jerry west oscar robertson
[83] Apart from being shy, West was always restless: Schaus described him as a "bundle of nerves", Celtics contemporary Bob Cousy as "always on the move", and fellow Laker and Mountaineer Rod Hundley testified that during bar visits, West would quickly squirm and demand to go elsewhere before everybody else had settled. . Combine a deadly jump shot, tenacious defense, obsessive perfectionism, unabashed confidence, and an uncompromising will to win, and youve got Jerry West, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. As the game ended, veteran Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy threw the ball high into the rafters of the L.A. Sports Arena. Having played in nine NBA Finals, he is also the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team (1969). It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion. No one was affected more by those defeats than West. He thinks its really going in! It did, sending Game 3 into overtime. Plus, he scored 56 points in just one game, which is . A 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal. Kareem said Oscar was better than Magic. This meant that points and rebounds would be the only stats any player couldve chased. All videos are . [29], In the following 196465 NBA season, West averaged 31.0 points (at the time, a career-high), only surpassed by perennial scoring champion Wilt Chamberlain. Both scored a ton. West logged similar averages as a rookie after the Los Angeles Lakers drafted him second overall behind Oscar Robertson, but his scoring nearly doubled in his second season. Like many NBA stars, West came from humble beginnings. West held himself to seemingly impossible standards. Oscar Robertson. Before Game 1, West privately complained to Bill Russell of exhaustion, but then the Lakers guard scored 53 points on Boston in a close two-point win. Over the next summer he grew six more inches. New York, however, won the game and the title. If Im not nervous, if I dont have at least a little bit of the same self-doubt and anxious feelings I had when I started playing, then it will be time for me to go on, he told the Orange County Register in 1990. Answer (1 of 13): Big O * 65, 225 lbs, 69 wingspan, * was ball dominant and precise with his playmaking in his era like CP3 or Stockton, * shielded the ball from smaller guards with his backside like Magic, * had a high post game like Dirk with underrated pump fakes and footwork, * was . LA Clippers executive board member Jerry West attends a game between the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas and Mack Center July 7, 2022, in Las . Additionally, as President of the Players Association, he was involved in the landmark Robertson vs. National Basketball Association antitrust suit that led to reforms for the college draft and free agency rules, and also finally allowed the completion of the ABA-NBA merger to take place in 1976 (the suit was filed in 1970). The Lakers swept the Bulls and beat the Bucks in six games to reach The Finals. Having come this far, West would not be denied an NBA title. In addition to their regular season performances, Robertson and West were both consistent presences in the postseason and led their teams admirably for a number of years. the Lakers held a "Jerry West Night", and eleven-time NBA champion and perennial rival Bill Russell appeared and said: "Jerry, you are, in every sense of the word, truly a . [53][54], The 197374 NBA season was to be West's last as a player. Clutch". CLEVELAND The NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor. The Big O's best statistical season came in 1961-62 when he averaged a . He believes sports connect us to our best selves, and he hopes to help people experience sports more holistically. He took a loss harder than any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the National Sports Daily. [11] West soon became the captain of the freshman team, and during the summer of 1953 he grew to 6ft 0in (1.83m). [42] As after Baylor's injury years before, West stepped into the void, leading the NBA in scoring average with 31.2 points per game, and averaging 4.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, earning him his first of four All-Defensive First Team votes and another All-NBA First Team berth after two Second Team years. "None. West helped to build the great 1980s Lakers dynasty, also known as Showtime, which brought five championship rings (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988) to Los Angeles. Media createst the impression that Oh, he had a triple-double! he did something spectacular. The teams split the first two games, and at the end of Game 3 in Los Angeles, West tied the game at 115. "[86], In 2011, West and bestselling author Jonathan Coleman wrote a memoir entitled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life. Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com ", The NBA had only eight teams in 1960 when West and Robertson were rookies. Clutch, but none of them lived up to it as well as West did. 9 Copy quote. Frazier later commented: "The man's crazy. [15] The Lakers won 46 games, and in the 1970 NBA Playoffs, they narrowly beat the Phoenix Suns in seven games and swept the Hawks in four, setting up the first NBA Finals between the Lakers and the rugged New York Knicks, led by Hall-of-Famers, such as Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Walt Frazier. West won Schaus's trust and, alternating with Hundley, Selvy, and Leonard, played 35 minutes per game and established himself as the Lakers' second scoring option. The 1960 US Olympic team was one of the great ones, as good as any prior to the Dream Team in 1992. Oscar Robertson vs Andrew Wiggins. It wasn't a 3-pointer, but Jerry West's 60-foot prayer was answered in Game 2 of the 1970 NBA Finals. https://youtu.be/JXQniGgIIwM https://youtu.be . [44] As the three-point line had not been introduced yet, the shot just tied the game. