Michael Cooper: “My relationship with him goes very deep. , 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 capable of 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 had been very, very shut. Relaxation in peace—he’s going to be missed. However once more, we attempt to stay our lives to mimic who he was, and I believe plenty of us do this.” -via YouTube / February 7, 2025
