In 2017, NBA legend Hall of Famer Jerry West — who at that time had been with the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member — sent shock waves throughout the entire basketball world when he announced that he was joining the Los Angeles Clippers.
This came as a surprise to many considering how West was widely credited for playing a crucial role in the success of the Warriors dynasty. As it turns out, however, West could not resist the allure of joining the Clippers to work with then-relatively new owner Steve Ballmer (he purchases the team in 2013), his good friend and business partner Dennis Wong, and head coach Doc Rivers. Today we take a look back at the events that led to West turning his back on the most successful franchise in the league at that time, to take part in a new, exciting, and imposing new challenge with the Clippers.
“For me, life is about passion. Life is about being around people you want to be around,” West said in a 2017 interview with the LA Times. “In my meeting with Steve and Dennis Wong, they were great.
“I think [Ballmer] is going to be one of the great owners that this league has. For a man who has had enormous success, you would never know if you’re around him, unless you knew. He’s just down to earth.”
Dennis Wong, who is a part owner of the Clippers, is the least popular name in the mix, but apparently, he played a pivotal role in bringing West to the team. Prior to buying a small stake in the Clippers, Wong also held a minor ownership in the Warriors, which is where he had an opportunity to see West at work and build a personal relationship with him.
Wong and Ballmer set off a coup attempt to lure West to LA, and according to West himself, he was simply blown away in their very first meeting.
“The connection I made with the Clippers, immediately I felt great after that meeting,” West said. “From Doc and [Clippers executive vice president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank] and the rest of the basketball people, I just felt great.”
At that point in time, the Clippers were in a bit of a limbo. Both Blake Griffin and Chris Paul — the two cornerstones of the team over the past years — were both on expiring deals and were not expected to sign an extension. They also knew that J.J. Redick, who himself was entering free agency in the upcoming offseason, would demand a much bigger payday — something that the team could no longer afford.
“I want to see the Clippers get to where the owner and the people who work there internally want to go,” West said about the challenges that lay ahead. “They have some really lofty goals over there, really lofty goals, and they thought I can help. I’m thrilled that I was wanted. I’m thrilled that they thought I could help and I’m hopeful that I can.”
West had a proven track record as a team executive. He was at the helm for the Los Angeles Lakers for nearly two decades between 1982 and 2000. West is credited for building the Showtime Lakers dynasty in the 1980's, as well as laying down the foundation for the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant-led three-peat in the late-1990's/early-2000's. West also had a brief, five-year stint with the Memphis Grizzlies between 2002 and 2007, during which he was awarded as the league's executive of the year in 2004 (the second time he was honored with this prestigious award).
Speaking of the Lakers, they too were rebuilding their front office around the time following the onset of the Jeanie Buss era in LA, which was highlighted by the firing of Jim Buss, Jeanie's own brother, and Mitch Kupchack as the team's executive vice president and general manager, respectively. Not only did West opt not to take part in the Lakers rebuild, but he even decided to link up with the team's cross-town rivals in the Clippers. Naturally, people had some questions.
“People will ask questions about the Lakers,” West said. “I don’t really have anything to say about the Lakers. I don’t. I’m not going to say anything derogatory about the Lakers. This is not about me being in competition with the Lakers.
“It’s about me wanting to try to see if I can help make a difference with the people the Clippers have in place. I’m not going to be the out-front person.”
West did not only spearhead the rise of the Lakers in the 1980's and again in the late 1990's; he actually lived it too. During his playing days, he was a Lakers lifer, playing for the same team for the entirety of his decorated 14-year career. This resulted in 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA team selections, five All-Defensive team selections, a scoring title, an assists title, a Finals MVP trophy, and of course, a championship in 1972.
West is without a doubt one of the greatest Lakers of all time — be it on the court or from a front office position — so it was only natural that people question his decision to join the “enemy.” As he explained above, however, this was just not about that.
At the end of the day, joining the Clippers was an opportunity for West to once again work his magic. He saw the vision of what the organization wanted to do, and he believed he was the right person to help them achieve their objectives. Nevertheless, West admitted that parting ways with the Warriors was not an easy decision to make.
“I will really miss that Warriors organization. I really will,” West said. “But honestly, there was nothing left for me to do. When I left there Monday night after they won the championship, it was probably the worst feeling I ever had in my life as a basketball person. I knew I wasn’t going to be part of that anymore.
“To me, the things that have always excited me are the challenges,” West said. “I’m really goal-oriented. I have been all my life. This is another opportunity to compete in a completely different kind of way.”
As of writing, the Clippers have done a tremendous job in their transition from the “Lob City” era to the dawn of a new day. In the summer of 2019, LA had the most successful offseason in franchise history when they successfully brought on then-defending Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the team. This was quickly followed by the trade for another superstar in Paul George, which instantly propelled the team to one of the favorites to contend for the title.
You can be sure that the great Jerry West played a big part in the rise of the Clippers over the past few years.
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