When Michael Jordan appeared on First Take, he paid tribute to basketball legend Jerry West. It was announced earlier today that the famous person portrayed on the NBA logo died at the age of 86, accompanied by his spouse. West, a remarkable person on and off the court, received countless tributes.

Jordan, who is now 61, also texted Stephen A. Smith during the live broadcast to share his thoughts, according to First Take on X. He was a mentor and trusted friend, almost like an older brother, Jordan wrote. I genuinely valued his advice and assistance. The more I got to know him, the more I wished we could have been teammates, even though I frequently fantasized about playing against him.

He had unrivaled basketball intelligence, and our strategies for the game were very similar. His absence will always be felt by his son and his wife, Karen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in peace, Logo.

In response to a video of Jordan’s homage, one fan wrote, “Wow, that’s incredibly kind of MJ.” “Jerry West was, in my opinion, the greatest general manager in the history of the game,” said another. The greatest GM ever, without a doubt. Peace be with you, Jerry “The Logo” West. “He’ll be missed,” wrote a third, and “Jerry West—pure class!” extolled another. Legend, you can rest easy.

Additionally, 56-year-old Stephen A. Smith shared a personal recollection of West. According to Smith, he once proposed that Michael Jordan take West’s place as the NBA’s logo when West was watching his show. Smith was shocked when West called and approved the plan.

“I thought he was going to argue against it, but he told me, ‘Absolutely not,'” Smith recalled. My favorite athlete is Jordan, and he is deserving of it.

In addition to leaving an amazing legacy on the court, West, one of the best players in NBA history, was instrumental in building the Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasty in the 1980s.

West was working as a consultant for the Los Angeles Clippers when he passed away. Over the years, the Lakers honored his basketball contributions with a statue in 2010 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.