Jerry West, the late legendary Los Angeles Lakers point guard and executive, was not only known for his remarkable sports career but also as a devoted father to his children.
Tying the knot with his college sweetheart, Martha Jane Kane, in April 1960, he first experienced fatherhood, welcoming his oldest son, David, whom he named after his brother who died in combat during the Korean War.
Furthermore, the late Jerry West also welcomed two other kids, sons Mark and Michael, with his first wife, Martha, before their divorce in 1976.
Despite the separation, Jerry West and his former wife, Martha, mutually raised their three kids, David, Mark, and Michael, to be successful in their respective careers.
Despite being the sons of legendary NBA star David, Mark and Michael prefer to maintain a low profile and have shared little about their personal and professional lives.
However, Jerry West often expressed his love and pride for his sons.
Two years after his divorce from his first wife, the Olympic gold medalist Jerry West, tied the knot with his second wife, Kristine ‘Karen’ Bua, in 1978.
During their over four-decade marriage, the couple welcomed two sons, Ryan and Jonnie.
Jerry West’s sons Jonnie and Ryan followed in his footsteps in sports!
While his three kids from his first marriage prefer to maintain a low profile, Jerry West’s sons from his second wife, Kristine, followed in his footsteps with careers in sports and have excelled in their fields.
Jonnie West showcased his amazing basketball skills playing for his father’s alma mater, the University of West Virginia’s men’s basketball team, the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Although he didn’t continue his career as a player, Jonnie significantly contributed to the field of sports working as a director of basketball operations, Pro Personnel.
Earning his Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sport Management and MBA from West Virginia University. Jonnie West began his career as a management Intern of Wasserma Media Group in 2012.
He further began his career in the sports field, serving as the associate general manager of the Santa Cruz Warriors for almost two years before joining his current NBA team, the Golden State Warriors, as director of Player Programs in 2016.
Likewise, he has been working with the Golden State Warriors for over 12 years and currently serves as the senior director of Pro Personnel.
Jonnie is happily married to professional golfer Michelle Wie West since 2019, and the couple is proud parents of a daughter named Makenna, born on June 19, 2020, and a son named Jagger Jerry YooJun, born in October 2024.
Regarding Jerry West’s other son, Ryan West, he also excelled in his career in the sports field, working with several NBA teams in various positions.
Earning his bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University in 2002, Ryan began his career working as a scout for the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002 to 2009.
He further served as a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2009 to 2012, before being promoted to Assistant Director of Scouting in 2012.
After serving in the position of assistant director of scouting for three years, Ryan became the Director of Player Personnel of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015 before the Detroit Pistons hired him as a Pro Scout in 2020.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Born on May 28, 1938, in Chelyan, West Virginia, Jerry West passed away in Los Angeles on June 12, 2024, at the age of 86.
- His father, Howard Stewart West, was a coal mine electrician, and his mother, Cecil Sue West, was a housewife. Jerry was the fifth of six children.
