
The NBA summer league in Las Vegas commenced with a heartfelt tribute to the late Jerry West, a basketball legend who passed away on June 12 at the age of 86. Prior to the first game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans, a touching nearly 20-minute tribute was held in honor of West.
A three-minute video tribute was played, followed by reminiscences from Rod Thorn and Mitch Kupchak, close friends of West. Thorn, who played alongside West at West Virginia, lauded him as one of the greatest players in basketball history and one of the top general managers the game has ever seen.