Jerry West is in the conversation for greatest Laker of all-time. If he had the option as a player, though, he may have left the franchise.

West recently spoke on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami about NBA free agency, including a reflection on his own career:

“Free agency gives you a right to choose where you want to play. I remember years ago, if I had an opportunity to leave the Lakers I would have left.”

West wasn't a happy go lucky player in Los Angeles during his entire career, and took particular exception with Lakers ownership.

“I did not like an owner that was not telling me the truth. It would have made no difference what they would have offered me, I would have left.”

The reason West did not leave the Lakers during his playing days was due to the fact that there was no such thing as free agency back in those days.

The man behind the NBA logo, who knows how Jerry West's career would have been different – let alone the NBA and its logo.