An emotional Jerry West gets his statue at Staples Center

As the black curtain fell and the purple and gold streamers floated through the air, Jerry West stared through teary eyes at the new statue erected in his likeness.

Magic Johnson said one should have been there long before Thursday, when the 14-foot, nearly 1,500-pound bronze bust of West as a young Lakers guard, pushing the ball up the court, was unveiled at the Star Plaza at Staples Center.

“Here’s a man whose statue should’ve been out here even before mine,” said Johnson, the Lakers great whose statue sits 10 yards away.

West was the night’s final speaker after many stars, including NBA Commissioner David Stern, Boston Celtics great Bill Russell, Lakers owner Jerry Buss, former Lakers coach Pat Riley and several others, praised him.

Said Stern: “I don’t know anybody who has demonstrated more caring for this game, more of an investment for this game.”

Said Russell: “As you all know, Jerry is the logo man, but to us [players], Jerry was not a silhouette. He was a man with a soul.”

Said Buss: “How many people have a statue? One in a million. Well, Jerry is certainly one of those.”

West, a member of the Hall of Fame, led the 1972 Lakers to a championship and as their general manager helped build seven title teams. He had prepared a speech, but struggled to begin it as fans behind metal gates chanted, “Jerry, Jerry!”

“This is kind of awkward for me,” West said, citing his small-town beginnings in West Virginia. “And to be honored by the people I admire most is very meaningful.”

It’s the second statue of West; the other is at the University of West Virginia, his alma mater, where his son, Jonnie, is a senior guard. The statue at Staples, built by sculptors/artists Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany, joins likenesses of Johnson, Wayne Gretzky, Chick Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya at Star Plaza.

Known as “The Logo” because his silhouette graces the NBA’s emblem and as “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game heroics, West offered thanks to his family, friends, former teammates and colleagues.

The ceremony was emceed by Channel 2 sports reporter Jim Hill. Gretzky and De La Hoya sat in the front row.

Former Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kurt Rambis, James Worthy, Norm Nixon, Tommy Hawkins and Shaquille O’Neal came too, as did current forward Pau Gasol. Former UCLA and NBA star Bill Walton also attended.

West signed O’Neal as a free agent in 1996, the same year West also traded for the rights to 17-year-old guard Kobe Bryant.

“We became the most dominant and the most controversial duo that’s ever been known,” O’Neal said, “and it’s all because of Jerry West.”

Bryant couldn’t make it, but in a video he said, “Nobody deserves it more than you, Mr. Clutch. I love you and thank you for everything you’ve done for me in my career.”

“This city has been so special to me,” West said, his voice breaking.

“And to think a little boy who had an opportunity to live his dreams, and maybe exceed them, is really special.”

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