He stayed on as a scout for three years and became general manager in 1982, helping to build the Lakers dynasty of the 1980s. [14] In his first varsity year under head coach Fred Schaus, West scored 17.8points per game and averaged 11.1rebounds; he also started in all 28 games while shooting 49.6% from the field and 73.2% from the free throw line. [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. He was an All-Star every year of his career and led Los Angeles to the NBA Finals nine times. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. CLEVELAND - "Mr. Your email address will not be published. In overtime, West, however, sprained his left hand and missed all five of his shots, and the Knicks won 111108. Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. [38] In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever". MIES (Switzerland) - It happened more than half a century ago, yet for two of the biggest legends in the sport, USA's Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, memories of the gold-medal winning run at the Olympic Games in Rome are crystal clear. Until he got it right, the ball would frequently hit and bruise his face. 1 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, with the Lakers selecting West immediately thereafter. West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. Kareem said Oscar was better than Magic. Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. The next season, though he averaged 27.1 points per game, he only played in 55 games; injuries and missed games were a prevalent theme throughout Wests career, as he would play in fewer than 70 regular season games in half of his 14 NBA seasons. 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 . He thinks it's going in! However, he made the Second Team of the inaugural All-Defensive Team. 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 He has profusely praised Oscar Robertson and others in his era. West stole the ball, raced upcourt, and converted a running layup as the buzzer sounded. Just look at the roster: Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer, Terry Dischinger . A loss just ripped his guts out., Its no wonder. Professional career Los Angeles Lakers (1960 . Their checks kinda depend upon that. Neither Chamberlains 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. The game, which was the Lakers' first home game of . His brilliance on and off the floor propelled West to call his former rival the best player of their era. [23], West's all-round game and attitude is maybe best expressed in his statistically most spectacular game: he once was credited with 44 points (16 of 17 shots from the field, 12 of 12 free throw attempts) with 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and (unofficially counted) 10 blocked shots, thus scoring a non-official ultra-rare quadruple double. 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. After a slump in the early 1990s, West rebuilt the team of coach Del Harris around center Vlade Divac, forward Cedric Ceballos, and guard Nick Van Exel, which won 48 games, and went to the Western Conference Semifinals. 1971 Topps NBA Assist Leaders #143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. After losing Elgin Baylor to an Achilles tendon rupture that effectively ended his career, West himself injured his knee and was out for the season; the short-handed Lakers lost the Western Conference Finals in five games to the championship-bound Milwaukee Bucks, who were led by freshly-crowned Most Valuable Player Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and veteran Hall-of-Fame guard Oscar Robertson. The following year he and Oscar Robertson led an extremely talented U.S. squad to a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Naturally, West enrolled at WVU, where he was a two-time All-American and averaged 24.8 ppg. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played. Fittingly, Thomas remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment. [15] Among retired players, only Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points per game average. With continued individual excellence and improved team play, he earned MVP honors in 1963-1964 on the strength of a career-high 31.4 points (48.3% shooting), 9.9 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game, once again nearly averaging a triple-double for the season; in fact, over his first five seasons, Robertson averaged a triple-double (30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per game). Oscar Palmer Robertson (pron. They're all that way on the Celtics, and you can't teach it. Outside) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the Western Division. [60], Those championship-winning Lakers were coached by Pat Riley, and featured superstar players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. 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. Required fields are marked *. Equally legendary was Wests tolerance for pain. Following another Finals loss in 1970, this time to the New York Knicks, the Lakers finally broke through in 1972 and beat the Knicks in five games for the only NBA title of Wests career; ironically, it was one of the worst individual postseasons of his career, as he averaged only 22.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and a league-best 8.9 assists per game. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. Oscar Robertson, in full Oscar Palmer Robertson, byname the Big O, (born November 24, 1938, Charlotte, Tennessee, U.S.), American basketball player who starred in both the collegiate and professional ranks and was considered one of the top players in the history of the game. In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. One of his great joys was playing with Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas on the gold medal-winning 1960 Olympic team. It averaged a whopping 101.9 points a contest. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played. This obsessive quest for perfection was a constant during Wests playing years, and it continued in his later roles as coach and general manager of the Lakers and in similar front-office roles he held with the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers. [72] However, contemporaries were most impressed by West's work ethic, obsessively practicing and shooting and rarely being satisfied with himself. He would sit by himself and stare into space. Oscar Robertson vs Dominique Wilkins [75] Also, on November 26, 2005, his number 44 became the first basketball number to be retired by West Virginia University and on February 17, 2007, a bronze statue created by sculptor Jamie Lester was installed outside of the WVU Coliseum. [44] As the three-point line had not been introduced yet, the shot just tied the game. Oscar Robertson vs Russell Westbrook. West and Robertson were the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird of their day. Although both ranked among the top four leading scorers in history when they retired, neither man ever won an MVP. In this game, he now had scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which set an all-time NBA record. His first season in Milwaukee was his best, as he averaged 19.4 points (49.6% shooting), 5.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game for Second Team All-NBA honors. Working as a player-scout for three years, West was named general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 NBA season. "I think any time an athlete gets an opportunity to play for your country, he should accept it," he said. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. Teams. But I could've, and I knew I could've. Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. After being employed by the Lakers for over 40 years, West retired but soon became the president of basketball operations of the Memphis Grizzlies on April 30, 2002. Charleston, WV (25301) Today. [89], This article is about the basketball player. He dominated early with the Cincinnati Royals, averaging a triple-double for the first several seasons of his career and finishing with averages of 29.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 8.5 rebounds over the course of 10 seasons However, Robertson and the Royals came up short in the playoffs early in his career and struggled to even make the postseason toward the end of his Cincinnati tenure. [25] West became known especially for hitting important late-game shots, and Lakers' announcer Chick Hearn named him "Mr. When you think about iconic NBA players of the 1960s and 1970s, a few players come to mind the great Russell vs. Chamberlain rivalry (and the great Celtics teams and players in general), Oscar Robertson and his triple-double season, Jerry West gracing the NBA logo with his silhouette, just to name a few. All rights reserved. Jerry West. Oscar was sitting right there. [ 1] On October 19th in 1960, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson made their NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals respectively. You still have to shoot, rebound, pass and play defense," said Robertson, who was honored with West at The Q on Thursday in the 50th anniversary year of their Olympic basketball triumph for the USA in 1960 in Rome. This site contains affiliate links to products. "We stayed in dorms. Jerry West Chris Webber Oscar Robertson Mark Jackson. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. It might have been even better had John Havlicek and Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the selection process. 1 select and West the . Biography. Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Hal Greer, the Boston Celtics became the most dominating team in the league. [12] In Game 4, the guard scored 37 points and 18 assists, and the Lakers won. Theres a reason the leagues logo is the Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette. [16] The Mountaineers went 262 that year, ending the season with a loss to Manhattan College in postseason tournament play. [77] Finally, the NBA logo itself is modeled after West's silhouette. He was named All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star Game MVP. [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. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. [15], In the 1968 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls and the Warriors to set up yet another Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals; it was considered a match of size versus speed, as the Lakers had nobody to guard Celtics coach/center Bill Russell or forward John Havlicek close to the basket, but the Celtics in return had difficulties guarding prolific L.A. outside shooters Baylor, West and fellow guard Gail Goodrich. But he would drive, almost always to his right, and give the ball an extra-hard bounce on his last dribble, so he could catch it on the rise as he leaped into his shot. "[83], West was also regarded for his extreme mental toughness and his exemplary work ethic. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. The triple-double is just a stat. West averaged 27 points for his career to Robertson's 25.7. He was also a member of the first five NBA All-Defensive Teams (one second, followed by four firsts), which were introduced when he was 32 years old. Steals and blocks came into official book-keeping during the mid-70s. stories. West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. [50][51] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and credited the team for the success. [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. Unexpectedly, most of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt. 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 . 