The Los Angeles Lakers’ president role had only been vacant for a few minutes, but it didn’t take Shaq long to know what the team should do.
Speaking in his role as an analyst for TNT, Shaq advocated for the organization to hire Jerry West to run things.
“I’m going to go on the record and say this. There is a gentleman across the hall who is a born Laker. He was general manager when I was there. Things didn’t work out and he kind of went away. I would like to see him get that job. A gentleman by the name of Jerry West. If anybody can bring the franchise back to where it was, it’s definitely Jerry West,” Shaq said.
"I respect his decision, but the game & the business must go on."
-Shaq reacts to Magic Johnson stepping down as Lakers' President of Basketball Operations. pic.twitter.com/GAXqUdbCOU
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 10, 2019
The Lakers won six championships with West as a team GM following his playing days. He ended up leaving to help build the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002 and then joined the Golden State Warriors as a board member in 2011. West has been with the Clippers since 2017 after feeling pushed out by the Warriors.
Could West end up back with the Lakers? Back before he took the Clippers job, a report said West desperately wanted to return to the Lakers. Maybe they will make things happen now, especially if the 80-year-old expresses interest in the job.
