Jerry West Retires From Lakers

Monday, August 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) â€” Jerry West retired Monday, ending a 40-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in which he was one of the NBA's greatest players and most successful executives.

LOS ANGELES (AP) â€” Jerry West retired Monday, ending a 40-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in which he was one of the NBA's greatest players and most successful executives.

He said he is now ``unburdened of the pressures'' of pro sports and looks forward to becoming the team's biggest fan.

West will be succeeded as executive vice president of basketball operations by general manager Mitch Kupchak, who has worked with West in the front office the past 14 years. Kurt Rambis was promoted to assistant general manager.

West wrote a letter to Lakers fans that was attached to the news release issued by the Lakers.

``This is a difficult yet happy time for me personally as I retire my position with the Los Angeles Lakers and enter another period of my life, one that will allow me more freedom to enjoy my friends and particularly my family, unburdened with the pressures of the professional athletic business,'' he wrote.