Cabin Creek native Jerry West is generally considered West Virginia's greatest athlete in history. He led East Bank High School to a state title in 1956 and became a star at West Virginia University, where he was a two-time All-American and nearly won a national championship in 1959. He also helped lead the U.S. Olympic team to gold in 1960.

West played 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, making 14 All-Star games and winning an NBA title in 1972. He scored over 25,000 points and was known for his clutch play, earning the nickname “Mr. Clutch.” His silhouette is the basis for the NBA logo.

After retiring, West coached the Lakers and worked as a team executive, helping win more championships. He later worked with the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and L.A. Clippers. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. In 2019, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.