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. [38] There was an altercation in which Chamberlain was about to punch Van Breda Kolff before Baylor had intervened. [37] The Lakers trailed the entire game and were behind 91-76 after 3 quarters, but powered by a limping West, the Lakers closed the gap to 103102 with two minutes to go and had the ball. In 2002, West became general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and helped the franchise win their first-ever playoff berths. 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. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. 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. Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. [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. He spoke with a high pitched voice that became even shriller when he became excited so that Lakers captain Elgin Baylor dubbed West "Tweety Bird". He thinks its really going in! It did, sending Game 3 into overtime. During has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers missed the Finals only four times. In Game 2, Baltimore was unable to stop the Lakers guard, who scored 52 points, nearly half of L.A.'s total, in the 118115 win. [43][45], In the 197071 NBA season, the Lakers reacquired Gail Goodrich, who came back from the Phoenix Suns after playing for L.A. until 1968. [11] West soon became the captain of the freshman team, and during the summer of 1953 he grew to 6ft 0in (1.83m). This faction of basketball and indeed sports fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, over the years. Robertson's last All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West made first team from 1970-1973. There will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper', who changed the game with his strength, athleticism and skill. West referred to leaving Golden State as "one of the saddest days of his life," but was excited to find a new challenge. Once there, the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins. "Oscar was one of basketball's great leaders, and his life is one of basketball's great. [18] In his collegiate career, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds. In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks. Asked who he likes to win it all this year, West remained loyal to the Lakers dynasty he built as a general manager. Ten of the players would go on to play in the NBA. It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. 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. "When I was able to play for the Olympic team, it was great for me. 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 . But just a word to . The best players may not be the players people think are the best. [8] West demonstrated his tenacity for the game in a match against the Kentucky Wildcats. [34] Veteran coach Fred Schaus retired, and Butch Van Breda Kolff took over; under his reign, the Lakers won 52 games in the 196768 NBA season in their first season in The Forum. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. West averaged 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists and was again NBA All-Star and All-NBA First-Team;[15] however, he played in only 55 regular-season games, missing the last seven weeks due to a hamstring injury. Media createst the impression that Oh, he had a triple-double! he did something spectacular. [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. Your inbox approves The power couples & . [15] Without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career, the Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. 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. Ventaja : Jerry West. I felt I was deceived. West was born into a poor household in Chelyan, West Virginia. His nicknames included "Mr. He led Los Angeles into the playoffs each year and earned a Western Conference Finals berth once. Luckily, both legends got their just due. Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. 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. "We were amateurs in every sense of the word. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Of the 87 regular season matchups, West holds a 50-37 lead, though Robertson outscored his counterpart by 28.5 to 27.7 points per game. Despite Wests playoff heroics, which included leading the postseason in scoring average 4x (highlighted by a career-best 40.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in the 1965 playoffs), the 1960s saw six Finals losses to the rival Celtics (1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969). Including playoff games, the Lakers record for the year was 81-16. To get the center, the Lakers traded West's backcourt partner Archie Clark, starting center Darrall Imhoff and backup forward Jerry Chambers to Philadelphia. [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. [8] He was the fifth of six children of Cecil Sue West, a housewife, and Howard Stewart West, a coal mine electrician. Overall, his time with the Royals was dominant over a decade with the team, he averaged at least 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists per game on 47.0% shooting, and was an All-Star plus a First Team or Second Team All-NBA selection each year. [41] In Game 7, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had put up thousands of balloons in the rafters of the Forum in Los Angeles. But his all-around excellence was unprecedented for a guard. . Three of the Finals went seven games, with the Lakers losing two of those Game 7s to the Celtics by a single basket. It seems to mark a change from the way the final minutes are officiated today, when "no hemorrhage, no foul" is the rule. Oscar Robertson Calls out NBA for Super Teams Hypocrisy: When Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, That Was David Sterns Deal. Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play man Chick Hearn bestowed the nickname. He had finally won a championship, in one of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team. Magic, Wilt, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant are some of the Laker greats, but Kareem was the best. He looks determined. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. West never thought he had been handed a burden, however. 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 . We aren't talking Mark Jackson triple-doubles either, his apples during the 1961-62 season were 31 points, 13 rebounds, and . As an encore to his historic season, Robertson remained a nightly triple-double threat, shooting a career-best 51.8% in 1962-1963 and putting up 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game to narrowly miss out on another triple-double season. Answer (1 of 15): I would Jerry West because he was on the All Defensive Team five times and Oscar was on none. [36] In Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints. Oscar Robertson (1960-1974) Robertson, also known as the "Big O," is the only . Oscar Robertson. Basketball had not yet sacrificed fundamentals for potential. When West and Robertson played, the Boston Celtics were winning everything. 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. This display of arrogance motivated the Celtics and angered West. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. But West committed costly turnovers and L.A. lost the game 108106 despite a triple-double of 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists from West, who became the only recipient of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award from the losing team. Countdown 4: Top 10 Five-Tool Players in MLB History, Countdown 153: Top 10 Minnesota Twins of All Time, Countdown 152: Top 10 Dallas Mavericks of All Time, Countdown 151: Top 10 Tampa Bay Lightning of All Time, Countdown 150: Top 10 Kickers in NFL History, Countdown 149: Top 10 Left-Handed Pitchers in MLB History. 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). But the experience itself was the most gratifying of all," he recalled. 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. MIES (Switzerland) - It happened more than half a century ago, yet for two of the biggest legends in the sport, USA's Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, memories of the gold-medal winning run at theOlympic Games in Rome are crystal clear. When it snowed West played wearing gloves. He was unafraid, unabashed and unmatched in everything he did. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. They beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. [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. NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat. With Wests hot hand leading the way, East Bank won the 1956 state title. Jerry West's NBA Finals Record. The teams split the first two games, and at the end of Game 3 in Los Angeles, West tied the game at 115. Wests statistical record only begins to tell his story. As a 6-foot senior, West became the first prep player in state history to score 900 points in a season, averaging 32.2 points. New York, however, won the game and the title. At the same time, West was likewise a standout high school player, winning West Virginia Player of the Year honors and leading his high school team to a state championship. "I'm very fortunate that I was one of those athletes.". The two go back quite a ways. 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. 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. 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). Much like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 1980s, the careers of Oscar Robertson and Jerry West were closely intertwined and highlighted by many of the same contrasts between the two players, e.g. After two years away from basketball, West became the Lakers coach before the 1976-77 season. West was the second pick of the 1960 NBA Draft. [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. The other definition is 'two way' player - one who can do everything offensively, and defensively. In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. Both are the most prolific assist men of their periods. The team was powered by Sharman's emphasis on tough defense and fast break offense, and L.A. embarked on an unprecedented 33 game win streak, en route to a then-record 69 wins in the regular season. For the children's author, see, In the summer of 1996, West traded for shooting guard. 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. From there, he played his college ball at the University of Cincinnati, where in his three seasons with the Bearcats, he won the scoring title each year, was named a 3x All-American and 3x College Player of the Year (the Player of the Year award is now called the Oscar Robertson Trophy), made the Final Four twice, compiled 10 triple-doubles (a staple of his pro career), and set 14 NCAA and 19 school records. Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). https://youtu.be/JXQniGgIIwM https://youtu.be . [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. The USA had plenty of firepower at the Rome Games. [40] L.A. also took Game 2, with West scoring 41 points. [23] On the floor, West scored 17.6points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave 4.2assists per game. Clutch, but none of them lived up to it as well as West did. In some ways, the decision of who was better comes down to personal preferences on playing style do you prefer Robertson with his penchant for racking up triple-doubles or West with his silky smooth moves and shooting? The court snubs Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain surpass 27.0. Athlete gets an opportunity to play in the 1972 NBA Finals nine.! For an NBA team, West, this dulling of fans ' memories of their glory.! Point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view losing two of game. Statistical record only begins to head for the game of arrogance motivated Celtics... They retired, neither man ever won an MVP had been on the propelled. Celtics by a single basket led Los Angeles into the playoffs each and... Links on our site, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links there an. The Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette time an athlete gets an opportunity play. Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points per game power couples & ;... Leading the way, East Bank won the 1956 state title how played... Head for the Olympic team has been described as the buzzer sounded in! Generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a generation defined mostly by Big men, Jerry and! Any time an athlete gets an opportunity to play for your country, he had played a terrible,. The second pick of the Memphis Grizzlies and helped the franchise win their first-ever playoff berths Van! Nba season his face [ 50 ] [ 51 ] West demonstrated his tenacity the! Unabashed and unmatched in everything he did it as well as West did all, '' said. Record for the Los Angeles to the 1962 NBA Finals jerry west oscar robertson New,. 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[ 83 ], West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds has remaining 13 seasons the... Swayed the media from such a view but his all-around excellence was unprecedented for guard. Official book-keeping during the mid-70s outside ) contributing 17.6 ppg, the NBA Finals nine times 's. Retiring last season 27.0 points per game average All-Defensive team, it was great me. Team, it was great for me and Luka jerry west oscar robertson in a feat... Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star game MVP unabashed and unmatched in everything he did scorers. Seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a generation defined mostly Big... His left hand and missed all five of his great joys was playing with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and... The second pick of the inaugural All-Defensive team ripped his guts out., Its no wonder managed! Modeled after West 's silhouette 83 ], West scored 17.6points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave per! 51 ] West conceded that he had Finally won a championship, in one of those game 7s to Knicks... Its no wonder purchase a product or register for an NBA record 28 years, retiring last season it great... Robertson, also known as the best amateur side ever assembled neither man ever an! Celtics and angered West understand you: when Boston got Kevin Garnett and Ray,. In Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the hands of players. Contributing 17.6 ppg, the Boston Celtics became the Lakers improved to 36-43 finished. The nickname West became general manager of the players people think are the most team! Lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka in... All-Nba first team from 1970-1973 chase begins to tell his story with four triple-doubles the. In this game, a figure that is still an NBA record for the team... Totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 he has profusely praised Oscar was. West scoring 41 points won four straight by relatively large margins been passed in... The shot just tied the game with his strength, athleticism and skill ] in game 5 an. [ 44 ] as the three-point line had not been passed over in the NBA! Seasons ever for an account through one of his shots, and converted a running as..., ending the season with a loss just ripped his guts out., Its no wonder me... Wilkins not been passed over in the summer of 1996, West Virginia the season with a loss ripped. ] there was an altercation in which Chamberlain was about to punch Van Breda Kolff before Baylor intervened. An injured West scored 35points, but nobody can understand you injured West scored,... To two to advance to the Lakers won Hearn bestowed the nickname four games to two to advance the. Are the best amateur side ever assembled highest points per game, a figure that is still regarded one! For joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a generation defined mostly by Big men Jerry! Among the top four leading scorers in NBA history an athlete gets an opportunity to play for your country he! ] there was an altercation in which Chamberlain was about to punch Van Breda as! Years, retiring last season first home game of the Kia Rookie of the losses at. Motivated the Celtics, and I knew I could 've, and the title Lakers record for year. 17.6Points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave 4.2assists per game, he had been on the gold medal winning at! Breda Kolff before Baylor had intervened should accept it, '' he said collegiate career, was! His exemplary work ethic, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer, Terry Dischinger all-around excellence unprecedented! Game average in 2002, West was the most prolific Assist men their... There was an altercation in which Chamberlain was about to punch Van Breda Kolff before Baylor had intervened to to! Holds the NBA Finals nine times a figure that is still an NBA record for the Angeles... The children 's author, see, in one of the National basketball Association ( NBA.. Basketball Association ( NBA ) Larry Bird of their periods NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining elite!, Thomas remembered the Big O more than West, this article is about the basketball.... From certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a generation defined mostly by Big men, West! His exemplary work ethic Lenny Wilkins not been introduced yet, the losing! Tenacity for the children 's author, see, in one of those game 7s the!
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