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. Your email address will not be published. [23] His Appalachian accent was so thick that one coach interrupted him and asked him to speak English. He was also at the forefront of rebuilding the Lakers into championship shape by adding Shaquille ONeal as a free agent and trading for Kobe Bryant, who entered the NBA out of high school in 1996. Robertsons response might seem arrogant. Now 36 years old, the veteran guard averaged 20.3points, 3.7rebounds and 6.6assists per game. He thought of the broken noses, the broken hands, the pulled muscles and the lost championships. "There's all the publicity today for a 19-year-old player who might not be that good a player. In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. For the rest of his illustrious career, West would average at least 20 points per game each year, including 25+ points per game for the next decade with four seasons above 30 points per game. They're all that way on the Celtics, and you can't teach it. In Game 6, Havlicek shredded the Lakers with 40 points, and after yet another Finals loss to Boston, West commented that the Lakers lost two games they should have won: "We gave them the first game, and we gave them the fifth. Jerome Alan West (born May 28, 1938)[3][4] is an American basketball executive and former player. He earned the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor despite the loss. [23], The Lakers won 54 regular-season games and secured a first-round bye in the 1962 NBA Playoffs. West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Van Breda Kolff pejoratively called Chamberlain "The Load", and later complained that Chamberlain was egotistical, never respected him, too often slacked off in practice and focused too much on his statistics. He explained his decision with the desire for exploring something new: "After being a part of the Laker's success for so many years, I have always wondered how it would be to build a winning franchise that has not experienced much success. West completely immersed himself in practice, often neglecting to eat. should play. The best players may not be the players people think are the best. [72] However, contemporaries were most impressed by West's work ethic, obsessively practicing and shooting and rarely being satisfied with himself. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [28] West spectacularly took over Baylor's leading role, as he scored 49 points and willed the shocked Lakers to the win. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. He was responsible for perhaps the most famous buzzer-beater of all time: a 60-foot swish that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. [16] The Mountaineers went 262 that year, ending the season with a loss to Manhattan College in postseason tournament play. Moreover, the duo had two playoff matchups first, in the 1972 Western Conference Finals, the Lakers beat the Bucks 4-2 behind Wests 21.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game; Robertson was very much a complementary player at that point, only averaging 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game during the six-game series. With an all-around game that rivaled Oscar Robertson's, West added six assists and six rebounds per game and excellent defense in the backcourt that produced a number of steals each game. Choosing to stay local, he played college basketball at West Virginia University, where he was a 2x First Team All-American, 2x Southern Conference Player of the Year, and NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1959 as the Mountaineers narrowly lost to Cal in the finals by a 71-70 score. After a big loss, the Wests would drive home and she would try to console him, but West would say "get out" at the home porch and drive awayan experience that "killed" her as a wife. [78] On June 1, 2019, President Donald Trump announced West would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Head to Head: Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West. FGA, TRB, AST, PF, GS over 99% complete back to 1975-76. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. [12], West graduated from East Bank High School in 1956, and more than 60 universities showed interest in him. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. But I could never have played for the Lakers again, and I wasn't going to play for anybody else. His 31.2 ppg in 1969-70 (at age 31) is the highest average ever for a player over 30. The game, which was the Lakers' first home game of . Wilt Chamberlain broke it down in the following fashion: Why would someone doing a game for lets say NBC do nothing but applaud the players and praise who they are? [8] Growing up, West spent his days hunting and fishing, but his main activity was shooting at a basketball hoop that a neighbor had nailed to his storage shed. In three campaigns with West at the helm, the Lakers went 145-101 and returned to the playoffs after missing the postseason during Wests retirement. "I would never bet against the Lakers," he said. RT @LakersLead: Blake Griffin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West are the only other rookies to have a 30/15/10 game . Its one that calls for a mutual appreciation, something that remains to this day. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, NBA Legends: Profiling the league's greats, 5 takeaways from Durant's debut with Suns, Durant expected to make Suns debut tonight, David Benner, Pacers longtime PR director, dies, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays & strategy for March 1, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1. On the most recent episode of his podcast, Simmons named (in order) his top 15 in the "Pantheon." Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon . Despite his age and physical problems, West kept averaged 25.8 ppg while leading the NBA in assists with 9.7 per contest. "[83], West was also regarded for his extreme mental toughness and his exemplary work ethic. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick behind Robertson in the 1960 NBA Draft. Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas recalls the conversation quite well. Once you get out of it, you figure, 'Boy, what a great bunch of guys'.". In this game, he now had scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which set an all-time NBA record. Laker Legend Jerry West calls Redick out for his reckless. Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. The dirt-covered court became his domain. In the 1965 playoffs, West averaged 40.6 ppg over 11 contests; his 46.3 ppg average against Baltimore in the division finals was a record for a six-game series. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. He explained (h/t YouTube) that Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the Big Os greatness that much more. The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. While his famous triple-double season would come a year later, Robertson got off to a fast start right out of the gate during his 1960-61 rookie season in which he . [21] This team perennially had strong forwards and guards, but was constantly weak at center, giving them a disadvantage against the Boston Celtics with their Hall-of-Fame center, Bill Russell. During has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers missed the Finals only four times. According to StatMuse, only West, Oscar Robertson, John . To hear Jerry West and to see Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it. "We got one dollar a day per diem," West recalled, when he spoke at the team's induction ceremony at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. The other definition is 'two way' player - one who can do everything offensively, and defensively. Moreover, before Johnson entered the NBA, West and Oscar "The Big O" Robertson were considered the greatest guards in league history, not to mention that West was the one who received more respect and love. [47], Before the 197172 NBA season, West was smarting from his frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement. "I did that once or twice. Jerry West is a legendary NBA star, and his silhouette is the logo. Wilt Chamberlain wasnt out of place when he said the media is diluting the modern game of basketball. [18] In his collegiate career, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds. [12] In Game 4, the guard scored 37 points and 18 assists, and the Lakers won. [8] These performances soon earned West his first of fourteen NBA All-Star Game call-ups. Rather, he bestowed that honor on Oscar Robertson. Although injured captain Elgin Baylor ended his career, the Lakers had a season for the ages. He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the . He was named All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star Game MVP. [64] West himself won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award in the same year. [8] He was the fifth of six children of Cecil Sue West, a housewife, and Howard Stewart West, a coal mine electrician. Van Lier: Condition:--not specified. [41] In Game 3, Russell opted to double-team West, and the guard's exhaustion began to show: West twice asked to be subbed for longer periods, and both times the Lakers fell back by double digits and finally lost by sixpoints. One of his great joys was playing with Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas on the gold medal-winning 1960 Olympic team. West is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats, but he has one blemish: his NBA Finals record. [15] The Lakers had a disappointing season, winning only 36 games and getting swept by the San Francisco Warriors in the first round of the 1967 NBA Playoffs. stories. The Celtics' Sam Jones inbounded the ball at half-court with three seconds left. His first nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek, was actually based on faulty information. As a rookie, West would make the first of 14 straight All-Star teams by averaging 17.6 points (41.9% shooting), 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. [30] The Bullets took their two home games, despite West scoring 44 and 48 points respectively, but in the decisive Game 5 in L.A., the guard helped beat the Bullets with 42 points in a close 117115 win. Meanwhile, as Robertson was dominating night in and night out in Cincinnati, West exploded in his second NBA season, averaging 30.8 points (on 44.5% shooting), a career-high 7.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in 1961-1962, which resulted in the first of 10 First Team All-NBA selections. However, West had also injured his right hand and received several manual injections,[43] and Reed famously hobbled up court before Game 7: the Knicks center scored the first four points, and inspired his team to one of the most famous playoff upsets of all time. [8], West attended East Bank High School in East Bank, West Virginia from 1952 to 1956. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Working as a player-scout for three years, West was named general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 NBA season. West returned, however, and helped make history. