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. 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. Luckily, both legends got their just due. "[83], West was also regarded for his extreme mental toughness and his exemplary work ethic. Clutch." It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. 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. Also Read Dwyane Wade is the most accomplished athlete thats come out of Chicago! In particular, in a Finals loss to Boston in 1969 that went the distance, West put up 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists in the decisive Game 7, and was named the inaugural Finals MVP despite being on the losing team, the only time in NBA history this has happened. In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. This display of arrogance motivated the Celtics and angered West. He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the Lakers one of the most relevant franchises in the league. 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 . For the children's author, see, In the summer of 1996, West traded for shooting guard. 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. The book has had tremendous critical acclaim and became an instant New York Times bestseller. 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. [84] His first wife Martha Kane recalled that her husband often had difficulties opening up to her. Neither Chamberlains 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. The tragedy turned young Jerry inward, forcing him to develop his own coping mechanisms. No copyright infringement is intended. Every athlete goes through a natural career lifecycle, from starting off as a rookie to reaching peak years of performance and finally, declining into the inevitable retirement due to a combination of age and/or injury; from Robertsons complementary role on the Bucks to Wests proneness to injury, both players were eventually affected by these factors. Before he was "The Logo" -- the model for the silhouette on every NBA player's jersey -- he was "Mr. In the 197273 NBA season, the main scoring role was taken by Goodrich, and West was now a playmaker instead of a scorer. Everybody wants to see LeBron [James] and Kobe [Bryant] in the Finals, but it would come down to whoever makes the most open shots, the Lakers or Cavaliers, because anybody who plays with either one of them is going to get a lot of open shots.". 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. Shaver emphasized the importance of conditioning and defense, which were lessons that the teenager appreciated. West was motivated by a relentless drive to succeed. As the game ended, veteran Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy threw the ball high into the rafters of the L.A. Sports Arena. ", West has urged contraction -- eliminating weak franchises -- as a remedy for the disparity in the NBA now. Unfortunately for West, individual success could not prevent. West was also superior as a clutch performer and in playoff competition. "I told coach Wooden, 'I'll play him for lunch every day, and he'll pay.' He made the varsity squad at East Bank High School, although he mostly sat on the bench during his junior year. 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. [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. But his all-around excellence was unprecedented for a guard. Finally, in his last playoff appearance in 1973-1974, Robertson would make it back to the NBA Finals, but fell once again to his old nemesis the Celtics in seven games. [72] However, contemporaries were most impressed by West's work ethic, obsessively practicing and shooting and rarely being satisfied with himself. 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. He earned the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor despite the loss. "That was the most special moment in my life," he said. "I'm very fortunate that I was one of those athletes.". Both scored a ton. He explained (h/t YouTube) that Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the Big Os greatness that much more. In 1969, he became the only player to win Finals MVP on the losing team. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. Although both ranked among the top four leading scorers in history when they retired, neither man ever won an MVP. [16] He was also named to be a member of the U.S. Pan American Games basketball team that won the gold medal. Until he got it right, the ball would frequently hit and bruise his face. [15] The NBA commented that the Lakers now had a potent one-two-punchwith "Mr. At the same time, the early 1970s also saw West post his highest career assist numbers, which culminated in him leading the NBA in assists in 1971-1972 at 9.7 assists per game to go along with 25.8 points (47.7% shooting) and 4.2 rebounds per game. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. This site contains affiliate links to products. CLEVELAND The NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor. (Going into the 1963-64 season, Baylor was 28, West 25, Robertson 24, Lucas 23.) The Lakers swept the Bulls and beat the Bucks in six games to reach The Finals. The Americans' average margin of victory was 42.4 points per game. One of the game's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team. Jerome Alan West (born May 28, 1938)[3][4] is an American basketball executive and former player. Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas and Dave Cowens honored at halftime of NBA All-Star Game. Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. West held himself to seemingly impossible standards. Oscar Robertson weighs in as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big O's one-man club. The dirt-covered court became his domain. West was named Most Outstanding Player of that year's Final Four. There were fewer jobs, and the ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college. 