He enjoyed outstanding success as a player and general manager for the Los Angeles Lakers, was voted one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and his image has long been the NBA’s logo, but in his new book, West By West My Charmed, Tormented Life (co-authored by Jonathan Coleman), Jerry West presents a lot more of the dark shadows that have haunted him behind the glory of the arena spotlight.
West By West is not your typical rah-rah sports memoir. Unsparing in its self-assessment and honesty, the 14-time all-star and member of the basketball hall of fame goes into remarkable detail about his personal and professional life including his sometimes debilitating shyness, a damaging relationship with his father as well as the haunting loss of his brother.
Readers will also get inside views on his forty-year career with the Lakers which includes some interesting comments about his relationships with many NBA greats like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Shaq and Phil Jackson.
Certainly for fans of the game, readers will come away with a deeper understanding of what made Jerry West run.
