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Jerry West Statue Unveiled Outside Staples Center

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LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) -- Jerry West has been immortalized in a bronze statue outside Staples Center, joining likenesses of fellow Los Angeles Lakers greats Magic Johnson and Chick Hearn in Star Plaza.

West and his family formally unveiled the statue Thursday night in a star-studded ceremony celebrating West's 14-year playing career and a successful front-office tenure with the Lakers.

West thanked the Lakers and Staples Center for the honor, but acknowledged he felt uncomfortable getting so much attention.

The hard-nosed Hall of Fame guard's silhouette is part of the NBA logo, and he won a title in 1972.

West began his career teaming with Elgin Baylor, who attended the ceremony along with Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Pat Riley and Shaquille O'Neal.

Sports Central's Jim Hill was the Master of Ceremony.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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