MEMPHIS, April 30 (UPI) -- Jerry West, who is most synonymous with the success of the Los Angeles Lakers, has decided to take on the challenge of turning around the downtrodden Memphis Grizzlies, who never have won more than 23 games in a
season during their seven-year existence.
In a news conference at which a community embraced a sports hero, the Grizzlies Tuesday named West as their president of basketball operations.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but it is believed that Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley lured West with a multi-year contract worth about $5 million annually.
"People asked me 'How in the world can you do something like this' and I never even dreamed it was possible for me to leave the Lakers," said West, who turns 64 in May. "I'm a pretty old guy but I'm terribly excited about this. Mr. Heisley convinced
me that he will do everything absolutely necessary to bring a winning team to Memphis."
Heisley fired General Manager Billy Knight two weeks ago after finishing 23-59 this past season -- the franchise's first in Memphis after moving from Vancouver.
Heisley was laughed at for undertaking what many believed was a fruitless task when he pursued West, who generally was regarded as the best team executive in the NBA when he resigned as vice president of basketball operations for the Lakers in August 2000, ending four decades with one of the most successful
franchises in sports history.
"All I know is that Jerry West is a winner who builds winners," Heisley said. "I cannot put into words how much he will mean to this franchise and this community."
In all, West collected seven championship rings with the Lakers, six as an executive and one as a player. Yet he has somehow maintained a humble demeanor and was especially touched by the warm welcome he received at Tuesday's news conference.
"Small market teams can create a special niche with the community and I see no reason why we can't do that here," West said. "I want the type of players here that the fans here will say I'm glad he plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.
"I know what sports can do for community pride from my experience with the Lakers. When I first came to the Lakers in 1960 (as a player), with the Dodgers and Rams in town we couldn't even get our name in the newspaper. I played to a crowd of 4,700 people in my first game and I said these people in Los Angeles don't like basketball. But look at what the Lakers became."
West had anxiety attacks and was too nervous to attend games in the 2001 NBA Finals when the Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers in six games. Two months later, West stepped down as general manager, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.
For the last two years he remained as a consultant with the Lakers, who are trying to win their third straight NBA title with a team built by West. But he apparently grew bored with his role and stunned many with a willingness to run a franchise like the Grizzlies, who have averaged fewer than 18 wins per
season.
"The first year away from basketball I enjoyed my family very much and it was probably one of the greatest years of my life," West said. "But the second one was not as gratifying. How much golf can you play? I felt this was right for me and I received
the full support of my family. As a matter of fact, one of my sons has a No. 31 Shane Battier jersey on."
At least West will get to build around Pau Gasol, the NBA Rookie of the Year, and fellow forward Shane Battier, who also was named to the All-Rookie First Team.
"The most important thing is to bring talent that is equal to Pau and Shane," West said. "Billy (Knight) deserves a lot of credit for bringing them here, but we need a lot more."
Sidney Lowe will remain as Grizzlies coach after back-to-back 23-59 seasons.
West set the foundation for the two-time defending champion Lakers by making the 1996 trade for guard Kobe Bryant and gutting the roster to sign center Shaquille O'Neal. He later hired Coach Phil Jackson as the final piece of the puzzle.
The player silhouette on the NBA logo is modeled after West, who was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 and named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996.
West began his career in 1960 and was an All-Star in each of his 14 years as a player, all with the Lakers.
The former West Virginia star still ranks as the Lakers' all-time leading scorer with 25,192 points. He won an NBA title in 1972, the first for the Lakers since the franchise moved from Minneapolis.
After retiring as a player, West spent two years away from the game before replacing Bill Sharman as coach before the 1976-77 season. He compiled a 145-91 record as coach and served as a special consultant for three years before being elevated to general manager in 1982.
The Lakers won five NBA titles in the 1980s with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. West pushed for the selections of Johnson and James Worthy in the draft and acquired guard Byron Scott and forward-center Mychal Thompson to complement the nucleus of the "Showtime" Lakers.
