After Jerry West passed away on June 12, tributes came from every corner of the sporting world, but his message about Victor Wembanyama still rings true.

NBA Legend Jerry West sadly passed away on June 12. He was a 14-time All-Star, scoring champ, assists leader, and, perhaps most importantly to him, an NBA Champion with his Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.

He was a pioneer of the game and helped usher in several generations of NBA basketball, and is certainly one of the best players and figures to ever grace an NBA court.

West never played for the San Antonio Spurs and never worked in the front office for the Silver and Black, but he recognized greatness when he saw it.

Jerry West

When Victor Wembanyama first came into the league and was scrutinized under a national spotlight, West, The Logo, offered praise.

“He is one of those players where you feel like he’s going to be an iconic player,” said West. “He can run, he can shoot three-point shots, I think his best skill is going to be blocking shots early in his career, but for people who haven’t seen him play, he’s pretty spectacular.”

“If you put a microphone in front of him, he is fantastic,” he continued. “And to me, he’s more than a basketball player. He is someone who gives the league another positive voice.”

West was the face of the NBA for his entire adult life and was in the public spotlight for over 60 years. He was one of the greatest presences in basketball and was an ambassador from one generation of the NBA to the next.

As Wembanyama tries to fill the shoes of the all-time greats, he revived the blessing of West, one of the NBA’s first GOATS.