’re the 15th most valuable franchise in the world. And that’s without owning their own arena like most of the teams on the list. But no, that’s not the real measure of an owner. Success. And they have won a title and been in the playoffs most years under her. While you may turn your nose at that, there are many many franchises that don’t even sniff that sort of success. Their fans would give anything to experience that sort of success.
You have much to learn about what’s really important in the sports world. Someday, maybe you’ll learn. Until that day you’ll continue to spout off in comment sections like you’re some sort of czar of the sports world. All knowing and wise, but alas you’re a fool preaching to hear your own voice.