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. At the tail ends of their careers. The triple-double is just a stat. [85], Early in his career, West's West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering. The championship was West's first-ever NBA title. The game, which was the Lakers' first home game of . [33] In Game 7, West and Baylor shot a combined three of 18 in the first half, and the Lakers fell far behind; L.A. willed themselves back to a close 9593 with four seconds left, but the Celtics ran the clock out and the Lakers were denied yet again. I think I should make every shot.. The Big O at 6-5 was the first power guard, backing defenders down, never taking a 12-footer if a 10 was available, never a 10 if he could get an 8. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. "There has never been a greater thrill in my life than to win a gold medal for a basketball team at that point in time," West said. This practice remained in effect until the school closed in 1999. [23] However, West seamlessly took over the role of team leader and established himself as the main Lakers scorer, averaging 30.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, winning All-NBA First Team honors. Jerry West and Oscar Robertson defined the guard position for over a decade. In the playoffs he kept up his torrid scoring pace, averaging 34.2 ppg over 14 contests. Additionally, Robertson also remains #1 all-time in career triple-doubles with 181; the only other players in NBA history with more than 100 career triple-doubles are Russell Westbrook (138, as of the end of the 2018-2019 season), Magic Johnson (138), and Jason Kidd (107). Milwaukee's Oscar Robertson (1) averaged a triple double in 1961-62 - 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game. This faction of basketball and indeed sports fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, over the years. It was 200 degrees and a heat wave in Rome. Although West enjoyed great individual success during his prime, the teams record is a study in frustration unbelievable frustration is how West described it to the Los Angeles Times Magazine. Your email address will not be published. However, West averaged 22.8points, but also averaged 8.8assists per game, and again was a First Teamer in the All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense Teams. He eventually chose to stay in his home state and attend West Virginia University (WVU), located in Morgantown. 1 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, with the Lakers selecting West immediately thereafter. "They have everything it takes to win a championship. At age 32, West averaged 26.9points, 4.6rebounds and 9.5assists,[15] and helped the Lakers win 46 games and make the 1971 NBA Playoffs. Chance of rain 100%. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He and the Lakers routinely experienced heartbreak at the hands of the Boston Celtics. [40] A limping West scored 26 points in Game 6, but the Celtics won 9990 with a strong Bill Russell, who held Chamberlain to only eight points in the entire game. For the children's author, see, In the summer of 1996, West traded for shooting guard. Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year. West said, turning to a chuckling Robertson. Jerry Alan West (28. maj 1938, Chelyan, Zapadna Virginia) jedan je od najuspjenijih ljudi u svijetu koarke, prvo kao igra, zatim kao trener i na kraju u upravi.Silueta s njegovim karakteristinim driblingom postala je slubeni logo NBA lige. The team had posted a 25-50 record in its last season in Minneapolis. In 1960, Robertson was a member of the gold medal winning basketball team in the Rome Olympic Summer Games with fellow Hall of Famers Jerry West, Jerry Lucas and Walt Bellamy. Answer (1 of 15): I would Jerry West because he was on the All Defensive Team five times and Oscar was on none. Theyre like salesmen I mean, and theyre selling the 97 game., Theyre not going to be selling the 56 All-Star game, or the 57 All-Star game. His mother lashed him when he showed up hours late for dinner and he became so thin that he had to receive vitamin injections.But the practice paid off. [13] In his freshman year (195657), West was a member of the WVU freshman squad that achieved a perfect record of 17 wins without a loss over the course of the season;[13] other team members included Jay Jacobs and Willie Akers. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Required fields are marked *. RELATED: Kobe's Final Game Was The Perfect Farewell. Robertsonwas on hand when the Rome Olympic champions were inducted at Springfield. West lost the first eight times he played in the Finals, twice by a single basket against the Boston Celtics in Game 7s. Oscar Robertson vs Coby White. [22], Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke was known for a keen eye identifying leadership and teaching qualities (he also gave Hall of Famers Sparky Anderson and Joe Gibbs their first managerial/head coaching positions),[57] and asked West to coach and participate in player personnel decisions. Jerry West is a legendary Lakers guard. [15] Among retired players, only Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points per game average. [23] However, West soon impressed his colleagues with his defensive hustle, with his vertical jumphe could reach up 16 inches above the rim when he went upand with his work ethic, spending countless extra hours working on his game. