In a series of unpublished interviews with ESPN, West described reaching a crossroads in life and in work.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

  • dvasquez93BEnglish
    1·
    6 days ago

    I get that, but at certain point entitlement is kind of earned, don’t you think.  Imagine if Steph Curry not only had the career he had, but also came in to the Warriors front office and assembled another championship team.

    If he did that and then demanded a bunch of perks and reverential treatment from the organization for the rest of his life, don’t you think that most people in the org and the fanbase would be happy to oblige him?

    I realize that the Warriors aren’t as spoiled for choice as the Lakers are when it comes to franchise legends, but when a guy has done literally everything a man can do for your franchise, don’t you think he’s earned the right to be a diva in that building?

    • makeanamejokeBEnglish
      1·
      6 days ago

      What if Steph Curry brought in a coach that won a bunch of titles and that coach clashed with Steph Curry? Because that’s part of what happened here.

      I think people get tired of that endless reverence. You’d get tired of Steph too if he was working for the lakers and talking shit about the Warriors. You’re right that we’re totally spoiled, but that’s part of the problem here. All these legends think they’re the most important legend and they should be treated like the king. West is the best GM ever and Phil is the best coach ever and they hate each other. Phil hated the lakers’ best player ever too. It’s a total shit show with an endless series of divas who want all the glory for themselves.

      I respect the hell out of West. I appreciate everything he did for the team I love. But I learned long ago to not get bent out of shape over every dramatic happening to come out of the lakers. Because it never ends.