Ariel Helwani pays tribute as basketball icon Jerry West passes away: "What a life"

Ariel Helwani has reacted to the passing of basketball legend Jerry West, whose death was just announced today. The popular MMA podcaster took to X to share his thoughts on the news.

While he is never at a loss for words, Helwani kept his tweet short, merely paying tribute to West. He included a picture of the basketball icon in his prime to accompany his condolences.

"Rest in Peace, Jerry West. What a life."

For those unaware, West spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he authored his legacy as a big game player, with his silhouette being used for the NBA logo. As far as his career honors are concerned, West is a former NBA champion, having achieved world championship glory in the 1972 NBA Finals.

Following his career as a player, with him having earned acclaim as a point guard, West maintained his involvement with the Lakers, where he became a head coach and eventually a general manager. He led the team to multiple NBA championships, further distinguishing himself.

As for Helwani, who is a well-known basketball fan, he will continue to cover the sport, as well as many others. However, his primary interest remains combat sports, specifically MMA, which he has covered for decades.

The 41-year-old hosts a well-known podcast, The MMA Hour, where he often interviews fighters from both MMA and boxing, picking their brains about upcoming matchups and other fight-related topics.

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Ariel Helwani often shares pictures with basketball players on X

While Ariel Helwani is largely known for his coverage of combat sports, he is a general sports fan. Thus, in line with his love of sports, he frequently takes to X to share pictures he takes with various athletes, including basketball players. He recently shared a picture with Kristaps Porziņģis.

It is an indication of how closely Ariel Helwani follows the sport, as Porziņģis, who plays for the Boston Celtics, is one of Latvia's finest-ever exports to the NBA, with the towering basketball player distinguishing himself as a power forward and center.