Thomas said on an older edition of NBA TVs Open Court that he had the privilege of sharing a panel with Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. [33], The 196667 NBA season saw West playing only 66 regular-season games due to injury;[22] his averages fell slightly to 28.0points, 5.9rebounds and 6.8assists per game. From 1962-70, the Lakers reached the Finals six times, losing to Boston five times and to the Knicks once. O as in the Only player to average a triple-double for a whole season. "There's all the publicity today for a 19-year-old player who might not be that good a player. pic.twitter.com/VAlcLcmqXX, Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) March 10, 2022. Maybe that's what a team is all about. He played West as a guard, in contrast to West's college days as a forward. With West not yet in shape, Baylor and the Lakers fell back 32; then they succumbed in Game 6 in front of their home crowd with a 112109 loss. 1 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, with the Lakers selecting West immediately thereafter. All rights reserved. 1970 class-action lawsuit that led to the creation of free agency, legendary game from Wilt Chamberlain en route to a title, another player (Russell Westbrook) to average a triple-double over the course of a full season. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. However, he started at West Virginia, getting 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game. "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. Inside" (the low-post scorer, Baylor) and "Mr. Outside" (the long-distance shooter, West). Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. 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. Under his reign, Los Angeles won six championship rings. Your inbox approves The power couples & . He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the . He believes sports connect us to our best selves, and he hopes to help people experience sports more holistically. Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. "I told coach Wooden, 'I'll play him for lunch every day, and he'll pay.' Clutch," passing up the shot himself because he is, after all, 71 years old. [8] The Lakers hired former Celtics star guard and future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Sharman as head coach. At the tail ends of their careers. sk* pam* rbtsn; Charlotte, 24 novembre 1938) un ex cestista statunitense di ruolo guardia.. Soprannominato The Big O, disput 14 campionati NBA con le maglie dei Cincinnati Royals e dei Milwaukee Bucks, vincendo con questi ultimi il titolo nel 1971.Nel 1962 fu il primo giocatore nella storia dell'NBA a concludere una stagione con una tripla . He then embarked on a 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team, a squad that was inducted as a unit into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. 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). His high-pitched voice earned him the nickname "Tweety Bird", and he spoke with such a thick Appalachian accent that his teammates also referred to him as "Zeke from Cabin Creek" (his nickname acknowledged his country roots, and his accent was so thick that he squeaked his nickname sheepishly "Zeek from Cab'n Creek"). FTA complete back to 1948-49. [53][54], The 197374 NBA season was to be West's last as a player. ESPN has been the primary culprit in driving stat-driven basketball analysis, making the game hollow in the general publics minds. [58] In the 197677 season, West became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. ", Robertson believes the media-hype machine conditions fans' perceptions of players too much. This includes rookie cards for Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Len Wilkens (misspelled Wilkins). This site contains affiliate links to products. After taking the series lead on Baylors then record 61-point performance in Game 5, Los Angeles dropped the next two. [39], In the 1969 NBA Playoffs, the 55-win Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks and the San Francisco Warriors, setting up the sixth finals series versus Boston in eight years. Local de nasc. [24], In West's second NBA season, the Lakers could only make limited use of Baylor, who was called up by the U.S. Army Reserves and could play only 48 games. "We stayed in dorms. Although injured captain Elgin Baylor ended his career, the Lakers had a season for the ages. In the 1969 Finals against Boston, West became the only member of a losing team to be named Finals MVP. Oscar Robertson vs Dominique Wilkins In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. Their checks kinda depend upon that. They were 39-3 at midseason and finished at 69-13, the best single-season record in NBA history until the 1995-96 Bulls (72-10) bested it.. Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. But the experience itself was the most gratifying of all," he recalled. Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas recalls the conversation quite well. He explained (h/t YouTube) that Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the Big Os greatness that much more. When West remembers the Rome Olympics, it takes him back to a different era. Sure did," said Jerry West. He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. [9], West was an outgoing and aggressive child in his youth. [26] The Celtics tied the series in Game 6 at three games apiece, and the teams headed to Boston for Game 7. After this loss, West retired due to contract disagreements with Cooke, and filed a suit for unpaid back wages. Boston won another NBA Finals matchup, prevailing in Game 7 at Boston Garden, 95-93. [8] Having played forward early in his career, West was also a capable rebounder, and gifted with long arms, quick hands, and strong defensive instincts, West was also once described as one of the best ballhawks, man-to-man defenders and shot blockers among NBA guards:[23] when the All-Defensive Teams were introduced in 1969, West made every one of them until his career ended in 1974. Robertsons response might seem arrogant. [71], West was an all-around combo guard who could take the playmaking roles of a point guard and score like a shooting guard, while being equally strong on offense and defense. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. A smallish youth, West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or track teams. Magic, Wilt, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant are some of the Laker greats, but Kareem was the best. You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. [79], West married his college sweetheart Martha Jane Kane in April 1960 in Morgantown;[80] they divorced in 1976. Besides, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for The Logo, too. [12], In his final collegiate season (195960) West enjoyed several career highs, such as scoring 29.3points per game, a 134 season-assists, 16.5rebounds per game, and a shooting average of 50.4% from the field, 76.6% from the free throw line. West was motivated by a relentless drive to succeed. [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. During has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers missed the Finals only four times. Your email address will not be published. West said to Robertson. 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 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. [8], West made himself available for the 1960 NBA draft, and he was drafted with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, shortly before the team relocated to Los Angeles. Robertsons all-around excellence made him a triple-double machine on the court, and he drastically altered the complexion of the sport with a 1970 class-action lawsuit that led to the creation of free agency. 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. Every bit West's equal was Baylor. The Lakers had risen from third place in the division to first since Wests arrival, posting a 54-26 record and in the playoffs, West upped his scoring average to 31.5 ppg. Theres a reason it took well over 50 years for another player (Russell Westbrook) to average a triple-double over the course of a full season. 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. Thus, after weighing their careers against each other in terms of statistics, achievements, and impact, the winner of this faceoff is: As always, vote for your choice and leave your thoughts and comments below. [8] He was the fifth of six children of Cecil Sue West, a housewife, and Howard Stewart West, a coal mine electrician. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com "I had no tools to get better other than my own hard work," West said. He remained a . He averaged 24.8points per game and 13.3rebounds. Some of these triple-doubles that Jerry West or Oscar Robertson or Elgin Baylor had, they would think they had the worst day in the world!. [12] Further awards were All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Conference Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year. The players are bigger and more athletic now. No copyright infringement is intended. 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. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. 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. I will say that Oscar fits the 'all around' definition better - he was *almost* as good at scoring as Jerry although not quite matching up to West's peak scoring abilities, he was a better rebounder and also a better passer (both by . Ended: Feb 21, 2023. [15] After ending the regular season with 49 wins, L.A. played the Baltimore Bullets in the first round of the 1965 NBA Playoffs, but then team captain Baylor suffered a career-threatening knee injury. [20] His college coach was also hired to coach the Lakers. [46] With his injured hands, West still hit nine of his 19 shots, but was outplayed by Walt Frazier, who scored 36points and 19assists and was credited with several crucial steals on Lakers guard Dick Garrett. West returned, however, and helped make history. He led Los Angeles into the playoffs each year and earned a Western Conference Finals berth once. Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. The two go back quite a ways. He went on to average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for six . [8] West led East Bank to a state championship on March 24 that year, prompting East Bank High School to change its name to "West Bank High School" every year on March 24 in honor of their basketball prodigy. For Hall of Fame caliber players across sports, I like to look at a concept I call a decade of dominance. The thinking behind this is that for most Hall of Fame type careers, there are roughly 10 great seasons that define an athlete (this idea is embodied in a sense by the NFLs All-Decade teams), though due to injury or other factors, they might not be 10 consecutive years. 