While Jerry West savored the golden times of his success as one of the game’s renowned architects in the Los Angeles Lakers and later became a vital component of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, the late legend will always identify his time within the Memphis Grizzlies as the most fulfilling one out of his storied executive tenure.
That’s the honest revelation made by his son, Ryan West, to Grizzlies insider Parker Fleming, noting that the Hall of Famer was beyond ecstatic about how he contributed to the franchise’s eventual development upon taking charge of their basketball operations helm in 2002.
“Just how much fun it was, how electric the city was,” he said . “There was no life to the organization, and now it was the talk of the town. To see the success they’ve had, the fanfare they have, people rally around that team, and it was something he was just so proud to be a part of.”
A groundbreaking arrival
West’s entry in Grind City was a heaven-sent from the basketball gods that significantly reshaped the Grizzlies organization’s destiny…