West, Jerry (Alan) (1938– )

US basketball player. He was an All-American at the University of West Virginia (1956–60) and he cocaptained the US Olympic team to a gold medal in 1960. He then played for the Los Angeles Lakers (1960–74), where he was a ten-time All-NBA (National Basketball Association) first team selection. One of the game's greatest guards, he averaged 27 points per game, fourth best in NBA history, and became known as ‘Mr Clutch’ for his ability to score when the game was on the line. A Lakers general manager after retiring as a player, he was elected to basketball's Hall of Fame in 1979. West was born in Cheylan, West Virginia.