How the Los Angeles Lakers plan to honor Jerry West this season
By Travis Schlepp,
2024-09-10
The Los Angeles Lakers are honoring “the Logo” with a special addition to its jerseys for the upcoming season.
The Lakers will wear a commemorative No. 44 band on the left side of their home and away jerseys for the 2024-25 season in honor of NBA Hall-of-Famer Jerry West.
West was a one-time NBA champion and a 14-time NBA All-Star who was inducted to both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as a player.
He’s the only player in history to win the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in a losing effort, capturing the award in 1969. He would eventually reach the mountain top three years later, winning his one and only championship as a player in 1972.
The Los Angeles Lakers will honor the late Jerry West with a commemorative No. 44 patch on its jersey during the 2024-25 NBA season. (Los Angeles Lakers)
But he arguably left a bigger impact on the game for his work as a longtime NBA front office executive for the Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
West won the NBA’s Executive of the Year award twice and was at the helm of eight NBA Championship teams, including six with the Lakers.
Even those unfamiliar with West’s career have likely been witness to his indelible legacy. The NBA’s official logo, which features a player in an upright position dribbling with his left hand, is universally believed to be modeled after West, which earned him his famous moniker.
The league, however, has never officially confirmed the connection.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Jerry West drives around Milwaukee Bucks’ Oscar Robertson and Curtis Perry during the NBA playoffs in Milwaukee, April 14, 1972. (AP Photo/File)
In addition to the season-long celebration of his life, the Lakers will also host a Jerry West jersey giveaway night during its Oct. 22 matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers announced a bevy of fan giveaways and special celebrations taking place during home games this upcoming season. The full list is below:
Date
Opponent
Celebration
Fan Giveaway
Oct. 22
Minnesota
Honoring Jerry West
West 44 jersey
Oct. 26
Sacramento
LGBTQ+ Pride
Pride crossbody bag
Nov. 10
Toronto
Veterans Night presented by Pechanga
Lakers Pechanga camo hat
Nov. 13
Memphis
Lakers collectable pin set
Nov. 21
Orlando
City of Los Angeles
City edition inspired socks
Dec. 8
Portland
Greetings from Los Angeles postcard set
Dec. 23
Detroit
Lakers holiday sweater
Jan. 3
Atlanta
Lakers license plate frame
Jan. 13
San Antonio
Michael Cooper Jersey Retirement
Cooper 21 jersey
Jan. 21
Washington
Dr. Jerry Buss
Lakers collectable pin set
Feb. 8
Indiana
Mental Health Awareness
Lakers water bottle caddy
Feb. 11
Utah
In the Paint Local Art Program
To be announced
Feb. 27
Minnesota
Girl Dad Night
To be announced
March 4
New Orleans
Purple and gold luggage strap
March 22
Chicago
Sneakerhead sneaker bag
March 31
Houston
Collectable pin set
April 4
New Orleans
Sneakerhead shoelaces
April 11
Houston
Fan Appreciation
Lakers tote bag
Source: Los Angeles Lakers
This season, the Lakers will also honor former owner Jerry Buss and will officially retire the number of five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper.
The team will also have a new jersey sponsor this season in the form of Korean food brand Bibigo. It will be the first time in NBA history that a jersey featured Korean characters, the team says.
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