Lakers Pay Tribute to Jerry West with No. 44 Band on Uniform

The Lakers announced on Tuesday that they will pay tribute to the late Jerry West on opening night with a special ceremony. In addition, the team will honor him throughout the season by wearing a band on the left shoulder of their uniforms.

(Elise Amendola / Associated Press)

The purple jersey patch has No. 44 in gold at the center in honor of West, a 14-time All-Star guard known as Mr. Clutch and architect of the Showtime era as a team executive. He died in June at 86.

The Lakers will honor Jerry West on opening night and all season with a special jersey patch with his No. 44. pic.twitter.com/OiLXzw87CY

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) September 10, 2024

The Lakers won five NBA championships and reached nine NBA Finals in a 12-year span under West's direction, with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fortifying the roster.

West helped build the Lakers' next championship run by acquiring Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal before departing in 2000.

The Lakers will have a formal ceremony to honor West at their season opener on Oct. 22, when they play the Minnesota Timberwolves. West also worked for the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Clippers in the two decades before his death.

The Lakers also announced Tuesday that they plan to retire Michael Cooper’s No. 21 jersey on Jan. 13.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.