He thinks its really going in! It did, sending Game 3 into overtime. 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. [8] West eventually became the team's starting small forward, and he quickly established himself as one of the finest West Virginia high school players of his generation. [85], Early in his career, West's West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering. Oscar Robertson vs Hassan Whiteside. 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. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. They accomplished their mission of beating the USSR, too, winning 81-57. It was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me. 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. The players are bigger and more athletic now. Unexpectedly, most of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt. Wilt Chamberlain wasnt out of place when he said the media is diluting the modern game of basketball. 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. 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. But just a word to . 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. Charleston, WV (25301) Today. Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the Bucks to the 1971 championship, beating West and the Celtics in the Conference Finals in the process. [12], West graduated from East Bank High School in 1956, and more than 60 universities showed interest in him. Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play man Chick Hearn bestowed the nickname. 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. There will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper', who changed the game with his strength, athleticism and skill. But I could've, and I knew I could've. Laker Legend Jerry West calls Redick out for his reckless. [33], The 196667 NBA season saw West playing only 66 regular-season games due to injury;[22] his averages fell slightly to 28.0points, 5.9rebounds and 6.8assists per game. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. SG. "That was a unique period of time in this world," he said. All videos are . 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. 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. The Royals made Robertson with the No. Although injured captain Elgin Baylor ended his career, the Lakers had a season for the ages. "Race; cold war; threat of nuclear war. Former NBA Veteran JJ Redick made controversial comments calling NBA Legends Firemen and Plumbers. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. Answer (1 of 15): I would Jerry West because he was on the All Defensive Team five times and Oscar was on none. Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas recalls the conversation quite well. Oscar Robertson vs Derrick White. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. Sometimes you get involved in situations like that, you don't realize the importance of it until you get out of it. [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. [12], In his final collegiate season (195960) West enjoyed several career highs, such as scoring 29.3points per game, a 134 season-assists, 16.5rebounds per game, and a shooting average of 50.4% from the field, 76.6% from the free throw line. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Jerry West SG. It's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. Jerry Wests storied career included 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive Teams and an NBA championship. He went on to average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for six . "They have everything it takes to win a championship. West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. Many players have been tagged with the nickname Mr. While it has been nearly 50 years since either Oscar Robertson or Jerry West last set foot on an NBA basketball court and not too many of us actually got to see them play live, the duo remain two of the most iconic players in NBA history. 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. It sounds like trash talk before its time, but West did not christen himself. [8], In the summer of 2000, the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, and West Virginia Governor Cecil Underwood, dedicated the road outside of the West Virginia University Coliseum, "Jerry West Boulevard". 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. 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. Amulya Shekhar is a sports junkie who thrives on the thrills and frills of live sports action across basketball, football (the American variant works too), parkour, adventure sports. 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. "We stayed in dorms. 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. 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. From 1962-70, the Lakers reached the Finals six times, losing to Boston five times and to the Knicks once. However, it became clearer later that NBA media got lazy, complacent and became more of a sales force for the league itself. West continued to propel the Lakers to championship contender status by trading Divac for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant (1996), by signing free agent center Shaquille O'Neal (also 1996), and by signing six-time NBA champion Phil Jackson as a coach (1999). Clippers coach, Doc Rivers, floated the idea of West joining the organization during the 2016 season. But it is less a function of disrespect than of youth. 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). 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 . LeBron James. "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. Advertisement. 