About the Author

Mark Heisler covers the NBA for the Los Angeles Times. He has been on the professional basketball beat for 25 years, starting at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Bulletin, and was the winner of the Naismith Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Award in 2006. He lives in Los Angeles. Jerry West played for 14 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers, leading them to nine NBA Finals and the 1972 championship. After retiring as the third-highest scorer in NBA history, West coached the Lakers to a 145101 record over three seasons. He became the team's general manager in 1982, helping to build the dynasty of the 1980s, and currently serves as the president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies.