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Magic Johnson said he was “devastated” to learn of Jerry West’s passing.
The Lakers legend paid tribute to the team’s former Assistant General Manager and NBA icon. In a lengthy post to Instagram, the five-time NBA champion remembered when he first met West.
“I met Jerry West for the first time in 1979 at the Forum where he introduced me to Bill Sharman, Chick Hearn, and then Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke. My father, agent and I negotiated over lunch then Jerry took me to the locker room to show me my Lakers jersey. I started to cry and Jerry explained to me the expectation of wearing the purple and gold, how he saw my role, and how he envisioned me fitting into the organization. I’ll never forget that moment,” Johnson wrote.
West saw a grand vision as he helped build the Lakers’ dynasty from 1979 to 1991, also known as the Showtime era.
“When training camp began, he gave me so many golden nuggets and really critiqued every facet of my game. After every practice, he would give me notes on how I could get better and those sessions carried over to the regular season,” Johnson continued. “Once a week we went over what I needed to improve and how I could dominate in the league. Those meetings meant everything to me because I learned so much from him.”
The three-time NBA MVP pulled back the curtain on his relationship with the Hall of Famer and revealed that there was more to their relationship than just basketball.
“We had a basketball camp in Hawaii called the Jerry West Magic Johnson Fantasy Camp for 20 years. At the camp we shared every meal together and that’s when we really bonded and solidified our great friendship outside of the Lakers,” he explained. “Jerry West was more than a general manager, he was a great friend and confidant.”
Johnson said that West was present during this highest moments like “winning five NBA championships” and his lowest, like when he announced his HIV diagnosis when the two “cried together for hours in his office.”
“Every time I achieved a goal or crossed a milestone, one of the first calls I received was from Jerry West. When I started my business, was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, was named Lakers President of Basketball Operations – he would always pick up the phone and give me a personalized call to congratulate me,” Johnson remembered.
He honored “The Logo” by reminding Lakers fans that the reason the organization is what it is, is because of West.
“Beyond his basketball accolades as a basketball player and NBA executive, Jerry West was a great man, a leader of men, fiercely loved his family and friends, and despite holding jobs with other franchises, he was a Lakers fan for life. Laker Nation, the only reason we have 17 NBA championships is because of Jerry West and his expertise drafting players, trading for players, and hiring the right coaches. Today is a sad day for basketball fans and sports fans across the globe.”
Johnson finished off his note by offering to “continue to lift up” West’s wife Karen and his sons David, Mark, Michael, Ryan and Jonnie and loved ones in prayer.”
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