Michael Cooper: “My relationship with him goes very deep. You understand, after I retired, I had alcohol and substance abuse points. And Jerry—he was the primary one to tug me to the facet. He was like, ‘Coop, what’s occurring?’ And he understood it. So I went and spent 45 days at John Lucas’s rehab facility down in Houston—most likely top-of-the-line issues I ever did to show my life round. Typically we get led astray by various things, and Jerry West was in a position to see that in me. He caught it early earlier than my points turned even greater—earlier than I couldn’t deal with them.” “So I went down there, took care of it, got here again, and I nonetheless had a job. He was nonetheless rooting for me. And till the day he died, I spoke to him. Every week earlier than he handed away, we talked. Jerry and I have been very, very shut. Relaxation in peace—he’s going to be missed. However once more, we attempt to reside our lives to mimic who he was, and I feel lots of us try this.” -via YouTube / February 7, 2025
