Michael Jordan reacts to Jerry West passing away in heartfelt statement following his death at 86

Michael Jordan has paid an emotional tribute to Jerry West, following the death of the NBA icon at the age of 86.

West, whose silhouette is used as the NBA’s logo, died with his wife Karen by his side on Wednesday morning.

Jordan sent a text message to Stephen A. Smith to read out on First Take after the news of West’s death had been broken.

Jordan said: ‘I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry’s passing. He was truly a friend and a mentor, like an older brother to me.

‘I valued his friendship and knowledge. I always wished I could have played against him as a competitor but the more I came to know him, I wished I had been his teammate.

Michael Jordan sent a statement to Stephen A. Smith about the death of Jerry West

Michael Jordan sent a statement to Stephen A. Smith about the death of Jerry West

NBA legend Jerry West, pictured with wife Karen and son Jonnie, has died at age 86

NBA legend Jerry West, pictured with wife Karen and son Jonnie, has died at age 86

The iconic NBA logo was made by using the silhouette of Lakers legend West

The iconic NBA logo was made by using the silhouette of Lakers legend West

‘I admired his basketball insights and he and I Shared many similarities to how we approached the game. He will be forever missed.

‘My condolences to his wife, Karen, and his son. Rest in peace, Logo. Michael Jordan.’

Smith then added: ‘He sent that to me and asked me to read that out on air.’

A mostly private figure, West had been with Karen since 1978 and the couple has two sons, Ryan and Jonnie, the later of whom played basketball at his father’s alma mater, WVU, and later married golfer Michelle Wie.

 

Previously West was married to his college sweetheart, with whom he had three sons: David, Mark and Michael.

The current NBA logo was created by Alan Siegel in 1969 by incorporating West’s silhouette from a photo taken by Wen Roberts.

The logo was modeled after Major League Baseball’s, which was a silhouette of a player that many erroneously believe to be Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew. (The image is supposedly a composite of several players in the late 1960s).

The West logo debuted in 1971, and although the NBA has never confirmed that it is, indeed, him, there have been no denials either.

But given how Jordan signed off his statement by calling West ‘Logo’, the greatest player to ever do it has no doubt in his mind.