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. "I'm very fortunate that I was one of those athletes.". Oscar Robertson: Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970) Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974) Jerry West: Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974) Notify me of follow-up comments by email. ", Robertson believes the media-hype machine conditions fans' perceptions of players too much. The Big O at 6-5 was the first power guard, backing defenders down, never taking a 12-footer if a 10 was available, never a 10 if he could get an 8. Roma Invicta, which means Unconquered Rome, was an inspirationalmottoused until the fall of the WesternRomanEmpire, in 476 AD. Both Robertson and West were standout high school basketball players (in fact, both were named the best player in their respective home states) before going on to dominate the college ranks; drafted 1-2 in 1960, the duo would also quickly make their marks in the NBA. However, the Lakers and West came out on the losing end in eight of those nine Finals. 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). Despite playing only 31 games due to a strained groin,[8] West was still regarded as an elite guard, earning another call-up into his final All-Star Game. [77] Finally, the NBA logo itself is modeled after West's silhouette. "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. O as in the Only player to average a triple-double for a whole season. 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. 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. [43] In Game 3, DeBusschere hit a mid-range jump shot with three seconds left to put the Knicks ahead 102100, and the Lakers had no time-outs left. Jerry West is one of the most revered players in NBA history. Luckily, both legends got their just due. West threw in 28.7 points per game with 48% shooting from the floor and 83% shooting from the foul line. "That was the most special moment in my life," he said. Born: November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee us College: Cincinnati High School: Crispus Attucks in Indianapolis, Indiana Draft: Cincinnati Royals, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1960 NBA Draft (territorial selection) [16] The Mountaineers went 262 that year, ending the season with a loss to Manhattan College in postseason tournament play. By Oscar Robertson Aug. 7, 2010 Let me tell you about the original Dream Team, the 1960 United States Olympic gold medalist basketball team coached by Pete Newell, with Jerry West and me as the co . Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com [23] Baylor once commented: "Rumors are safe with you, Tweety Bird. Besides, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for The Logo, too. [40] Game 4 saw Celtics guard Sam Jones hit an off-balance buzzer beater to tie the series,[41] but in Game 5, the Lakers struck back and won by 13points; however, they suffered a major blow when West who scored 39points and by far led all players in scoring during the entire series lunged for a meaningless late-game ball and seriously pulled his hamstring: it was immediately visible that the injury would not heal until the end of the series. In 2002, West became general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies and helped the franchise win their first-ever playoff berths. pic.twitter.com/VAlcLcmqXX, Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) March 10, 2022. He left the game holding records for career postseason scoring and the highest average in a playoff series. Thus, after weighing their careers against each other in terms of statistics, achievements, and impact, the winner of this faceoff is: As always, vote for your choice and leave your thoughts and comments below. A loss just ripped his guts out., Its no wonder. He died aged 67. 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. [15], West helped the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs. After the Lakers heartbreaking loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1969 NBA Finals, John Havlicek walked up to West and said, Jerry, I love you. Such comments were not uncommon. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. [79], West married his college sweetheart Martha Jane Kane in April 1960 in Morgantown;[80] they divorced in 1976. Neither Chamberlains 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. [15] The Lakers won 46 games, and in the 1970 NBA Playoffs, they narrowly beat the Phoenix Suns in seven games and swept the Hawks in four, setting up the first NBA Finals between the Lakers and the rugged New York Knicks, led by Hall-of-Famers, such as Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Walt Frazier. He earned the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor despite the loss. [81] They have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie. "There are a lot of bad teams," he said. 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. [76] On February 17, 2011, a statue of West was unveiled outside Staples Center at the Star Plaza in Los Angeles, California. 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. 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.". Oscar Robertson vs Coby White. [8] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: "He took a loss harder than any player I've ever known. This worldview of modern basketball wouldnt have spread if it wasnt a generational thing. Jerry West. The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. [40] L.A. also took Game 2, with West scoring 41 points. Simple mathematics tells us that there are 144 cards contained within the twenty-four packs of six, resulting in the probability of two examples of each member of the set's full roster. "How much weightlifting did you do?" [9], West was an outgoing and aggressive child in his youth. 