Shaquille O'Neal pays Jerry West the ultimate compliment in a moving eulogy: "You deserve to be the Logo"

Former LA Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal paid tribute to the late Jerry West, who passed away Wednesday (June 12). O'Neal posted his eulogy dedicated to "The Logo" on Instagram where he paid the ultimate compliment. The LA Clippers made the official announcement of West's death.

Many will remember West as the icon behind the NBA logo and a superstar for the Lakers. In his entire career, he stayed with one team and was a staple at the All-Star games. The legendary player never missed an All-Star game in his 14-year career, which is a testament to how great he was on the court.

Other players are aware of that, including O'Neal. The four-time champion posted a video compilation of himself and West throughout the years that they've known each other. He also included a lengthy eulogy dedicated to the late star.

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"You deserve to be The Logo, but to all of us who had the honor of knowing you, you were so much more," O'Neal wrote. "With all of your nicknames — Mr. Clutch, Mr. Outside, or even Zeke from Cabin Creek — they still don’t capture the man that you were. But, I have a final label for you. And I am so proud that I got to call you this. Friend.

"I will miss you. Much love to your entire family."

In 1996, West was the general manager for the Lakers. He helped the organization sign O'Neal away from the Orlando Magic and also draft Kobe Bryant. The pairing of O'Neal and Bryant paid off as it resulted in three titles and four trips to the NBA Finals.

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Ty Lue paid tribute to Jerry West

The entire NBA community is mourning the loss of Jerry West. Aside from the talent that he showed on the hardwood, West was a mentor and friend to many of those who came after him. One of those players was LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue.

Lue released a statement honoring West after his passing.

"Jerry brought me to Los Angeles on draft night in 1998 and he's been an irreplaceable part of my life ever since," Lue said. "Everything was better after a conversation with Jerry. He was a mentor and a friend. I can't believe he's gone."

West served as an executive board member and consultant for the Clippers since his departure from the Warriors in 2017. He developed a close friendship with the team's head coach and helped build a solid contender in the Western Conference.

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