The Los Angeles Clippers made a huge front office move by bringing in former Golden State Warriors consultant Jerry West to their organization in the same role. West has been an integral part of the Warriors decision-making process for the last few years but he knew that it was his time to go.
As West heads back to Los Angeles, he took the time to reflect on his move away from the Dubs. He noted that instead of basking in the success of the team, he likes to move on when there’s not much more to do and take on a new challenge. The Clippers will most likely be West’s final run as an executive in the NBA.
But the move from the Warriors to the Clippers wasn’t exactly the easiest for West. As he was introduced to a press conference recently, he took the time to praise the organization and the players in the Bay Area. But West also said leaving the Warriors was the ‘worst feeling’ he ever had as a ‘basketball person’.
Jerry West had an interview with Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times and spoke about his old job.
West recalled how he stood in the hallway at Oracle Arena in Oakland late Monday night after the Warriors defeated Cleveland to win the NBA championship, thinking this was his last go-around with Golden State.
“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.”
While Jerry West has one of the most decorated resumes in the history of the NBA, both as a player and executive, let’s remember the struggles he faced during his time in the NBA. He lost eight NBA Finals as a player, saw his Memphis Grizzlies teams get bounced out of the first round three straight years and also was a member of the front office of an organization that blew the first 3-1 lead in the history of the NBA Finals. That’s quite the claim from West.