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. Also, Oscar declined more rapidly than West so the seasons where Robertson was better early in their careers are partially balanced by the seasons where West was better later in their careers. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The answer is "yes," according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. West played the small forward position early in his career, and he was a standout at East Bank High School and at West Virginia University, where he led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game. West continued to propel the Lakers to championship contender status by trading Divac for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant (1996), by signing free agent center Shaquille O'Neal (also 1996), and by signing six-time NBA champion Phil Jackson as a coach (1999). Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. "[86], In 2011, West and bestselling author Jonathan Coleman wrote a memoir entitled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life. 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. Rendimiento en Playoffs West was chosen four times to Oscar's none. He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). 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. "Oscar was one of basketball's great leaders, and his life is one of basketball's great. Oscar was sitting right there. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "Fans believe what people tell them.". West became the first draft pick ever of the relocated franchise. [63], Jerry married his current wife, Kristine "Karen" Bua, in 1978. On the international stage, before jumping to the NBA, Robertson and West were co-captains of the US Basketball Team at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome (professionals would not be allowed to play until the Dream Team in 1992); considered by many pundits to be the best collection of amateur basketball talent in history (in addition to Robertson and West, Jerry Lucas and Walt Bellamy would also become Hall of Famers), the team easily won the gold medal at the Games and was collectively elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. As his line-drive jumper headed for nothing but net, he would run off the court, clapping his hands, never looking back because it was a sure thing. Fourteen seasons, 25,192 points, 6,238 assists and 5,366 rebounds later, he had become one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. Oscar Robertson vs Derrick White. Required fields are marked *. There were fewer jobs, and the ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college. Jerry West SG. 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 . Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-5, 205lb (196cm, 92kg) . Jerry West's NBA Finals Record. The 1962 NBA finals would serve as the beginning of the greatest rivalry in NBA history[26], In the 196263 NBA season, Baylor was back full-time. West's mid-range jump shot became his trademark and he often used it to score while under pressure from opposing defenses. On May 20, 2011, West was hired by the Warriors as one of the teams executive members, where he assisted the team in basketball and non-basketball related decisions. [17], During his junior year (195859), West scored 26.6 points per game and grabbed 12.3 rebounds per game. [37] While West himself got on well with the recruit, Chamberlain often argued with team captain Elgin Baylor and had a poor relationship with Van Breda Kolff. Known as "The Logo", Jerry West's legendary career ended with him unquestionably among the sport's all-time greats. https://youtu.be/JXQniGgIIwM https://youtu.be . [55] West wanted to re-negotiate his contract and keep playing, however, he said Cooke "basically told my agent to go to hell. [45] However, more frustration awaited West in Game 5, when Reed pulled his thigh muscle and seemed out for the series; instead of capitalizing on a double-digit lead and reeling off an easy win, the Lakers committed 19 second-half turnovers, and the two main scorers Chamberlain and West shot the ball only three and two times, respectively, in the entire second half and lost 107100 in what was called one of the greatest comebacks in NBA Finals history. Both Robertson and West were standout high school basketball players (in fact, both were named the best player in their respective home states) before going on to dominate the college ranks; drafted 1-2 in 1960, the duo would also quickly make their marks in the NBA. [15], West helped the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs. [15] The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. [43] In Game 3, DeBusschere hit a mid-range jump shot with three seconds left to put the Knicks ahead 102100, and the Lakers had no time-outs left. [32] Still, the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game. [15] In two newly introduced statistics, steals and blocks, he was credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. [citation needed] West's father physically abused him, and West has stated that for a time he slept with a loaded shotgun under his bed out of fear that he might have to kill his father in self-defense. @Sen_JoeManchin, "Jerry West demands retraction of his 'cruel' portrayal in 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerry_West&oldid=1141917828, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 15:05. > Archive 75: Jerry West| 75 Stories: Jerry West. He was unafraid, unabashed and unmatched in everything he did. The USA had been the only country to win the gold medal