After six years as an Executive Board member for the Warriors, Jerry West unexpectedly departed in June. He took an advisory role with the division rival Clippers.
It was a curious move for the 79-year-old. Leave the defending champs for a team in turmoil?
On Monday, the former Lakers legend and Hall of Famer talked about his move south an interview with The Athletic's Tim Kawakami.
"Frankly it was very sad, OK? It really was. A place where I thought that if I was going to work another year or if somebody wanted me to work another year, I thought I could contribute; I did not want to leave. I did not want to leave. I was very happy there.
But those things happen sometimes. Obviously to be around a bunch of players that were as together as any I've seen and I think more importantly the talent that was on that team and to see the joy. There's a lot of joy there. I think those are the kind of environments where people really prosper."
West then explains why he's not with the Warriors anymore.
"It was time for me to leave. I'm in Los Angeles again. For me, I'll have a chance to go in the office a little bit and watch some of the people that have been hired, to watch our coaches coach. I've often said I've done some crazy things in my life because of the timing and maybe the timing was right."
West won one NBA title as a player and has eight as an executive, including two with the Warriors.
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The Clippers, along with West, get their first look at the defending champion Warriors on Monday, Oct. 30 in Los Angeles.
