President Trump said late Saturday that he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NBA great Jerry West.
“The Great Jerry West will be receiving our Nation’s highest civilian honor, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his outstanding career, both on and off the court,” Trump tweeted. “Happy Birthday Jerry!” he added.
The president also shared a West Virginia University basketball post wishing West, who played at WVU, a happy birthday.
{mosads}The NBA Hall of Famer is currently is an adviser to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Trump did not announce a date for the ceremony.
Last month, the president awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods, calling the pro golf legend “a global symbol of American excellence, devotion and drive.”
The White House announced on Friday that Trump will award the medal to economist Arthur Laffer later this month for his contributions to economic policy.
Laffer, who championed supply-side economics, gained prominence serving as a top adviser to then-President Reagan. The “Laffer Curve,” a model he established that showed that increases in tax rates will eventually cause government revenue to decrease at a certain point, has been cited to argue for the benefits of tax cuts.
Critics of supply-side economics argue, however, that it favors the wealthy and has contributed to inequality.