West’s relationship with Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke, with whom he didn’t speak for two years, was testy. The two engaged in retaliatory lawsuits over West’s disputed retirement, with West being named head coach of the Lakers in 1976 as part of the resolution of their differences.
As evidence of Cooke’s prickly nature, West shares a story about how Cooke tried to persuade gentlemanly John Wooden, UCLA’s coaching legend, to take the Laker reins. Wooden only agreed to the meeting as a favor to a friend, and when Cooke tried to weaken his resistance by presenting a salary figure, Wooden said, “No coach is worth that kind of money.” Cooke angrily responded by kicking Wooden out of his office. Wooden, by the way, made just $32,500 in 1975, his last year in coaching. He and West would sometimes meet in the back of Westwood Drugs to talk basketball while sitting on milk carton crates.
