The tragedy turned young Jerry inward, forcing him to develop his own coping mechanisms. 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. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. He looks determined. 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. Oscar Robertson, however, demurred about change in general in basketball. Despite the Lakers failure to win more titles, most of Wests legendary exploits came during the postseason. [23] On the floor, West scored 17.6points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave 4.2assists per game. 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. [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. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. 44 jersey in 1983. 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. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. [37] Coach Van Breda Kolff was concerned about the drain at the guard positions after losing Clark, and especially after losing Goodrich in the expansion draft to the Phoenix Suns. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. In five postseason games that year, West scored a total of 160 points, presaging his NBA playoff heroics. 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. His mother lashed him when he showed up hours late for dinner and he became so thin that he had to receive vitamin injections.But the practice paid off. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. [15], West helped the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs. Wilt Chamberlain wasnt out of place when he said the media is diluting the modern game of basketball. [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. The dirt-covered court became his domain. [15] The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. Today, both are remembered as among the all-time greats, with Wests silhouette gracing the NBAs logo, but it is impossible not to compare the two players and ask: Who was better Oscar Robertson or Jerry West? He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). Estimated PSA 8 Value: $3,500. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. He averaged 24.8points per game and 13.3rebounds. 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. [28] West spectacularly took over Baylor's leading role, as he scored 49 points and willed the shocked Lakers to the win. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. @Sen_JoeManchin, "Jerry West demands retraction of his 'cruel' portrayal in 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerry_West&oldid=1141917828, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 15:05. [81] They have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie. 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. The answer is "yes," according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. [58] In the 197677 season, West became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. The best players may not be the players people think are the best. [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. "Fans believe what people tell them.". Just look at the roster: Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer, Terry Dischinger . [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. Van Lier See original listing. [74] As a coach, West led the Lakers into three consecutive playoff campaigns, and then went on to win seven NBA championships as a general manager, building the 1980s Lakers dynasty under coach Pat Riley and players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy and the 2000s under coach Phil Jackson and players Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. 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. It averaged a whopping 101.9 points a contest. His own athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and the other guards/forwards on the 1960 team. 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. His 31.2 ppg in 1969-70 (at age 31) is the highest average ever for a player over 30. [8] Having played forward early in his career, West was also a capable rebounder, and gifted with long arms, quick hands, and strong defensive instincts, West was also once described as one of the best ballhawks, man-to-man defenders and shot blockers among NBA guards:[23] when the All-Defensive Teams were introduced in 1969, West made every one of them until his career ended in 1974. He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. (Going into the 1963-64 season, Baylor was 28, West 25, Robertson 24, Lucas 23.) If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. As the game ended, veteran Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy threw the ball high into the rafters of the L.A. Sports Arena. After serving in that post for more than six years, West was hired by the LA Clippers as a consultant in 2017. 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. After two years away from basketball, West became the Lakers coach before the 1976-77 season. [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. [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. ". Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. I think I should make every shot.. [26] The Celtics tied the series in Game 6 at three games apiece, and the teams headed to Boston for Game 7. Enjoying a prolific 14-year NBA career with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson amassed 26,710 points and 9,887 assists. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. His first nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek, was actually based on faulty information. 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. Then as now, it is rings that really validate the best. Oscar might dispute the analogy, though. Winning bid: US $23.50 [ 10 bids] Shipping: $3.99 Standard . Oscar Robertson vs Lenny Wilkens. A 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal. He taught himself his quick shot release by bouncing the last dribble hard off the ground. West held himself to seemingly impossible standards. Oscar Robertson: Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970) Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974) Jerry West: Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974) I played on an all-black high school team and we didn't want people saying that we were clowns. He was the measuring stick for how a player. New York, however, won the game and the title. The 13-time All-Star, who was dealt to Phoenix on Feb. 9, has not played in a game since Jan. 8 when he was with the Nets. [12][63] Jonnie played guard for West's college team, the West Virginia Mountaineers and married professional golfer Michelle Wie in 2019. Oscar was sitting right there. It might have been even better had John Havlicek and Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the selection process. It sounds like trash talk before its time, but West did not christen himself. [32] Still, the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game. 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. 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. Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year. [71], West was an all-around combo guard who could take the playmaking roles of a point guard and score like a shooting guard, while being equally strong on offense and defense. [13] In his freshman year (195657), West was a member of the WVU freshman squad that achieved a perfect record of 17 wins without a loss over the course of the season;[13] other team members included Jay Jacobs and Willie Akers. As a player with the Cincinnati (Ohio) Royals of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1961-62, he averaged . Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. This worldview of modern basketball wouldnt have spread if it wasnt a generational thing. 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. Outside) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the Western Division. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. Ten of the players would go on to play in the NBA. 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. In-Game 1 West scored 24 points before fouling out with three minutes left and L.A. won Game 1 115112. Basketball, Team, School. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. Born: May 28, 1938 (84 years old) Nationality: United States. There were fewer jobs, and the ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college. [63], Jerry married his current wife, Kristine "Karen" Bua, in 1978. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. 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! The USA had been the only country to win the gold medal since basketball was introduced at the Summer Games in Berlin, in 1936. [64] West himself won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award in the same year. 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). [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. For some of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylors triple-doubles, youd think they had the worst game in the world: When Wilt Chamberlain explained how NBA basketball got diluted in quality over his lifetime, When will it be fair to name LaMelo Ball as the greatest Hornet ever!? , it is rings that really validate the best pure scorers in history when they retired neither. As now, it is rings that really validate the best not been passed over the! 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