As the saying goes, "Forgetting the past means betrayal." Jerry West broke up with the Lakers not long ago, leaving the world with a lot of chicken feathers. In addition to sighing, everyone can't help but ask what really happened that would make the "Godfather of the Lakers" and the team he had made a great achievement break up in such a decisive way, and even leave such cruel words as "Maybe I should have played on other teams"?
West and the Lakers fell out this time, the trigger was that the Lakers canceled his lifetime season pass without authorization, and a text message was sent to West's wife's mobile phone, so perfunctory finally angered West to say that the conflict with the Lakers could not be reconciled. You know, the lifetime season pass was a privilege granted to West by the lakers' former boss Jerry Bass when he was alive, and West and the elder Buzz had formed a deep friendship. Unexpectedly, after the death of the old Bass, his successors would be so desperate.
Freezing three feet is not a cold day. West and the Lakers have come this far, and the roots of the contradiction may go back 20 years. In 2000, just as the Lakers' triple crown was just starting, West left the Lakers to join the Grizzlies top brass. At the time, West had explained his decision. "After years of being a successful part of the Lakers, I often wonder what it would be like to go to a team that hasn't experienced much success to rebuild," West said. ”
Since then, West has stepped down as general manager with the Grizzlies and served as a consultant to the Warriors and Then the Clippers. What accompanies his remarkable achievements in every team is the curiosity of the outside world why he always does not return to the Lakers. That skepticism culminated after West became an adviser to the Clippers. In this regard, West has also said that he has nothing to say to the Lakers, and he will not denigrate the old club, "This is not a competition between me and the Lakers," West said, "I just want to try it and see if I can change the position of the Clippers." ”
It can be said that West initially left the Lakers, perhaps as he said, to take on a new challenge and start over on a team that did not achieve much success. Later, West never returned to the Lakers, which may be related to the situation of the Lakers at that time. In particular, West came to the Clippers in 2017, when James had not yet traveled west, and the Lakers were still in the embarrassment of missing the playoffs for 6 consecutive years, and West may not be willing to go to this muddy water.
What the Clippers can offer West is heartwarming. West has also admitted that clipper owner Ballmer's deep pockets, his acquaintances in the clippers' top brass, and the Clippers' never winning the championship and the need to reverse their position in Los Angeles have attracted him. Like the Grizzlies and Warriors, the Clippers gave West an enticing challenge, as well as the environment and resources to face it.
Looking back now, West's return to the Clippers may have deepened the conflict between him and the Lakers, after all, the city derby has always been "naked hatred." Lakers fans will not forget the 2019 offseason Clippers "dark Chen Cang", snatched Kehuai Leonard from the Lakers, and deliberately hung the Lakers to make them miss the opportunity to attract reinforcements. This account, Lakers fans are bound to be counted on West's head. In 2021, Jenny chose the most important 5 people in the history of the Lakers, which excluded West and also drew the first rift in the relationship between the Lakers and West.
Speaking of this, in fact, there is a faint smell that West left the Lakers and then joined the Clippers, which may be the same as the fans' ideas in the eyes of the successor of the Bass family. Jim Bath was the Lakers' first basketball director after the death of The Elder Bath, and his reputation was not good. Even if the Zen master can drive him away, how much retention will he have for an "old antique" like West? When the prince ascends to the throne, he will always cultivate his own power, which is also common on the stage of history.
After "scourgeing" the Lakers, Jim was ousted by Jenny Bass. Although Jenny has a better reputation than Jim and has also brought the Lakers a 10-year championship in 2020, whether she is a Lakers speaker has been questioned many times in recent times. After a recent fire with the Lakers, West also said two reservations, one is that he still hopes that the Lakers will succeed now, and the other is that "Jenny and I have always had a good relationship, but there are a few people there (Lakers management) who do things that I don't quite understand, it's a completely weird feeling." ”
West's words refer to no one else, naturally it is the Lambis couple, and they are also considered to be the "shadow bosses" of the Lakers, which influence the operation of the Lakers. It is reported that the Rambis will interfere in the coaching of the manager, and Linda Lambis is Jenny's girlfriend who is "trustworthy". Previously, the choice of Vogel instead of Tyrone Lou, the choice of Westbrook instead of DeRozan, and even the expulsion of Luke Walton and the magician have all been seen in the presence of the Lambis.
Take the shaking of Vogel's coaching position this time, there are media reports that Rambis has suddenly appeared in the Lakers' offline coaching meeting, and asked Vogel to reuse Howard and Jordan Jr. and other big ones. And Vogel was able to keep the position, it is said that he threatened the Rambis and his wife, "if fired, it will be exposed."
It is conceivable that even if West returns to the Lakers, in the case of the Lambis couple "controlling the government", the old man will either be "angry and half dead", or will slip away in ashes. Even he can't have much of an impact on the Decisions of the Lakers today.
In short, the Lakers and West have gotten into such a fight that the viewers are all chilled. West's call of the "Godfather of the Lakers" is by no means without reason. From joining the draft in 1960 to leaving in 2000, West dedicated 40 years to the Lakers and made countless achievements. He was the Lakers' all-time scoring champion (surpassed by Kobe Bryant); he led the Lakers to the Finals nine times and won his first title after relocating to Los Angeles in 1972; he was the first Finals MVP in NBA history and the only Finals MVP from the losing side; he was also the spokesperson for the NBA "Mr. Key", the logoman.
Bidding farewell to his playing career, West's achievements in the position of manager are even more dazzling like the sun. From 1982 to 2000, West served as the lakers' general manager, building the Showtime Lakers and OK combinations. During his presidency, the Lakers reached the Finals 8 times and won the championship 4 times, eventually becoming the first NBA giant.
Later, in the Grizzlies, he led the team to achieve a breakthrough of zero in the team's all-time playoffs; in the Warriors, he was said to have been involved in sending Monta Ellis to correct Curry, choosing Cole instead of Mark Jackson, and recruiting Durant, while his efforts to retain Klay Thompson were praised by posterity; in the Clippers, he suggested sending Paul and Griffin, dismantling the "City of Empty Connections", and then bringing the Cacho combination.
On the pedestal of the stone statue of Molière, the "master of comedy" who had not been elected to the Academy in his lifetime, the Académie française had inscribed the following line: "His glory lacks nothing, but our glory lacks him." "It's not too much to say this to the Lakers and West now. (Supine Braces/Hairy)