Kirk Gibson Birthday Note Tracks Jerry West's 1938 Arrival

kirk gibson belongs in this May 28 note because Jerry West was born in Cabin Creek in Kanawha County on May 28, 1938. That birth date anchors a career that took him from West Virginia to the center of basketball history.

Jerry West in Cabin Creek

West would become one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. He later led West Virginia University to the NCAA Tournament National Title game in 1959 against Cal, a step that put his name in the sport's national conversation before his NBA years even began.

West's Lakers Run

He went on to build an illustrious career as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. The record attached to that run was not limited to one season or one award: he was a 14 time All-Star and is a basketball Hall of Fame member.

NBA Logo Legacy

West's reach extended beyond the box score. His image is the logo of the NBA to this day, a rare legacy for a player whose career already included a birth date, a Final Four-level run in 1959, and a Lakers career that still defines the position he played.