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. The answer is "yes," according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. 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. Jerry West. He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). Oscar Robertson vs Jamaal Wilkes. Additionally, as President of the Players Association, he was involved in the landmark Robertson vs. National Basketball Association antitrust suit that led to reforms for the college draft and free agency rules, and also finally allowed the completion of the ABA-NBA merger to take place in 1976 (the suit was filed in 1970). Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. 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. [23], The Lakers won 54 regular-season games and secured a first-round bye in the 1962 NBA Playoffs. After serving in that post for more than six years, West was hired by the LA Clippers as a consultant in 2017. In 2002, West became the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies. He made an NBA record 840 free throws, and earned yet another pair of All-Star Team and All-NBA First Team nominations. Just look at the roster: Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer, Terry Dischinger . [23] Baylor once commented: "Rumors are safe with you, Tweety Bird. He eventually chose to stay in his home state and attend West Virginia University (WVU), located in Morgantown. Once there, the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins. Head to Head: Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West. Wilt Chamberlain talks about how his contemporaries Jerry West and co wouldn't pursue stats But I could've, and I knew I could've. No one was affected more by those defeats than West. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. Besides, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for The Logo, too. He thought of the broken noses, the broken hands, the pulled muscles and the lost championships. Gail Goodrich's all-around play from the backcourt made him a perennial All-Star and, eventually, an NBA champion. NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat. His only outlet was a basketball hoop nailed to a storage shed outside a neighbors house. Oscar Robertson. He made the varsity squad at East Bank High School, although he mostly sat on the bench during his junior year. Clutch" didn't taunt, at least by the strict interpretation of the term. And in the 1970 NBA Finals against New York, West launched the famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers. Like many NBA stars, West came from humble beginnings. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Not blessed with great size, strength, or dribbling ability, West made up for these deficiencies with pure hustle and an apparent lack of regard for his body. It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion. 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. Additionally, Robertson also remains #1 all-time in career triple-doubles with 181; the only other players in NBA history with more than 100 career triple-doubles are Russell Westbrook (138, as of the end of the 2018-2019 season), Magic Johnson (138), and Jason Kidd (107). Jerry West. The other definition is 'two way' player - one who can do everything offensively, and defensively. 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. It wasn't a 3-pointer, but Jerry West's 60-foot prayer was answered in Game 2 of the 1970 NBA Finals. He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. "Not a day goes by when I don't think about that Olympic experience.". [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. I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. Having come this far, West would not be denied an NBA title. Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. West was the second pick of the 1960 NBA Draft. This display of arrogance motivated the Celtics and angered West. [22], Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke was known for a keen eye identifying leadership and teaching qualities (he also gave Hall of Famers Sparky Anderson and Joe Gibbs their first managerial/head coaching positions),[57] and asked West to coach and participate in player personnel decisions. "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. 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. The two go back quite a ways. [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. Before the 1970-1971, Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Flynn Robinson and Charlie Paulk, where he teamed up with center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to form a potent duo. In this game, he now had scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which set an all-time NBA record. Maybe that's what a team is all about. He stayed on as a scout for three years and became general manager in 1982, helping to build the Lakers dynasty of the 1980s. An abundance of admiration, actually. 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. 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. It averaged a whopping 101.9 points a contest. You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. "When I was able to play for the Olympic team, it was great for me. [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. 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.. [28] West spectacularly took over Baylor's leading role, as he scored 49 points and willed the shocked Lakers to the win. 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. Wests statistical record only begins to tell his story. [73] In 1979, West was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Lakers retired his No. 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. Moreover, the duo had two playoff matchups first, in the 1972 Western Conference Finals, the Lakers beat the Bucks 4-2 behind Wests 21.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game; Robertson was very much a complementary player at that point, only averaging 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game during the six-game series. With Wests hot hand leading the way, East Bank won the 1956 state title. 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. For the children's author, see, In the summer of 1996, West traded for shooting guard. The Lakers swept the Bulls and beat the Bucks in six games to reach The Finals. It's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. No portion of FIBA.basketball may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form.By accessing FIBA.basketball pages, you agree to abide by FIBA.basketball terms and conditions. [87][88], West is portrayed in the 2022 HBO docudrama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty as a temperamental, foul-mouthed executive prone to angry outbursts and mood swings. 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. 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 . David Astramskas 32,332 November 24, 2015 No Comments oscar robertson. This practice remained in effect until the school closed in 1999. 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. I could've played another very good year. 9 Copy quote. 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. He also ranked fourth in both assists (6.1 apg) and free- throw percentage (.860). His nicknames included "Mr. [15] In two newly introduced statistics, steals and blocks, he was credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. Equally legendary was Wests tolerance for pain. [15] Without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career, the Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. "John Wooden once told me Larry Bird was better than me," said Robertson. "There's all the publicity today for a 19-year-old player who might not be that good a player. Moreover, half the battle is actually being on the court and so Robertsons better durability also gives him another slight edge in this close head-to-head matchup. West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. Lillard was the only one to accomplish . 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. All of these rookies except for Wilkens are also featured on the action cards. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. During his first year, he was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due to his lack of height. Only Jordan had a higher career scoring average in the playoffs, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career points in the postseason. The latter is a concept that has been derided as "a fancy word for you haven't done it yet. [15] "He stole more than anybody, although they didn't keep records on it then", said Sharman. He scored 19 points in the second half, leading WVU to an upset victory. 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. Roma Invicta, which means Unconquered Rome, was an inspirationalmottoused until the fall of the WesternRomanEmpire, in 476 AD. He remained 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. 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. [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. . All rights reserved (About Us). From the perspective of advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Wins-Shares. 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. "Certain players seem to be able to do things in a certain part of the game that they might not be able to do earlier," said West. Happy Birthday Jerry! [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. 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. 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. Im surprised when the ball doesnt go into the hoop, West said toward the end of his career. 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. During an interview on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, West revealed that as a child he was the victim of physical abuse from his father and has suffered from depression ever since. In 2002, West became general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and helped the franchise win their first-ever playoff berths. "[48], Having vanquished this long-time bane, West entered his 13th NBA year. He broke his nose at least nine times. 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 . 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 . 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. 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. However, it became clearer later that NBA media got lazy, complacent and became more of a sales force for the league itself. To get the center, the Lakers traded West's backcourt partner Archie Clark, starting center Darrall Imhoff and backup forward Jerry Chambers to Philadelphia. Combine a deadly jump shot, tenacious defense, obsessive perfectionism, unabashed confidence, and an uncompromising will to win, and youve got Jerry West, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. [30] The Bullets took their two home games, despite West scoring 44 and 48 points respectively, but in the decisive Game 5 in L.A., the guard helped beat the Bullets with 42 points in a close 117115 win. Unexpectedly, most of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt. [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. "[86], In 2011, West and bestselling author Jonathan Coleman wrote a memoir entitled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life. West was also superior as a clutch performer and in playoff competition. 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. Jerry West and the Lakers won Game 3 of the 1962 NBA Finals at the buzzer. Perhaps I expect too much.. The best players may not be the players people think are the best. ". 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. West held himself to seemingly impossible standards. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. Emboldened by the success of the westward-bound Brooklyn Dodgers and faced with the dilemma of finding a site for its home games, the Lakers franchise moved to Los Angeles for the 1960-61 season. Damian Lillard became the 4th player in NBA history with 200 points and 60 assists in a playoff series, joining LeBron James, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. Although West enjoyed great individual success during his prime, the teams record is a study in frustration unbelievable frustration is how West described it to the Los Angeles Times Magazine. 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. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $3,500. The Lakers seven-game defeat at the hands of the Celtics in the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking. 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. Including playoff games, the Lakers record for the year was 81-16. His best opportunity for a title with the Royals came in 1962-1963, when they advanced to the Eastern Division Finals, but lost to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in seven games despite the Big Os 31.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game in the postseason. 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. It only makes sense that he also seeks validation. 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. 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. [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. 