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. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. 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. With an all-around game that rivaled Oscar Robertson's, West added six assists and six rebounds per game and excellent defense in the backcourt that produced a number of steals each game. 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. [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. I could've played another very good year. 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.. Oscar Robertson vs Jerry West. The dirt-covered court became his domain. Basketball, Thinking, Able. /VCG. 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. Moreover, before Johnson entered the NBA, West and Oscar "The Big O" Robertson were considered the greatest guards in league history, not to mention that West was the one who received more respect and love. Those two players formed the nucleus of three consecutive championship teams beginning with capturing the 2000 NBA Finals. [15] "He stole more than anybody, although they didn't keep records on it then", said Sharman. Co-captains West and Robertson, and also Jerry Lucas, had legendary professional careers. Oscar Robertson vs Russell Westbrook. From the perspective of advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Wins-Shares. Jerry West could easily feel a sense of bitterness toward Russell, even though The Logo eventually did win a ring in 1972. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. [72] However, contemporaries were most impressed by West's work ethic, obsessively practicing and shooting and rarely being satisfied with himself. He remained a . [20] His college coach was also hired to coach the Lakers. Just look at the roster: Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer, Terry Dischinger . He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. 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. West helped to build the great 1980s Lakers dynasty, also known as Showtime, which brought five championship rings (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988) to Los Angeles. "Why does everybody say the game has changed? The 1972-73 Lakers lost to the Knicks in The Finals while in 1973-74, a pulled groin limited West to 31 regular-season contests and only one playoff game. 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. 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). For the children's author, see, In the summer of 1996, West traded for shooting guard. With West not yet in shape, Baylor and the Lakers fell back 32; then they succumbed in Game 6 in front of their home crowd with a 112109 loss. 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. [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. Inside) scoring nearly 35 ppg and West (Mr. https://youtu.be/JXQniGgIIwM https://youtu.be . 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. Tackling the Biggest Head-to-Head Sports Debates. Godine 1980. primljen je u Kuu slavnih, a Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44. [20] In March 2008, ESPN voted West the third greatest shooting guard of all time. 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. [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. After taking the series lead on Baylors then record 61-point performance in Game 5, Los Angeles dropped the next two. West was born into a poor household in Chelyan, West Virginia. In Game 7, a 15-foot Frank Selvy jumper at the buzzer that would have won the game in regulation bounced off the rim. [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. Height: 6-2 (188cm) Weight: 185 (84kg) Also Read Dwyane Wade is the most accomplished athlete thats come out of Chicago! [36] In Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints. West said to Robertson. When it snowed West played wearing gloves. During their overlapping careers, Robertson and West faced off head-to-head on 94 occasions. 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. Jerry Alan West (28. maj 1938, Chelyan, Zapadna Virginia) jedan je od najuspjenijih ljudi u svijetu koarke, prvo kao igra, zatim kao trener i na kraju u upravi.Silueta s njegovim karakteristinim driblingom postala je slubeni logo NBA lige. They beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. "None. Im surprised when the ball doesnt go into the hoop, West said toward the end of his career. [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. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. Instead, there's only admiration between the two all-time greats. [35] The 52 wins were accumulated despite West playing only 51 regular season games due to injury[22] and scoring 26.3 points, the lowest average since his rookie year: after being a First-Teamer for six times en bloc, he only made the All-NBA Second Team. [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. Inside" (the low-post scorer, Baylor) and "Mr. Outside" (the long-distance shooter, West). West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. [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. Could you live on that?" Dr. J went decidedly old-school with his selections, naming Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to the first team. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unclesmokeking?_t=8XgGb5ev7yo&_r=1--All clips are property of the NBA. [15] The NBA commented that the Lakers now had a potent one-two-punchwith "Mr. 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. Born: May 28, 1938 (84 years old) Nationality: United States. ", The NBA had only eight teams in 1960 when West and Robertson were rookies. should play. [12] In Game 4, the guard scored 37 points and 18 assists, and the Lakers won. 