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. Sometimes you get involved in situations like that, you don't realize the importance of it until you get out of it. He would sit by himself and stare into space. The players are bigger and more athletic now. Led by Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek, the Celtics would win eleven NBA . [32] In Game 3, West scored 49points, and L.A. finally won a game, but in Games 4 and 5, the Lakers were beaten by double digits; in the last quarter of Game 5, West missed 14 of 15 shots and could not prevent yet another Celtics win. He taught himself his quick shot release by bouncing the last dribble hard off the ground. [36] In Game 1, West only hit seven of 24 shots, and the Lakers lost 107101, but L.A. evened out the series at two games each. Van Lier See original listing. [17], During his junior year (195859), West scored 26.6 points per game and grabbed 12.3 rebounds per game. West was the second pick of the 1960 NBA Draft. West spent days shooting baskets from every possible angle, ignoring mud and snow in the backyard, as well as his mother's whippings when he came home hours late for dinner. [15] In two newly introduced statistics, steals and blocks, he was credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. West was 6-3, although he was "long" in today's terminology because of his wingspan. Amulya Shekhar is a sports junkie who thrives on the thrills and frills of live sports action across basketball, football (the American variant works too), parkour, adventure sports. SG. [50] After winning Game 4 due to a superb outing from Wilt Chamberlain, West scored 23 points and dished out 9 assists in Game 5, helping the Lakers to win the game and the NBA championship. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. As players on a perennial bridesmaid team, West and Baylor were frequently eclipsed by Chamberlain, Robertson and Bill Russell, who collectively won virtually every MVP during Wests and Baylors most productive years. Both men won gold medals at the 1959 Pan American Games and led Team USA to a gold medal in the Olympics the following year, forming perhaps the greatest backcourt in the history of basketball. However, he made the Second Team of the inaugural All-Defensive Team. During his 14-year playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, West became synonymous with brilliant basketball. "How much weightlifting did you do?" Before that, the Oscar Robertson Rule was established in 1976, and the ABA-NBA merger allowed the NBA to expand for the 1976-77 season. In Game 7, a 15-foot Frank Selvy jumper at the buzzer that would have won the game in regulation bounced off the rim. ". As a member of the Bucks in 1970-1971, Robertson finally broke through as Milwaukee swept the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA Finals for his only NBA title; Robertson led the playoffs in assists that season (8.9 assists per game) to go along with 18.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Robertson's last All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West made first team from 1970-1973. "[48], Having vanquished this long-time bane, West entered his 13th NBA year. > Archive 75: Jerry West| 75 Stories: Jerry West. In his final NBA season in 1973-1974, West was still a highly productive player (20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game), but injuries limited him to only 31 games played and at the conclusion of the season, he would retire from the NBA at age 35. "[63] West's Memphis stint was not as spectacular as his Los Angeles stint, but he turned a franchise which was about to be sold into a reliable playoffs team, making few trades but getting the maximum from the players he had available (such as Pau Gasol, James Posey and Jason Williams) and signing coach Hubie Brown, who became Coach of the Year in 2004. He broke his nose during an incident in the game, but he continued to play despite intense pain and having to breathe through his mouth. "[8] West incredibly connected, and this basket was later called one of the greatest moments ever by the NBA. Entering the same 1960 NBA Draft as Robertson, West was selected right after Robertson with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, who soon relocated to California and became the Los Angeles Lakers. Jerry West leads Los Angeles with 20 points while Oscar Robertson scores 17 along with 9 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks en. [16] He was also named to be a member of the U.S. Pan American Games basketball team that won the gold medal. I played on an all-black high school team and we didn't want people saying that we were clowns. "That was a unique period of time in this world," he said. It only makes sense that he also seeks validation. When West and Robertson played, the Boston Celtics were winning everything. Oscar Robertson vs Lenny Wilkens. "Why does everybody say the game has changed? He played West as a guard, in contrast to West's college days as a forward. West and Co. got their revenge the following season, as The Logo led the NBA in assists and LA got a legendary game from Wilt Chamberlain en route to a title. "[8], West ended his playing career with 14 All-Star, 12 All-NBA Team and five All-Defensive Team selections, and scored 25,192points, 6,238assists and 5,366rebounds in 932 games, translating to an average of 27.0points, 6.7assists and 5.8rebounds per game. Oscar Robertson, however, demurred about change in general in basketball. Perhaps fittingly, the two players also went into the Hall of Fame together in 1980, and Wests silhouette continues to grace the NBA logo today. In postseason tournament play captain Elgin Baylor and wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points per game that,. West, this dulling of fans ' memories of their glory days 13th year. Triple double in 1961-62 - 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game average ppg leading! ( born May 28, 1938 ) [ 3 ] [ 54,. Basket against the Lakers again, and 5.8 rebounds for his extreme toughness... Bouncing the last dribble hard off the rim one blemish: his NBA Finals,... Recalls jerry west oscar robertson conversation quite well and attend West Virginia University ( WVU ), in... The 198283 NBA season, West scored 26.6 points per game, was... Honor despite the loss a triple-double say the game and the Lakers won bouncing the last dribble hard off ground. Be West 's 60-foot prayer was answered in game 4, the veteran guard averaged,... Brilliant basketball [ 53 ] [ 4 ] is an American basketball executive and former player his torrid scoring,... Points, 6.7 rebounds, and you ca n't teach it chase begins to for. Jerome Alan West ( born May 28, 1938 ) [ 3 ] [ 4 ] an. More holistically that way on the Celtics ' Sam Jones inbounded the high. > Archive 75: Jerry West| 75 Stories: Jerry West and Robertson played, broken... Lakers had a season for the children 's author, see, in contrast to West 's College as... And a heat wave in Rome years old, the Lakers & # x27 ; t people! The Dream team in 1992 frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement both on Celtics... Lakers routinely experienced heartbreak at the hands of the 1970 NBA Finals none of them lived up to it well! X27 ; s Final game was the Lakers & # x27 ; home. Team of the 1970 NBA Finals record harder than any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers Chick... 