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. It was a beautiful thing wasted, West later said. [58] In the 197677 season, West became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. That was our goal.". [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. [19] West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. But just a word to . One of the main complaints that many old heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect. Godine 1980. primljen je u Kuu slavnih, a Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44. He looks determined. Media createst the impression that Oh, he had a triple-double! he did something spectacular. NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat. 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. And in the 1970 NBA Finals against New York, West launched the famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers. We aren't talking Mark Jackson triple-doubles either, his apples during the 1961-62 season were 31 points, 13 rebounds, and . [77] Finally, the NBA logo itself is modeled after West's silhouette. Instead, there's only admiration between the two all-time greats. [39] West was disturbed by locker room tension; used to playing on teams with good chemistry, his quality of play became erratic, and his scoring average of 25.9 points was his lowest since his rookie season. He was taken as the Number 1 overall (territorial) pick by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1960 NBA Draft where he played for 10 seasons (1960-1970) before being traded to . [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. West referred to leaving Golden State as "one of the saddest days of his life," but was excited to find a new challenge. He moved up and he was like, I know Im The Logo and everything else, but in my era, there was no better basketball player than Oscar Robertson.'. Still, West was named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times in his career, and he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in four of his final five seasons. Jerry West and Oscar Robertson defined the guard position for over a decade. First up is Oscar Robertson's 1961 Fleer rookie card which is one of the keys to the iconic set and one of the most valuable basketball cards in general.. /VCG. Roma Invicta, which means Unconquered Rome, was an inspirationalmottoused until the fall of the WesternRomanEmpire, in 476 AD. "I met people from all over the world," said Robertson, who was inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009. West returned, however, and helped make history. [81] They have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie. 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. 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. [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. Their checks kinda depend upon that. Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. Playing the guard position, he was voted 12 times into the All-NBA First and Second Teams, was elected into the NBA All-Star Team 14 times, and was chosen as the All-Star MVP in 1972, the same year that he won the only title of his career. He took a loss harder than any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the National Sports Daily. His average of 27.0 ppg game stands as the fourth highest among retired players, behind Michael Jordan, Chamberlain and Baylor. NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat, Dwyane Wade is the most accomplished athlete thats come out of Chicago! 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. 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. Jerry West. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick behind Robertson in the 1960 NBA Draft. 9 Copy quote. [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. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. [60], Those championship-winning Lakers were coached by Pat Riley, and featured superstar players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. 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 . Also Read - "A cast of characters, different personalities and Charles Barkley": Larry Bird's hilarious trash talk shone through even in his Dream Team Hall of Fame induction speech. However, the Lakers and West came out on the losing end in eight of those nine Finals. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. 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. Now, why is it that way? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Rain. After practice he would listen to West Virginia basketball games on the radio. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. [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. For his contributions, West won the NBA Executive of the Year Award twice, once as a Lakers manager (1995) and then as a Grizzlies manager (2004). On May 19, 2011, West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member, reporting directly to new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. Jerry West and the Lakers won Game 3 of the 1962 NBA Finals at the buzzer. West was born into a poor household in Chelyan, West Virginia. But I could've, and I knew I could've. I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. [26] In overtime, Jones scored several clutch baskets to ensure a 110107 win for the 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. The USA had plenty of firepower at the Rome Games. "Potentially, I would have to go with Lucas and Robertson, because they are a little younger," said Gallatin. 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 . 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. Including playoff games, the Lakers record for the year was 81-16. He has profusely praised Oscar Robertson and others in his era. 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. Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. It was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me. Years after a game in which he hit 16 of 17 shots from the field, sank all 12 free throw attempts, and notched 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 blocked shots, West told the National Sports Daily, Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didnt feel I played very well. "[48], Having vanquished this long-time bane, West entered his 13th NBA year. 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. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unclesmokeking?_t=8XgGb5ev7yo&_r=1--All clips are property of the NBA. Oscar Robertson vs Hassan Whiteside. [15] "He stole more than anybody, although they didn't keep records on it then", said Sharman. 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. ESPN has been the primary culprit in driving stat-driven basketball analysis, making the game hollow in the general publics minds. A 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal. Despite his age and physical problems, West kept averaged 25.8 ppg while leading the NBA in assists with 9.7 per contest. Every bit West's equal was Baylor. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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 . [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. No one was affected more by those defeats than West. West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". He was the measuring stick for how a player. Rather, he bestowed that honor on Oscar Robertson. 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. 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. He was a loner. [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. [15] He was honored again with several awards: a call-up to the All-American selection, and being voted Southern Conference MVP. [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. [8] He had a jump shot with a release the NBA lauded as "lightning quick", and was known for making baskets late in the game, earning him the nickname "Mr. [32] Still, the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game. Naturally, West enrolled at WVU, where he was a two-time All-American and averaged 24.8 ppg. Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. Steals and blocks came into official book-keeping during the mid-70s. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. Too few fans today saw Oscar play with Jerry Lucas in Cincinnati or saw him when he was the sidekick of Lew Alcindor (before he changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) on a championship team in Milwaukee. 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. [85], Early in his career, West's West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering. 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. [43][45] After Chamberlain scored 45points and West 31points plus 13assists in a series-equalising 135-113 Lakers win, the Lakers seemed favorites prior to Game 7. 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. Just look at the roster: Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer, Terry Dischinger . You'll see their coaches shaking their heads on the bench because they didn't make the right play. [15] Without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career, the Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. 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. 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. In the 1960 Olympics, Jerry West teamed with Oscar Robertson to form what may be the greatest guard tandem to ever play on a basketball team - amateur or pro. Im not willing to sacrifice my standards, West told the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner when he retired. But I could never have played for the Lakers again, and I wasn't going to play for anybody else. 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. He earned his eighth in the 201617 season. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. He would sit by himself and stare into space. Then as now, it is rings that really validate the best. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. Now 36 years old, the veteran guard averaged 20.3points, 3.7rebounds and 6.6assists per game. West and Robertson were the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird of their day. [73] In 1979, West was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Lakers retired his No. He also ranked fourth in both assists (6.1 apg) and free- throw percentage (.860). During his first year, he was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due to his lack of height. He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). 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. Robertson's last All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West made first team from 1970-1973. He had finally won a championship, in one of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team. [31] However, in the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41. [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. It might have been even better had John Havlicek and Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the selection process. [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. During that time, West was the better scorer (27.0 to 25.7), but Robertson grabbed more rebounds (7.5 to 5.8) and averaged more assists (9.5 to 6.7) and also had slightly better shooting percentages. "I was one of the fortunate ones selected as a player and to be a part of a team," West said. Oscar Robertson. "We were amateurs in every sense of the word. Robertson had a storied high school career (fun fact: his team lost in the 1954 basketball state semifinals in Indiana to eventual champions Milan, who were the basis for the classic 1986 movie Hoosiers), which culminated in him being named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1956. However, he started at West Virginia, getting 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game. Jerry West. After taking the series lead on Baylors then record 61-point performance in Game 5, Los Angeles dropped the next two. In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks. Gail Goodrich's all-around play from the backcourt made him a perennial All-Star and, eventually, an NBA champion. All rights reserved. Jerry West Chris Webber Oscar Robertson Mark Jackson. They edged the Detroit Pistons in the division semifinals but then lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the division finals. 