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"This is an extremely sad day for me," said West. "As I have said many times, I have been blessed to work for Jerry Buss, the most successful owner in basketball history. His incredible commitment and desire to build a championship-caliber team that could sustain success over a long period of time has been unmatched." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry West, Jerry Buss 

As a consultant to the Golden State Warriors, Jerry West has no allegiance to the Los Angeles Lakers, and no interest in seeing them make the playoffs. But that doesn't mean the Lakers Hall of Fame guard and former front-office great believes his old team will fall short in its pursuit. "I believe they're going to make the playoffs," West said Tuesday in a phone interview with ESPNNewYork.com. "Look out West, there are some teams two or three games over .500, so they can do it. ... Can the Lakers win the championship? They have to get to the playoffs first, and I think they will get there." ESPN.com

Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry West 

"Sometimes (the Lakers) have been good, and sometimes they just don't seem to have it," West said. "Their biggest issue has been defensively. But I think they're playing better defensively now, and Kobe's play has been extraordinary, the way he's not shooting as much and getting other people involved. "Nobody is going to want to play them in the first round. With the veterans the Lakers have, I don't think it's going to make a big difference to them if they creep in as the 6, 7 or 8 [seed]. In the playoffs, they're going to be dangerous." ESPN.com

Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry West 

Sean Grande: Kevin Garnett (24,816) just passed Patrick Ewing for 16th on the @NBA all-time scoring list. Jerry West (25,192) is next. Twitter @SeanGrandePBP

Boston Celtics, Jerry West, Patrick Ewing, Kevin Garnett 

Jamaal Wilkes spoke pregame to the media - emotional from all the recognition. Spoke Lakers... "Playing for the Lakers was just great. From top to bottom they had the leadership, the organization, from Dr. Buss to Bill Sharman, Jerry West, Pat Riley and then the players," said Wilkes. "We had a real sense of pride in our team's success. Of course we had issues going on all the time, undercurrents, but we never let it get in the way of our objective, which was to be the best in the NBA and to represent the city of LA the best that we could." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Jamaal Wilkes, Bill Sharman 

Joe Lacob: I think we’re more on the forefront than not. But there are certainly some teams like Houston that have done it to a great extent. Obviously Memphis making a big commitment to do it. And we think it’s important. But it’s one factor. It’s important, but having Jerry West and his eyes, or Bob Myers’ judgments, or Larry Riley, who’s still with us in scouting… those are things you do with your eyes and those are important, too. I’m a great believer, we’re great believers in always listening and trying to integrate statistics with what we see. We want to be on the cutting edge, but you can’t be all statistics because that doesn’t tell the whole story. San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Jerry West, Joe Lacob, Bob Myers, John Hollinger 

Yet West, the former Lakers general manager who brought Bryant to Laker Land as a rookie in 1996 by way of the trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Vlade Divac, would consider Bryant the best Laker of all time even if he quit tomorrow. His sentiment echoed that of Johnson, the five-time champion who reiterated his stance on ESPN on Wednesday night that Bryant was the best of all the Lakers. West, who is now a consultant for the Golden State Warriors, said he viewed Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain differently because they didn't play their entire careers with the Lakers but he clearly sees Bryant above Johnson and himself on the Lakers' long list of greats. "What he has accomplished with this team, I don't think there's any question in my mind at this point in time - because of him being with this team for his whole career - that he has been the greatest Laker player," West - who earned 14 All-Star berths, one championship, one MVP and made nine Finals appearances - told USA TODAY Sports by phone on Thursday. "I do think he's the greatest Laker player we've ever seen." USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West 

As for the scoring record and whether Bryant will pursue it, West doesn't see him chasing the mark unless he's still playing at the highest level. "The one thing he's been able to avoid are really serious injuries," West said. "That is a factor in anyone's success…(But) he's not going to go out there and play - like a lot of guys do - past their prime, trying to chase a record. I don't think that's who he is, at the end of the day. "I just think that he's just one of those guys who loves to compete, loves to win, understands that he's been doing it for so long, at a high level, and now the team hasn't played as well as (they were expected to). Does that wear on him? I'm sure. And then having you guys ask him the question, 'How long will you play?' I think he'll play as long as he feels like he can play like he is right now, and then he will move away from it." USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West 

When West speaks, Laker Land listens. He joined fellow Lakers legend and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently on Fox Sports Radio's Petros & Money show to discuss the hiring of Mike D'Antoni and expectations for a presumed super-team. "A lot of people think they have a championship caliber team," West said. "They may and they may not. When I look at this Lakers team I see flaws in it, but I think they are very capable and certainly injuries are going to be a part of that. But the most difficult thing to do when you have really good players is to hire the right coach." USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry West 

Who’s the best executive in NBA history? Mitch Kupchak: The best? That would be the man I worked for for 14 years, Jerry West. UTSanDiego

