LOOK: NBA pays tribute to Jerry West with posthumous courtside seat for Summer League in Las Vegas

A seat for the late Jerry West will be reserved for all 11 days of this year's Summer League

By Steven Taranto Jul 12, 2024 at 5:23 pm ET• 1 min read

The NBA is honoring the memory of Jerry West in this year's Summer League, revealing a courtside seat reserved for the iconic Los Angeles Lakers point guard and longtime face of the league. West, one of the greatest players in NBA history and the basis for the league's logo, died last month at the age of 86.

Along the baseline of the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, a special seat was designated for West with a T-shirt bearing his likeness and declaring him as "The soul of the summer league," while also featuring ice cream from Dairy Queen -- his personal favorite summer league treat. West was a frequent fixture at the Summer League as part of his work as an NBA executive for multiple teams.

The start of the Summer League on Friday opened with a video tribute to West, as well as remarks on his life and legacy in professional basketball.

On the baseline at Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, the NBA has honored Jerry West at his usual courtside seat - complete with his favorite summer league treat pic.twitter.com/fVyStyZqbp

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 12, 2024

Las Vegas Summer League turns out the lights and remembers Jerry West before the start at Thomas & Mack.

They also are leaving his courtside seat open all event. pic.twitter.com/3shY9U7GdQ

— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 12, 2024

"Jerry West, for all his accolades, accomplishments, and becoming larger than even the life he imagined for himself, was never finished searching," ESPN and Sacramento Kings broadcaster Mark Jones said. "His commitment to getting better at life and to embracing the next horizon is something very much worth remembering and celebrating, as we are right now."