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. Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas recalls the conversation quite well. CLEVELAND - "Mr. [40], In the 196970 NBA season under new coach Joe Mullaney, the Lakers' season began with a shock when Wilt Chamberlain seriously injured his knee and missed practically the whole regular season. West averaged 27 points for his career to Robertson's 25.7. Details about 1971 Topps NBA Assist Leaders #143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N. It wasn't a 3-pointer, but Jerry West's 60-foot prayer was answered in Game 2 of the 1970 NBA Finals. If I could have one wish granted, it would be that you would always be happy. 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. Jerry West is a legendary Lakers guard. To get the center, the Lakers traded West's backcourt partner Archie Clark, starting center Darrall Imhoff and backup forward Jerry Chambers to Philadelphia. Also Read When will it be fair to name LaMelo Ball as the greatest Hornet ever!? "There are people on ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up a basketball," he said. 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. Despite being listed at 6feet 3inches (1.91m), Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 15:05, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, finals series versus Boston in eight years, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game, List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game, List of National Basketball Association single-game playoff scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, "NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team | Basketball-Reference.com", "Jerry West talks about abusive father and lifelong struggle with depression", "1960-61 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Statistics", "New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, January 17, 1962", "Celtics, Lakers work OT to start Rivalry", "Baltimore Bullets at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 5, 1965", "Red Lights Cigar to close coaching career", "West's heroics can't deprive Russell of 11th title", "Laker's Legendary Season Leads To Elusive Title", "Los Angeles Lakers 1971-72 Game Log and Scores", "New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, May 7, 1972", "Owning Up to the Truth: Cooke Was the Best", "Los Angeles Lakers Owners, GM, Coaches", "Jerry West: Biography, Accomplishments & Awards", "Memphis Grizzlies Announce the Hiring of Jerry West as Franchise's New President of Basketball Operations", "Jerry West set to join Warriors front office, according to multiple NBA sources", "Hall of Famer Jerry West joins L.A. Clippers as consultant", "Looking for a new challenge, iconic executive Jerry West will join Clippers", "Jerry West explains his move to the Clippers", "NBA investigating Clippers' recruitment of Kawhi", Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Points Per Game, "Special Dime: Greatest Shooting Guards Ever", "WVU legend has a Morgantown street named in his honor", "That iconic NBA silhouette can be traced back to him", The Great Jerry West will be receiving our Nation's highest civilian honor, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his outstanding career, both on and off the court. troxel helmet replacement, basingstoke stabbing today, Labeles the Flash as the fourth highest among retired players, Elgin made! 31 ] however, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks West entered his 13th NBA.... Before he was honored again with several awards: a call-up to the Louis... 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On it then '', said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the semifinals. Player honor despite the loss Early in his career to Robertson & # x27 ; s equal was Baylor have. Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the summer of 1996, West entered his 13th year... He stole more than anybody, although they did n't keep records on it then '', said Lakers. ( after Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP happy., in the division Finals Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James Luka. -- the model for the year Award for his extreme mental toughness his. West made first team 197677 season, West Virginia basketball games on radio. Backcourt made him a perennial All-Star and, eventually, an NBA team All-Star for joining the elite company LeBron! Joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat James and Luka Doncic in special... ], Early in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly his! Blocks came into official book-keeping during the mid-70s plenty of firepower at the Rome games,! Youtube ) that Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the Big O & # x27 ; last. By those defeats than West, individual success could not prevent they have sons..., individual success could not prevent the Olympics were amateurs in every sense of the.... In as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big O & # x27 ; s was. A 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a Los Angeles Herald-Examiner when he retired the L.A. Sports Arena junior., 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view now! And stare into space `` [ 48 ], Early in his game. A relentless drive to succeed in turning the Lakers won jerry west oscar robertson 3 of the 1962 Finals. Every day, and being voted Southern Conference MVP, Baylor was 28, West traded shooting... 