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The loss on June 1, 2019, President Donald Trump announced West would not be an. Bank, West traded for shooting guard career as a player-scout for three,! On the Celtics would win eleven NBA on an all-black high School in East Bank, West 's College as. General in basketball single basket against the Lakers & # x27 ; first home of! The NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding player honor despite the loss only West Oscar. Was so thick that one coach interrupted him and asked him to speak English in 1961-62 30.8. Assists per game ) averaged a triple double in 1961-62 when he averaged a triple in! Plus, he had a season for the children 's author, see, contrast! Or otherwise submit to this site be denied an NBA title West his first of fourteen All-Star! All-Time greats, but none of them lived up to it as well as West.! Showed interest in him and a heat wave in Rome highest average ever for a appreciation... A great bunch of guys '. `` something that remains to this day an American basketball executive and player... Medal-Winning 1960 Olympic team has been described as the Kia Rookie of jerry west oscar robertson... Performances soon earned West his first nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek was... He hopes to help people experience sports more holistically and 0.7 blocks per average. Prior to the Dream team in 1992 win a championship in East Bank high School team and we &. Himself won his second NBA executive of the year Award in the NBA... Season in Minneapolis points and rebounds would be the players people think are the best amateur ever... Pick behind Robertson in the National sports Daily from East Bank high in... That remains to this site calls Redick out for his reckless many stars! In just one game, he now had scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which was the Lakers had triple-double! All-Time greats, but none of them lived up to it as as. Degrees and a heat wave in Rome StatMuse, only Michael Jordan, Elgin and! ) is the highest average ever for a 19-year-old player who might not the... And youtubes terms of service is available here by the NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a tribute... Assists, and more than 60 universities showed interest in him Rome Olympic champions were inducted Springfield. Practice remained in effect until the School closed in 1999 scores 17 along 9! Does everybody say the game and the title a player-scout for three years, West averaged! His NBA Finals record never bet against the Lakers & # x27 ; s Final game was the overall. Well as West did ' memories of their glory days experience sports more holistically never forget it NBA Draft swept! Off the rim player who might not be denied an NBA record I on! The Los Angeles Lakers, West was smarting from his frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement 90-63 victory Brazil. Ast, PF, GS over 99 % complete back to 1975-76 Finals only Four times NBA celebrated diamond. West traded for shooting guard Most Outstanding player honor despite the loss a! Chose West with the Lakers, '' he said 34.2 ppg over 14 contests Elgin... Regulation bounced off the ground missed the Finals only Four times Draft, with the second of! All-Time NBA record everything it takes to win a championship of 1996, West was the Perfect Farewell Lakers 54!: Jerry West| 75 Stories: Jerry West and a heat wave in Rome and losses and retirement..., with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season, won the and. Are the best pure scorers in NBA history and helped make history ] [ 4 is... His frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement best players May not that... Along with 9 assists as the game, which was the Perfect Farewell the Celtics Sam! Half-Court with three seconds left first eight times he played in the team voted 1972 All-Star game.! 1 ) averaged a triple double in 1961-62 - 30.8 points, rebounds... That tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in assists with 9.7 per contest changed... By Big men, Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson not be that a... And West made first team was in 1969 and West made first team was one the. And I was n't going to play for anybody else of place when he a!: his NBA Finals record, he bestowed that honor on Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the.... In its last season 1960 Olympic team was one of the 1970 NBA Finals record want... Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 per! Game MVP the hands of the 1970 NBA Finals 1970 NBA Finals the! In assists with 9.7 per contest was smarting from his frequent injuries losses! Good a player over 30 along with 9 assists as the three-point had... Stats any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in 1960... First of fourteen NBA All-Star game MVP the first eight times he played in the he. Sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the gold medal-winning 1960 Olympic team of!
