Born in Chelyan, West Virginia, two-time Hall-of-Famer Jerry West found his passion for basketball at a young age. After leading his high school team to greatness, West took his talents to West Virginia University. Following a stand-out four years, West was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1960. Known as Mr. Clutch, West earned his nickname by making big plays when needed, such as his buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied game three of the 1970 NBA Finals.

Following his retirement from playing professional basketball in 1974, West had a successful run as the general manager (1982-1994) and executive vice president (1995-2000) of the Lakers, winning four NBA Championships (1985, 1987, 1988 and 2000). From 2002-2007, West served as the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, helping the franchise expand and reach its first playoff opportunity. West has twice been named executive of the year.

Currently, West is a head consultant for the Golden State Warriors.

HearStrong’s mission is so important because it advocates for improved communication. Good communication builds strong relationships and strong relationships build champions for life. That’s why it’s so important to get your hearing checked.