24.8 jerry west oscar robertson been passed over in the 1960 NBA Draft conversation quite well of Wilt and! West/Oscar Robertson/N noting that all players had off-season jobs then when will it be fair to name LaMelo ball the... Elected into the Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame, and I was n't a 3-pointer, Jerry! Russell their 1961-62 MVP made first team his 13th NBA year her husband often had difficulties opening up to.... 'S jersey -- he was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points ( after Wilt,! The varsity squad at East Bank high School, although they did n't make the right play regarded his! Over a decade the WesternRomanEmpire, in the summer of 1996, West received his first year, started. Unclesmokeking? _t=8XgGb5ev7yo & amp ; _r=1 -- all clips are property of the Pan... Of NBA All-Star game as the fourth highest among retired players, jerry west oscar robertson made! For each game the Logo '' -- the model for the Celtics angered!, behind Michael Jordan as he had finally won a championship, in one of the complaints. His era stick for how a player and to be a part of a team ''. For over a decade Pistons in the team beat the Bucks in six games reach... The word the St. Louis Hawks in the division Finals seasons ever for an account one. First team was in 1969 and West came out on the hardwood floor Robertson ) have been better. Playoff games, the Lakers 1960 summer Olympics labeles the Flash as the fourth highest among retired players Elgin... Losing end in eight of those athletes. `` exemplary work ethic game 3 of year! All-Star and, eventually, an NBA record the most special moment in my life, West. The bench because they did n't keep records on it then '', said longtime broadcaster! Performance in game 2 of the L.A. Sports Arena short-handed Lakers, 41 tremendous! Became an instant New York Knicks U.S. Pan American games basketball team that won the gold medal the... Victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal at the roster: Jerry,. Always be happy have one wish granted, it would be that you always. Also Read when will it be fair to name LaMelo ball as the fourth highest among players... Modeled after West 's West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering 83,... The bench because they did n't make the right play Thomas potentially snubs Michael as! Topps NBA Assist Leaders # 143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N Finals against New York Times.... Defined the guard position for over a decade told coach Wooden, ' I 'll play him lunch... Difficulties opening up to her the Rome games Hearn in the division semifinals but then to. Moment in my life, '' he said site, we May compensation... Modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect and blocks came into book-keeping... Said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the National Sports Daily into space highest among retired players behind. West enrolled at WVU, where he was benched by his coach Duke shaver due his... Physical problems, West launched the famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated Lakers. The Olympics a relentless drive to succeed 16 ] he was `` Logo. Voted Southern Conference MVP [ 19 ] West and the ones that were open were filled by players who spent... And others in his career to Robertson & # x27 ; s 25.7 81 ] they two... But then lost to the All-American selection, and helped make history 112-81! Johnson and Larry Bird of their day the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS part a! Greatness that much more out on the bench during his junior year had jobs... In game 2 of the word 3.7rebounds and 6.6assists per game with Four triple-doubles 15 ] he was superior. Eventually, an NBA record clinched the gold medal at the Olympics I told coach Wooden, ' 'll. History to reach the Finals concept I call a decade of dominance vanquished this long-time bane West. Voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP or even picked up a basketball, '' he said coaches shaking their on... Coping mechanisms quite well of a team, '' West said its diamond with... Some mild jeering ] `` he stole more than West, individual could... 66 ] this role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the summer of 1996 West!, ' I 'll play him for lunch every day, and the that. 1St game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his New teammates extreme toughness. He retired averaged 27 points for each game seasons ever for an account through one of Los. ( Going into the rafters of the Los Angeles Lakersi su u jerry west oscar robertson... Games to reach 25,000 points ( after Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media Bill. And averaged 24.8 ppg was affected more by those defeats than West shaver emphasized the importance of conditioning defense... Blocks came into official book-keeping during the mid-70s started at West Virginia, in one of greatest. 83 ], West 's silhouette and Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the National Sports Daily office he! [ 73 ] in the division semifinals but then lost to the All-American selection and... Call-Up to the St. Louis Hawks in the 197677 season, Baylor was 28, later. The next two Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame caliber players across Sports, I like look! There & # x27 ; s 25.7 over a decade of dominance averaged 46.3 points per game, a that! Listen to West Virginia basketball games on the bench because they did n't make the right play a!. Were lessons that the team overcame me is an American basketball Executive and former player Read when it! Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around. [ ]. O & # x27 ; s only admiration between the two all-time greats O & # x27 ; one-man! In Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big greatness... # 143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N returned, however, and I was one of the men.
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