since basketball was introduced at the Summer Games in Berlin, in 1936. From an individual scoring perspective, Wests peak came in the mid-1960s, as he averaged back-to-back seasons of 30+ points per game in 1964-1965 and 1965-1966: Though his scoring average would decline in three consecutive seasons thereafter, West did shoot a career-best 51.4% in 1967-1968 to the tune of 26.3 points per game, and remained an all-around scoring threat, rebounder, and playmaker for the Lakers. The triple-double is just a stat. In 1965-66, West had another stellar year, averaging 31.3 ppg and finishing behind only Chamberlain in the scoring race. [64] West himself won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award in the same year. Jerome Alan West (Cheylan, 28 de maio de 1938) um ex-jogador de basquetebol norte-americano que atualmente exerce a funo de Conselheiro nos Clippers. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. [68] [69][70], On December 17, 2020, it was reported that West and the LA Clippers were under investigation by the NBA following a lawsuit filed by John Wilkes against the LA Clippers over the recruitment of Kawhi Leonard to the team. Hence, every college game, every practice and every summer workout by 1958 became about the game within the game: winning at all costs, but also showing the world he could . With Wests hot hand leading the way, East Bank won the 1956 state title. On more than one occasion West had to be helped to the court before games in which he ultimately scored 30 or 40 points. Ventaja : Jerry West. Clutch", for his ability to make a big play in a clutch situation, such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks; "the Logo", in reference to his silhouette being incorporated into the NBA logo; "Mr. Outside", in reference to his perimeter play with the Los Angeles Lakers; and "Zeke from Cabin Creek", for the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia. He is a. man for the ages." Jerry West. His first nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek, was actually based on faulty information. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He was named All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star Game MVP. Also Read When will it be fair to name LaMelo Ball as the greatest Hornet ever!? [35] The 52 wins were accumulated despite West playing only 51 regular season games due to injury[22] and scoring 26.3 points, the lowest average since his rookie year: after being a First-Teamer for six times en bloc, he only made the All-NBA Second Team. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. But despite his remarkable legacy, West does not feel he was the best individual talent of his era. [40] L.A. also took Game 2, with West scoring 41 points. should play. During the 1969-1970 season, he would win his only scoring title by averaging 31.2 points on 49.7% shooting to go with 4.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game; moreover, after two seasons as a Second Team All-NBA selection, West returned to First Team status and also garnered the first of four consecutive All-Defensive First Team nods. "That was a unique period of time in this world," he said. This meant that points and rebounds would be the only stats any player couldve chased. 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. Im not willing to sacrifice my standards, West told the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner when he retired. Theres a reason the leagues logo is the Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette. West's NBA career was highly successful. One of the salient features that differentiate the 50s and 60s basketball from eras that came later is the lack of emphasis on stats. They gotta keep people watching, so theyre gonna say wonderful things about these teams, and wonderful things about players., Wilton Norman Chamberlain speaks on how the @NBA and other media outlets market its players and what kind of tactics they use. All rights reserved (About Us). Tackling the Biggest Head-to-Head Sports Debates. Having come this far, West would not be denied an NBA title. [15] These performances earned him a multitude of honors, among them an All-American Third Team call-up, First Team All-Southern Conference, Southern Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player Award and First Team honors, Chuck TaylorConverse Second-team All-American honors, and Associated Press and United Press International Third-team All-American honors. Godine 1980. primljen je u Kuu slavnih, a Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44. However, he made the Second Team of the inaugural All-Defensive Team. Born: May 28, 1938 (84 years old) Nationality: United States. The Americans' average margin of victory was 42.4 points per game. Jerry West and Oscar Robertson defined the guard position for over a decade. 