LOS ANGELES — Jerry West is leaving the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to join forces with the Los Angeles Clippers, and the natural question is why.

He provided an answer in an interview Thursday morning: the people.

The allure of working with Clippers owners Steve Ballmer and Dennis Wong, as well as coach Doc Rivers, is what pulled West back to Los Angeles.

Ballmer and Wong, friends since their college days at Harvard, were instrumental in pulling off the coup to get West.

Wong, who owns a small percentage of the Clippers, played a pivotal role. He once had a small ownership stake with the Warriors and saw how West helped turn Golden State into an NBA power in his six seasons there.

Wong persisted, and West finally relented, agreeing to become a consultant with the Clippers that will allow him to perform in an adviser’s role similar to what he had as an executive board member with the Warriors.

An agreement for him to work for the Clippers is in place, West said, but no contract had been signed

“For me, life is about passion. Life is about being around people you want to be around,” West said. “In my meeting with Steve and Dennis Wong, they were great.”

West, 79, said he came away impressed with their vision. The Clippers have reached the playoffs six consecutive seasons.