Jerry West’s basketball career began at West Virginia University, where he quickly became a standout player. His transition to the NBA was marked by his selection as the second overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Known as “Mr. Clutch” for his remarkable ability to perform under pressure, West’s 14-season career with the Lakers was nothing short of legendary. He was a 14-time All-Star, an NBA champion in 1972, and the NBA Finals MVP in 1969, a rare honor for a player on the losing team.

After retiring as a player, West’s influence on the game continued to grow. He served as a coach and then as an executive, building championship-winning teams for the Lakers and later the Golden State Warriors. His keen eye for talent and strategic acumen earned him the reputation of being one of the greatest minds in basketball.

Jerry West’s silhouette is immortalized in the NBA logo, a testament to his lasting impact on the sport. He is remembered not only for his on-court excellence but also for his integrity, passion, and dedication to the game. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of basketball players and fans alike.

Rest in peace, Jerry West. Your contributions to basketball will never be forgotten.

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Gerald Hatten “Jerry” Buss (January 27, 1933 – February 18, 2013) was an American businessman, real estate investor, and a former chemist. He was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team along with other professional sports franchises in Southern California. 

Remembering Dr. Jerry Buss — The Architect of Showtime

As a lifelong Lakers fan who grew up mesmerized by the brilliance of the 1980s Showtime era, I can say without hesitation that Dr. Jerry Buss wasn’t just an owner — he was the soul of a dynasty. His vision didn’t just change the Lakers. It changed basketball. It changed Los Angeles. And for many of us, it changed our lives.

Gerald Hatten “Jerry” Buss was more than a businessman, real estate mogul, or former chemist. He was a dreamer who believed that basketball could be more than a game — it could be theater. And under his ownership, the Lakers became the greatest show in sports.

When he bought the team in 1979, he didn’t just inherit a roster — he inherited a city hungry for greatness. And he delivered. With Magic Johnson running the floor, Pat Riley on the sidelines, and the Forum pulsing with energy, Showtime was born. It was fast. It was flashy. It was fearless. And it was all Jerry.

But what made Dr. Buss truly special wasn’t just the championships — though there were plenty: 10 NBA titles under his ownership. It was the way he treated people. Players, coaches, fans — he made you feel like family. He empowered stars to shine, but he also built a culture of loyalty, trust, and excellence that defined the Lakers for decades.

In 2010, he was rightfully inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport. But for those of us who lived through the golden years, his legacy was already sealed long before that. He gave us Magic. He gave us Kobe. He gave us moments that still give us chills.

Even now, walking into Crypto.com Arena (though it’ll always be Staples to me), I can still feel his presence. The banners. The statues. The echoes of Chick Hearn’s voice. It’s all part of what Jerry built.

Thank you, Dr. Buss, for believing in the beauty of the game. For giving us Showtime. For giving us pride. For giving us the Lakers.

Forever grateful. Forever purple and gold.

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MIAMI — With the playoffs looming, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are finding a new gear.

And they accomplished something Sunday that hadn’t been done in more than 50 years.

Each of them had 30-10 nights – James with 33 points and 10 rebounds, Bosh had 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Wade shook off a bruised tailbone to finish with 30 points and 11 boards – as the Miami Heat beat the Houston Rockets 125-119 for their eighth win in nine games.

It was the first time since February 1961 that three teammates finished with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a non-overtime game.

“Unbelievable,” James said.

“That’s why we get paid the big bucks,” Wade said.

The last time a team had three players score 30 in the same game was Feb. 26, 2010, when Houston had Martin, Aaron Brooks and Scola combine for 94 against San Antonio. Before that, you’d have to go back all the way to Nov. 14, 1997, when Portland’s Isaiah Rider, Brian Grant and Arvydas Sabonis all had 30-plus points and 10 or more rebounds in a quadruple-overtime win over Phoenix.

But doing it in regulation, the last time that happened was a half-century ago, when Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman and Wayne Embry – Hall of Famers all – did it for the Cincinnati Royals in a loss to the Philadelphia Warriors.

“One of the things we talked about when we came together was making history,” Bosh said.

Mike Bibby added 14 points for the Heat, who beat Houston by the same score on Dec. 29.