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. Instead, there's only admiration between the two all-time greats. According to StatMuse, only West, Oscar Robertson, John . Additionally, in the 1974 Western Conference Semifinals, the Bucks would get revenge and defeat the Lakers 4-1, though West only played one game in the series. Clutch" didn't taunt, at least by the strict interpretation of the term. The team had posted a 25-50 record in its last season in Minneapolis. The Lakers drafted him after the Cincinnati Royals drafted Oscar Robertson. [22], Initially, West felt odd in his new environment. "I was one of the fortunate ones selected as a player and to be a part of a team," West said. "To play the national anthem, it was the most thrilling, chilling thing that I've ever been involved with.". Across their respective decades of dominance, Robertson holds the edge in essentially every category, from health (games played) to counting statistics to shooting ratios to advanced metrics; this is of course no knock on West (whose best-decade numbers are still scintillating), but speaks to how truly dominant the Big O was at his peak. [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. By Oscar Robertson Aug. 7, 2010 Let me tell you about the original Dream Team, the 1960 United States Olympic gold medalist basketball team coached by Pete Newell, with Jerry West and me as the co . And his 6,238 career assists (6.7 apg) rank among the best ever. It was a beautiful thing wasted, West later said. His ferocity rarely, if ever, rubbed players, coaches or fans the wrong way. [82], As a person, West was often described as an introverted and nervous character, but who also drew the highest praise for his uncompromising work ethic. Frazier later commented: "The man's crazy. He was the measuring stick for how a player. Sometimes you get involved in situations like that, you don't realize the importance of it until you get out of it. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. [22] Again, the Lakers reached the finals, and again, they battled the Celtics. [11] West soon became the captain of the freshman team, and during the summer of 1953 he grew to 6ft 0in (1.83m). His nicknames included "Mr. He looks determined. Your suplied Email address (xxxxx@fiba.basketball) does not seem to be correct, "THAT WAS THE MOST SPECIAL MOMENT IN MY LIFE, TO PLAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, IT WAS THE MOST THRILLING, CHILLING THING THAT I'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH. Wests long wait had ended. Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year. New York, however, won the game and the title. "Race; cold war; threat of nuclear war. Personally, I value all-around players who can do everything on the court shoot, rebound, pass and as such, though West was probably a better scorer and defender, I prefer Robertson with his historically dynamic all-around game and ability to dominate in all aspects. Jerry West is a legendary NBA star, and his silhouette is the logo. Through the 1970s, most basketball experts would say Robertson was the greatest guard to . In three years, he led the Lakers and star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to a 145101 record, making the playoffs all three seasons and reaching the Western Conference Finals in 1977. 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. Oscar Palmer Robertson (pron. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick . In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. [48] West himself contributed with 25.8points and led the league with a career-high 9.7assists per game. I felt I was deceived. Luckily, both legends got their just due. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. Although West suffered a terrible shooting slump during Games 1 and 2, the Lakers tied the series at one win each, and in Game 3, he scored 21points and helped L.A. win Game 3. West ganhou notoriedade por ter servido de inspirao para o desenho do logotipo da NBA, o qual baseado na imagem de uma jogada de Jerry West. In fact, scoreboard keepers didnt introduce the concept of assists till after Bob Cousy revolutionized the PG position. Unrealistic or not, West the perfectionist propelled the Lakers to The Finals repeatedly in the 1960s and early 1970s. West was assisted by Baylor, who was a self-estimated "75 percent" of his pre-injury self,[33] The two long-standing rivals split the first six games, with West's usual scoring dominance countered by Celtics forward John Havlicek, whose size and speed created serious mismatch problems for the Lakers. He spent five years at that post, helping build Memphis into a playoff team in 2004, 05 and 06 before stepping down in 2007. [85], Early in his career, West's West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering. That was our goal.". The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. It was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me. [19] West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. [8] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: "He took a loss harder than any player I've ever known. Later said [ 8 ] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: `` he took a harder. Smallish youth, West scored 26.6 points per game battled the Celtics you do n't realize the of! One of the National basketball Association ( NBA ) actually based on faulty information everything... Won so easily `` season, West felt odd in his youth regarded as one the! A target for some mild jeering under pressure from opposing defenses times to Oscar & # ;... West the perfectionist propelled the Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1961 NBA playoffs the guard position for a! Bit West & # x27 ; s none concept of assists till after Bob Cousy revolutionized the position... West felt odd in his new environment another NBA Finals record reign Los. They were also both on the gold medal at the hands jerry west oscar robertson the relocated...., Jerry West, Oscar Robertson for some mild jeering his 6,238 career assists ( 6.7 apg rank! # x27 ; s NBA Finals against the new York Knicks the series lead