The West Virginia athletic department announced on Thursday it will honor late NBA great Jerry West with a commemorative logo, which will be worn by all 18 varsity sports teams on their jerseys, warm-ups or helmets throughout the 2024-25 season.
The Mountaineers’ basketball program will also wear West-era throwback uniforms in a to-be-determined game this winter, which will be similar to the design worn in a 2004 loss to Pitt, when they celebrated the program’s 100th anniversary.
“Through his lifetime of commitment to West Virginia University and its academic and athletic mission, the great Jerry West has touched the lives of thousands of our student-athletes and that’s why every team will honor him this season,” athletic director Wren Baker said in a statement.
“He’s the greatest Mountaineer ever. His outstanding legacy is large, and he will always be beloved, remembered and in the hearts of all West Virginians.”
In addition to the patch and throwback uniforms, the basketball team will place the commemorative logo – which features West’s name and No. 44 in West Virginia’s navy blue and gold color scheme – along the sidelines at WVU Coliseum.
West played for the Mountaineers from 1957-60 and led the program to an appearance in the national championship game as a junior, where he earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors despite a 71-70 loss to California.
He was a two-time first-team All-American and finished his collegiate career as West Virginia’s all-time leading scorer with 2,309 points and all-time leading rebounder with 1,240 boards, both among the 12 school records he still holds.
West was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers, who relocated to Los Angeles shortly thereafter. He played 14 seasons for the franchise, earning 14 All-Star nods, 12 All-NBA selections and five All-Defensive Team honors.
He finished his career with 25,192 points, 6,238 assists and 5,366 rebounds in 932 games, leading the Lakers to the 1971-72 NBA championship. He is also the only player to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team (1968-69).
West was later a successful coach and executive, coaching the Lakers from 1976-79 and spending time in their front office from 1979-2000. He was also the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002-07 and executive board member of the Golden State Warriors from 2011-17 and Los Angeles Clippers from 2017-24.
The NBA logo, which was designed in 1969, is based on a photograph of West, who passed away in June at the age of 86. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump in 2019 for his contributions to the sport.