Kevin Martin scored 29 points, Luis Scola added 28 and Kyle Lowry – who tweaked an ankle late – had 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Rockets. Chase Budinger scored 16 for Houston, which had a five-game winning streak snapped.

“We started man-to-man and Wade and James just ran by us,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. “Then we went to a zone and we knew that was going to be a problem. Even then, we didn’t put a body on people. We were trying to keep them from getting the easy opportunities and we didn’t do it.”

Wade sealed it with 33 seconds left, taking a handoff from James and making a left-handed layup while getting knocked into a row of courtside photographers for a 120-115 lead. The Heat never trailed in the fourth quarter, taking the lead for good when James Jones made three free throws with 9:22 remaining.

The Rockets are 0-3 when trying to win six straight games this season, and haven’t had a run of that many wins since February 2009.

“We gave everything we had,” Martin said. “We just didn’t execute well enough.”

The Heat noticed late in the game that Bosh had 28 points, and after Miami’s star trio combined for 91 points Friday in a win over Philadelphia, they talked about what it would be like for each of them to score 30.

That chance came exactly one game later. And Bosh needed two trips to the foul line, but he got it done – only to learn afterward of the historical ramifications.

“That’s what makes great players special,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They can be great during the year and still find another gear and another level to go to. I think that’s what you’re seeing with those three guys.”

It wasn’t anywhere near as easy as their stat lines would indicate.

Scola played off James at the top of the key with 3:35 left, the two-time reigning MVP made a stepback jumper, and the Heat lead was 116-106. Lowry tipped in his own missed layup with 51 seconds remaining to get Houston within 118-115, but Wade came through on the next Miami possession, and the Heat survived.

“Too many points,” Scola said. “When you play a team with Bosh, James and Wade, that’s very dangerous.”

Much like the 125-119 Heat win at Houston earlier this season, this was another track meet. Miami’s 38 first-quarter points were its second-highest total of the season – and Houston’s 37 points after 12 minutes were the third-most the Heat had given up this season.

It was 71-68 at the half, Miami’s highest-scoring opening two quarters in more than five years.

Still, it didn’t provide much of a cushion.

The bigger concern was Wade, who bruised his tailbone after appearing to trip over teammate Juwan Howard’s feet while trying to grab an offensive rebound midway through the second. He finished the half, but missed the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third quarter while being tended to in the Miami locker room.

And the Rockets took advantage.

Martin had 11 points in the third quarter, nine coming in an 89-second span. He made a 3-pointer with 5:20 left in the period, slapping his hands in frustration and yelling that he got fouled. So he drew shooting fouls on each of Houston’s next two possessions, including one while shooting a 3 with 4:30 left. He made all three foul shots and the Rockets were up 87-81.

That’s when Wade returned, and Miami got a spark.

The Heat closed the quarter on a 12-4 run over the final 3:17, capped by James blowing past Patrick Patterson for a dunk that knotted the game at 93 entering the fourth.

NOTES: Miami outrebounded Houston 48-33. … The Rockets trailed for 7:12 of the opening quarter, which is 2:09 more than they trailed in their five previous games combined. … Roger Federer sat courtside, and actress Emmanuelle Chriqui got a loud ovation when she was shown on the arena scoreboards. … Martin, the NBA’s leader in free throws made this season with 523 entering Sunday, was 11 for 12. … It was the second straight game in which Wade finished with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

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Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And “who” we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called “curse” on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day….

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue….

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Now I can understand the anger and pain of losing not only the talent but all the revenue that goes along with a LeBron James leaving your franchise but it’s pretty funny how these owners and managers of pro teams can be so indignant when they feel they have been slighted but they have no qualms about booting, cutting, trading, suspending,  fining or outright renouncing players as they see fit!! Hey Dan grow up!!! There are plenty of other players out there, sign some and get back to work.

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John Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010), a staid Midwesterner who migrated to U.C.L.A. and became college basketball’s most successful coach, earning the nickname the Wizard of Westwood and an enduring place in sports history, died Friday at Ronald Reagan U.C.L.A. Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized since May 26. He was 99.

He was a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (class of 1961) and as a coach (class of 1973). He was the first person ever enshrined in both categories; only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. His ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period while at U.C.L.A. are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.

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