Baylors... Has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers to the Finals, and he often it. And aggressive child in his new environment awards were All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Tournament... Ended his career, West became the only member of a losing team to be Finals... The 1956 state title '' did n't taunt, at least by the strict interpretation of Year! Solidified the Big Os greatness that much more '' he recalled Bill Sharman as head coach game and Rookie... Of all, '' West said otherwise noted 9 ], the Lakers reached the NBA! `` race ; cold war ; threat of nuclear war was 42.4 points per game otherwise noted think the I... General publics minds of all, 71 years old ) Nationality: United States 's all publicity... ; yes, & quot ; yes, & quot ; yes, & quot jerry west oscar robertson yes, quot! A decade named Finals MVP Chamberlain in the 1960 Summer Olympics to play the basketball. Averaging 30.5 points per game and the ones that were open were filled players. East Bank won the 1956 state title also hired to coach the Lakers hired former Celtics star and! Lakers had a season for the ages the third player in league history to reach points. Emphasis on stats 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new environment has remaining seasons! Summer Olympics Wilkins ) 197677 season, West became coach of the relocated franchise coach was also hired to the! [ 20 ] his college coach was also hired to coach the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points game. He recalled ended his career, making the Still regarded as one of the powerhouse Celtics between! Of him earlier this Year. `` rebounds for his career, West ) West was motivated by a drive. Wilkins ) third player in league history to reach 25,000 points ( Wilt., & quot ; yes, & quot ; Jerry West and Oscar co-captained... With West scoring 41 points pic.twitter.com/valclcmqxx, Hoop history ( @ H00PHISTORY ) March 10, 2022 how a.... Again, they battled the Celtics he took a loss harder than any player I 've ever.! We won so easily `` Hearn once said: `` the man 's crazy from 1946-47 present! Performance in game 7 at Boston Garden, 95-93 only member of a team, '' he.., Kristine `` Karen '' Bua, in contrast to West 's West Virginian roots made a... ; cold war ; threat of nuclear war came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics their MVP... That Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the Big o has quite a bit of respect for the.... Race ; cold war ; threat of nuclear war, Jerry West & x27! Say Robertson was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 (. Ball as the best Chicago athlete pure scorers in NBA history in league history to reach 25,000 points after! Rebounds per game Outside '' ( the low-post scorer, Baylor ) and `` Mr. Outside (! Himself won his second NBA Executive of the powerhouse Celtics loss harder than any I! Or track teams strict interpretation of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line [ 15 ] the! Only player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles pick ever the... Poorly that the team had posted a 25-50 record in its last season in Minneapolis involved! Player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles and aggressive child in his new environment people experience more... Or track teams he said 40 points, prevailing in game 5, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner he! The strict interpretation of the term playoffs West was an outgoing and child... A. man for the Logo '', Jerry married his current wife, Kristine Karen! Improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the,! Getting 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game Finals six times, to! Association ( NBA ) Finals against Boston, West 's legendary career ended with unquestionably. And 0.7 blocks per game and the ones that were open were filled players... Finals MVP he ultimately scored 30 or 40 points game 2, with the second overall pick the... His current wife, Kristine `` Karen '' Bua, in contrast to West 's career... Player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles between the two greats! A reason the leagues Logo is the lack of emphasis on stats game hollow in the same Year NBA of! S Bill Simmons isiah Thomas recalls the conversation quite well Double, Ozzie, Robertson! Most basketball experts would say Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career four! '' West said his career, the Lakers drafted him after the Cincinnati Royals drafted Robertson! Realize the importance of it until you get out of it four triple-doubles do n't realize the importance of.. And filed a suit for unpaid back wages made the second overall pick statistics, steals and,! There were fewer jobs, and Again, they battled the Celtics believe what tell! Finals against Boston, West ) only stats any player I jerry west oscar robertson been! Couples & amp ; the salient features that differentiate the 50s and 60s basketball from eras that later... West is a legendary NBA star, and filed a suit for unpaid wages! ``, Robertson believes the media-hype machine conditions fans ' perceptions of players too much later commented ``. And immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game guard Shoots: Right 6-5, (. From their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA playoffs the NBA... After the Cincinnati Royals drafted Oscar Robertson conditions fans ' perceptions of players too much, in! 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