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Jerry West 

What did you learn from him? Mitch Kupchak: I’m not sure what else an aspiring front-office candidate could wish for. His faith, his ability to let me into circles and be involved in decisions, and he continued to give me more and more responsibility. There weren’t that many people in the front office then. It was really just the two of us. I’m not sure it’s possible to spend that kind of time with someone in the NBA anymore. … To this day, we’re very close.” UTSanDiego

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Jerry West 

Colangelo told me it was about understanding and connecting with a vast array of personality types, getting the trust of NBA superstars who could sacrifice ego for the good of the team. First, Colangelo wanted to hear first-hand what it was like to be a player on the Olympic basketball team. It's a unique experience, and he didn't want to assume he had all the answers. Picking the "right" coach depended on his understanding how the players felt and what motivated them. Harvard Business Review

Michael Jordan, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, USA Basketball, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird, Chuck Daly 

In what can only be described as a virtual "Who's Who" of NBA superstar talent, in 2005 Colangelo called a special meeting of former Olympian basketball players. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Jerry West, and Hall of Fame Coaches Dean Smith, Lenny Wilkens, and Chuck Daly, among others, gave their input. It was a superstar group therapy session. They laid bare all concerns—one of most hailed players of our time, for instance, voiced concerns about looking stupid on a global stage. At that moment, choosing the right coach became a very personal endeavor. Harvard Business Review

Michael Jordan, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, USA Basketball, Lenny Wilkens, Mike Krzyzewski, Larry Bird, Chuck Daly 

Once the finality settled in, the emotions overwhelmed Jerry West. He labored all season to determine whether he could clear enough cap space to acquire Shaquille O'Neal. Finally, that moment came. West compared the experience to the birth of his children. Securing O'Neal to a seven-year, $120-million deal tilted the NBA's balance in the Lakers' favor. West envisioned O'Neal bringing two things that the Lakers value -- a Hollywood personality and NBA championships. Yet West's perfectionist nature didn't allow him to fully enjoy the moment. "When the fruition of it came, I was exhausted," West told The Times in the past year. "I had to go to the hospital. I don't sleep a lot anyway and have a very inquisitive mind. When you're like that, it creates more problems for you." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, Jerry West 

Discussion of West's efforts to help the Lakers secure O'Neal is timely. It's been 16 years since Shaq's arrival in L.A., a move that prompted The Times' headline "Lakers Hit the Shaqpot." The Lakers are now in talks to acquire Dwight Howard, another Orlando Magic center nicknamed "Superman." And both circumstances show how the sausage-making process of trade negotiations can be tiring. That hardly deterred West from relentlessly pushing forward, thus setting up the Lakers to win three NBA championships. "Working with Jerry Buss, he was so encouraging in the sense of 'Let's do something big,' " West said. "We were fortunately in the position to get ourselves in the Shaquille O'Neal derby. But a lot of things had to break right. And they did." That required West to make some bold moves. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, Jerry West 

On June 26, draft day, the Lakers traded starting center Vlade Divac to Charlotte, a move that secured a player named Kobe Bryant and enough room to offer O'Neal a seven-year, $95-million offer. O'Neal recalled in his recent autobiography that he was ready to take the deal, but the Magic immediately topped the offer. That didn't deter West. He persuaded the former Vancouver Grizzlies to take Anthony Peeler and George Lynch, enabling the Lakers to offer O'Neal a deal worth $120 million. "If you're competitive and you want something, you're going to try to find a way to get it," West said. "You realize certain players can make a significant impact on your winning and losing." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, Jerry West 

Tim Kawakami: On and off-air Bob Myers and Jerry West emphasized how lively the debate has been in their draft room so far. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Jerry West, Bob Myers 

I think Jerry West is pushing Waiters. Owner Joe Lacob is intrigued with Drummond. Barnes also in the picture if he falls. I honestly don't think the Warriors know yet. This is why you have to take our Mock Draft, and ANY Mock Draft with a grain of salt. No matter how well connected I am, I can't tell you what a team is going to do when even they don't know. Things will get clearer on Thursday ... HOWEVER, I know many teams who have made their choice in the draft room while on the clock. ESPN.com

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Jerry West, Joe Lacob, Dion Waiters 

The Warriors are preparing for a number of scenarios at No. 7. Depending on how things go on draft night, Barnes, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters or even Kidd-Gilchrist could fall to them. The Warriors like all of the above, but like every other team in the NBA, not everyone agrees on the order. Warriors consultant Jerry West, sources say, has Waiters ranked quite high. Owner Joe Lacob feels like it might be tough to pass on Drummond if he's there. GM Bob Myers, is a Barnes fan. Everyone agrees that Kidd-Gilchrist would be the guy if he falls. There are also Lillard supporters in Golden State. This is why mock drafts are so difficult to make. How are we supposed to report to you what teams will do when they don't know themselves? ESPN.com

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Jerry West, Joe Lacob, Bob Myers, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters 

We hear that Tyler Zeller has entered the mix for the Warriors at the 7th pick because Warriors executive Jerry West loves him. Seven seems awfully high for a player that many projected as a mid-late first coming into the season. NBADraft.net

Golden State Warriors, Draft, Jerry West, Tyler Zeller