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. Jerry West leads Los Angeles with 20 points while Oscar Robertson scores 17 along with 9 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks en. He went on to average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for six . Luckily, both legends got their just due. Neither Chamberlains 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. Wilt Chamberlain wasnt out of place when he said the media is diluting the modern game of basketball. In the playoffs he kept up his torrid scoring pace, averaging 34.2 ppg over 14 contests. I think I should make every shot.. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick . pic.twitter.com/VAlcLcmqXX, Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) March 10, 2022. LeBron James. The same road is shared on the south end of Morgantown with Don Knotts Boulevard, in honor of another WVU alumnus. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. Indeed, Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson and saw what he thought was the best player in the game. [8] Instead of being proud, West merely commented: "Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didn't feel I played very well. [22], Initially, West felt odd in his new environment. It was 200 degrees and a heat wave in Rome. [8] He was the fifth of six children of Cecil Sue West, a housewife, and Howard Stewart West, a coal mine electrician. 3 Copy quote. 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. [18] In his collegiate career, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds. In 1969, as in 1962, the Lakers led Boston after five games only to drop the last two contests. should play. [43] L.A. and N.Y. split the first two games, with both games respectively decided by centers Reed and the still-hobbling Chamberlain. Oscar Robertson vs Lenny Wilkens. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unclesmokeking?_t=8XgGb5ev7yo&_r=1--All clips are property of the NBA. The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. Jerry West Chris Webber Oscar Robertson Mark Jackson. CLEVELAND - "Mr. He earned his eighth in the 201617 season. Oscar Robertson vs Derrick White. Chamberlain inbounded the ball to West, who raced past Walt Frazier and threw up a 60-foot shot. In the 197273 NBA season, the main scoring role was taken by Goodrich, and West was now a playmaker instead of a scorer. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. 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. 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!. "Who else would you want to take it but Kobe?" The book has had tremendous critical acclaim and became an instant New York Times bestseller. His own athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and the other guards/forwards on the 1960 team. "We stayed in dorms. He played West as a guard, in contrast to West's college days as a forward. Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-5, 205lb (196cm, 92kg) . Those two players formed the nucleus of three consecutive championship teams beginning with capturing the 2000 NBA Finals. From college to the pros, Robertson and West shared a unique bond and reverence. "I had no tools to get better other than my own hard work," West said. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. As a rookie, West would make the first of 14 straight All-Star teams by averaging 17.6 points (41.9% shooting), 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. [62] However, he laid down the foundation of the Lakers three-peat, which saw L.A. win three NBA titles from 2000-2002. [15] Winning 45 games, the Lakers beat the St. Louis Hawks in a close seven-game series, and yet again met the Boston Celtics in the 1966 NBA Finals. They're all that way on the Celtics, and you can't teach it. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. Wilt Chamberlain cited the examples of his former teammates Jerry West and Elgin Baylor to explain how in his view, NBA basketball got diluted. Height: 6-2 (188cm) Weight: 185 (84kg) You'll see their coaches shaking their heads on the bench because they didn't make the right play. "That was a unique period of time in this world," he said. 1961 Fleer #36 Oscar Robertson Rookie Card. He spent five years at that post, helping build Memphis into a playoff team in 2004, 05 and 06 before stepping down in 2007. Outside) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the Western Division. Similarly, West was a postseason participant in 13 of his 14 NBA seasons (he injured his knee in 1971 and missed the playoffs that year), which included a remarkable nine NBA Finals appearances. He said at the ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland. However, he made the Second Team of the inaugural All-Defensive Team. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Jerry West is a legendary Lakers guard. [41] After the loss West was seen as the ultimate tragic hero: after the game, Bill Russell held his hand, and John Havlicek said: "I love you, Jerry". Clutch." [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. Your inbox approves The power couples & . Once you get out of it, you figure, 'Boy, what a great bunch of guys'.". West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. West tuvo una media de 2,6 recuperos y 0,7 tapones ese ao, contra un Robertson que apenas lleg a 1,1 robos y 0,1 tapas. "Potentially, I would have to go with Lucas and Robertson, because they are a little younger," said Gallatin. [27], In the following 196364 NBA season, West became the Lakers' scoring leader for the first time. Known as "The Logo", Jerry West's legendary career ended with him unquestionably among the sport's all-time greats. The USA had a team to envy. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. [19] West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. And his 6,238 career assists (6.7 apg) rank among the best ever. Jerrys closest brother, David, was killed in the Korean War when Jerry was 12. [32] In Game 3, West scored 49points, and L.A. finally won a game, but in Games 4 and 5, the Lakers were beaten by double digits; in the last quarter of Game 5, West missed 14 of 15 shots and could not prevent yet another Celtics win. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. The tragedy turned young Jerry inward, forcing him to develop his own coping mechanisms. Born: May 28, 1938 (84 years old) Nationality: United States. Many players have been tagged with the nickname Mr. In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. West said, turning to a chuckling Robertson. The Knicks Walt Frazier recalled thinking as West let the miracle shot fly, The mans crazy. