Lakers great Jerry West is hired by Golden State Warriors as an advisor

Former Lakers general manager Jerry West was hired Friday by the Golden State Warriors as an advisor to owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber and will join the team’s executive board.

“I’m excited about this opportunity and, quite frankly, humbled that the new ownership group with the Warriors inquired about my interest in joining the organization,” West said in a statement. “I know that you must have a commitment at the top to succeed. I sense that is certainly the case with the Warriors or I would not have made this decision.”

The Warriors said West, who turns 73 next week, will help out in a “wide-ranging capacity” including basketball operations, business, sponsorship and marketing efforts. The Warriors said he will travel to the Bay Area, though he plans to continue living in Southern California.

West, a 14-time All-Star with the Lakers, was the team’s general manager from 1982 to 2000. He was also president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002 to 2007.

He won the NBA executive of the year award in 1995 and 2004.

The Warriors were sold in November for $450 million. Last month the new owners fired coach Keith Smart after the team finished the season with a 36-46 record.

Among the coaching candidates the Warriors are said to be interested in are Lakers assistants Brian Shaw and Chuck Person. Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, Boston Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank and Dallas assistant Dwane Casey also are considered candidates.