Hours after the death of basketball legend Jerry West was made public, Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson revealed his friend’s reaction to his HIV diagnosis more than 30 years earlier.
Johnson was considered one of the NBA’s greatest players when he announced he was HIV positive in 1991.
The news shocked the sports world and those within the Lakers organization, where West worked as an executive at the time.
Johnson said the two ‘cried together for hours in his office’ for hours as part of a lengthy tribute on social media.
West, who is remembered as the silhouette of the NBA logo, died Tuesday at age 86.
Johnson and West have been associated since 1979 and are both famous with the Lakers.
West died aged 86 on Tuesday and tributes have poured in from around the world.
“We had a basketball camp in Hawaii called the Jerry West Magic Johnson Fantasy Camp for 20 years,” Johnson said. “At camp we shared every meal together and that’s when we really bonded and solidified our great friendship outside of the Lakers.”
“Jerry West was more than a CEO: he was a great friend and confidant,” Johnson continued. “He was there at my highest moments, winning 5 NBA championships, and at my lowest moment when I announced my HIV diagnosis and we cried together for hours in his office.”
‘Every time I achieved a goal or crossed a milestone, one of the first calls I got was from Jerry West. When I started my business, I was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, named President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers; “He would always pick up the phone and give me a personalized call to congratulate me,” Johnson added.
West was the Lakers coach who drafted Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick in 1979 and was a team executive throughout Johnson’s entire career with the franchise.
Johnson now owns part of the nearby Los Angeles Dodgers, while West worked for the Clippers for the past few years.
“Beyond his accolades as a basketball player and NBA executive, Jerry West was a great man, a leader of men, loved his family and friends fiercely and, despite working with other franchises, was a fan of the Lakers for life,” Johnson said.
“Laker Nation, the only reason we have 17 NBA championships is because of Jerry West and his expertise in drafting players, trading players and hiring the right coaches,” Johnson continued. “Today is a sad day for basketball and sports fans around the world.”