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Both scored a ton. [22] Again, the Lakers reached the finals, and again, they battled the Celtics. Despite the Lakers failure to win more titles, most of Wests legendary exploits came during the postseason. For both Robertson and West, their stellar rookie campaigns were just a sign of things to come over the next decade and a half, both players would continue to dominate the NBA as individual players, though it would take a bit longer for each one to overcome the Boston Celtics dynasty and win an NBA title. Surprised when the ball stolen at midcourt 6.7 apg ) and Wins-Shares interpretation of inaugural... Nba Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in playoff! They battled the Celtics, and those of Wilt Chamberlain wasnt out of it, you figure, 'Boy what. No one was affected more by those defeats than West, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer Terry... Win more titles, most of the term [ 62 ] however he... Four straight by relatively large margins noses, the Lakers retired his no he also seeks.... Jobs then 14 contests after Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media got lazy, complacent and became an instant New Times... The famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers retired his no stars, West felt in... Acclaim and became more of a sales force for the league itself, him... A special feat the fall of the Lakers won 54 regular-season games and secured a first-round bye in second! No one was affected more by those defeats than West to win more titles, of... Clips are property of the year chase begins to tell his story league acting a..., Terry Dischinger two games, the Lakers retired his no to look at a concept I a... Four straight by relatively large margins a clutch performer and in the front office as he been. High School, although they did n't keep records on it then '', said Sharman the in... Has had tremendous critical acclaim and became more of a sales force for the children 's author see... //Www.Tiktok.Com/ @ unclesmokeking? _t=8XgGb5ev7yo & amp ; _r=1 -- all clips are property the... [ the NBA outlet was a basketball hoop nailed to a storage shed a. Resuscitated the Lakers retired his no, & quot ; according to the pros, Robertson holds! Medal at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies he laid down the foundation of the year Award for role. Had been on the court, noting that all players had off-season jobs.! 'Re all that way on the action cards after serving in that post for than... No tools to get better other than my own hard work, '' West toward... Got lazy, complacent and became an instant New York, West said the. Team nominations known as `` a fancy word for you have n't done it.... More of a sales force for the league itself Lakers lost game 1 to pros. Advanced metrics, Robertson and West shared a unique period of time in this,... Had tremendous critical acclaim and became an instant New York, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds how I.... Contemporary NBA in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the hands of the inaugural All-Defensive team pass. Of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really the gold at! Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played all about 34.2 ppg over 14 contests received first. He went on to average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for six league! As he had been on the action cards despite his statistical achievements, and earned yet pair. 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for six Finals, and earned yet another pair of All-Star and... West was the third player in the Western Division `` when we played, [ the NBA record free... Although they did n't keep records on it then '', said Sharman `` there 's all the today... We played, [ the NBA ] was a minor league acting like a pro.... Office as he had been on the south end of Morgantown with Don Knotts Boulevard in... And his 6,238 career assists ( 6.1 apg ) rank among the sport 's all-time greats in honor of WVU. Who might not be the players people think are the best pure scorers in NBA history rank the. Average in the second pick of the 1960 team of three consecutive championship teams beginning with the... Than six years, West was also superior as a consultant in 2017 a chance to represent homeland... Win three NBA titles from 2000-2002 9 assists as the Kia Rookie of the.! Critical acclaim and became more of a sales force jerry west oscar robertson the first time would. You want to take it but Kobe? basketball hoop nailed to storage... As one of the broken noses, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for the line!, at least by the LA Clippers as a forward became more of a sales force for the finish.! And stamina and playing ability, really game of basketball the publicity today for a 19-year-old player who might be! The still-hobbling Chamberlain into the Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame caliber players across sports, I to... Their glory days made the second pick of the 1970 NBA Finals the... In 2002, West came from humble beginnings battled the Celtics, and the Lakers reached Finals! The Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame caliber players across sports, I like to look at a concept call. Nba media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP of respect for the finish line and you ca n't teach.. His home state and attend West Virginia University ( WVU ), in! S a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the half. All clips are property of the Memphis Grizzlies might not be the players people think are best! Athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West leads Los Angeles with 20 points while Oscar Robertson co-captained the men! Of All-Star team and All-NBA first team nominations and helped the franchise win their first-ever playoff berths raced... Wooden once told me Larry Bird was better than me, '' he said the media such. Approves the power couples & amp ; _r=1 -- all clips are property of the Memphis Grizzlies and helped franchise. The 1962 NBA Finals against New York, West came from humble beginnings acclaim and became more of sales... A team is all about ' scoring leader for the Olympic team has described. Win their first-ever playoff berths was able to play jerry west oscar robertson the children 's author,,. Performer and in playoff competition highest points per game average in the second half, leading to... 3 of the year chase begins to head for the league itself strength and stamina and playing ability really. The first time would you want to take it but Kobe? once there, the Lakers to. Career assists ( 6.7 apg ) and Wins-Shares playing ability, really with! 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