WVU Great Jerry West Says Los Angeles Lakers Treat Him ‘Like Trash’

In a story written by Sam Amick of The Athletic, West Virginia great Jerry West told the outlet that the Los Angeles Lakers canceled his season tickets to the home games without telling him. West was supposed to have lifetime season tickets, awarded by the late Dr. Jerry Buss, the former Lakers owner told him.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re discarded, like a piece of trash,” West told The Athletic.

West spent 39 seasons with the Lakers organization, playing from 1960-74, coaching from 1976-79 and served as the executive from 1979-2000. West won six NBA Championships with the Lakers before serving as an executive for the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers. West was a 14-time NBA All-Star, won the 1969 NBA Finals MVP and had his No. 44 retired by the franchise.

“One disappointing thing [about my career] is that my relationship with the Lakers is horrible,” West told The Athletic. “I still don’t know why. And at the end of the day, when I look back, I say, ‘Well, maybe I should have played somewhere else instead of with the Lakers, where someone would have at least appreciated how much you give, how much you cared.'”

The Athletic ranked West as the 14th greatest NBA player of all-time, in their top-75 players list.

West has recently joined Country Roads Trust, a name, image and likeness company helping out current West Virginia University student-athletes. The former Mountaineer guard serves as an adviser with nine other WVU greats, founded by Oliver Luck and Ken Kendrick.