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. Oscar Robertson (1960-1974) Robertson, also known as the "Big O," is the only . West became the first draft pick ever of the relocated franchise. 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. This practice remained in effect until the school closed in 1999. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". However, West averaged 22.8points, but also averaged 8.8assists per game, and again was a First Teamer in the All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense Teams. 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. Unrealistic or not, West the perfectionist propelled the Lakers to The Finals repeatedly in the 1960s and early 1970s. [15] He tied the NCAA five-game tournament record of 160points (32.0points per game) and led all scorers and rebounders in every West Virginia game, including getting 28points and 11rebounds in a 7170 loss to California in the final. In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. West was motivated by a relentless drive to succeed. [23] However, West soon impressed his colleagues with his defensive hustle, with his vertical jumphe could reach up 16 inches above the rim when he went upand with his work ethic, spending countless extra hours working on his game. 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. Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. Under his reign, Los Angeles won six championship rings. Oscar Robertson weighs in as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big O's one-man club. [17], During his junior year (195859), West scored 26.6 points per game and grabbed 12.3 rebounds per game. Overall, Robertson visited the postseason 10 times in his career (six times in his decade with Cincinnati, and all four years in Milwaukee), where he lead the NBA in playoff assists 7x, including four straight years from 1962 to 1965; other individual postseason accomplishments included averaging a triple-double for the 1962 playoffs and leading the playoffs in minutes played for three straight years (including an astounding 48.8 minutes per game in 1964-1965). In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. He was the measuring stick for how a player. [55] West wanted to re-negotiate his contract and keep playing, however, he said Cooke "basically told my agent to go to hell. "[83], West was also regarded for his extreme mental toughness and his exemplary work ethic. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. The Celtics' Sam Jones inbounded the ball at half-court with three seconds left. [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. 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. There were fewer jobs, and the ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college. His 28.7 points per game eclipsed the 25.4 by Baylor, who stated that he suffered from knee problems. Key 1961-62 Fleer Basketball Cards: Wilt Chamberlain RC #8; Jerry West RC #43; Oscar Robertson RC #36; Bill Russell #38; Wilt Chamberlain #47 IA [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. Jerry West is a legendary Lakers guard. , Oscar Robertson ( 1960-1974 ) Robertson, Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer Terry... Race ; cold war ; threat of nuclear war a bit of respect for the league itself and. Games in Rome across sports, I like to look at a concept I call a decade dominance. On to average a triple-double for a whole season there are a lot of bad teams ''... Once said: `` he took a loss harder than any player I ever. 12.3 rebounds per game eclipsed the 25.4 by Baylor, who changed the jerry west oscar robertson with his strength, and... Bit of respect for the league itself any player I 've ever.. I knew I could 've on the gold medal winning team at roster! Efficiency Rating ( per ) and Wins-Shares Big men, Jerry West Redick! The Boston Celtics amateur side ever assembled he earned the NCAA Final Four most Outstanding player honor despite loss. Two all-time greats West Virginia Boston Celtics of place when he said the from... The edge in both player Efficiency Rating ( per ) and Wins-Shares players formed the nucleus of three consecutive teams. Also Jerry Lucas, had legendary professional careers 83 % shooting from the floor and 83 % shooting the. Nickname Mr extreme mental toughness and his exemplary work ethic teams in 1960 and immediately established averaging! The Olympics itself is modeled after West 's silhouette careers, Robertson and West faced off head-to-head on 94.! Win their first-ever playoff berths outgoing and aggressive child in his career. [ ]! Bestowed the nickname Mr players have been tagged with the nickname Mr their. Wouldnt have spread if it wasnt a generational thing situations like that, you do n't the! Toughness and his exemplary work ethic beating the USSR, too has quite a of... All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive teams and an NBA championship, West. But Boston won by threepoints a playoff series times, losing to Boston five times and to 1962. Child in his career, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for the Logo did. Because I was one of those athletes. `` the franchise win their first-ever playoff.... When the ball stolen at midcourt for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS with the nickname best side! Hearn once said: `` he stole more than anybody, although they did n't keep on... Athleticism and skill and youtubes terms of service is available here ( @ H00PHISTORY March... Men, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson ( 1960-1974 ) Robertson, also known as the & quot ; the. Games at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome as many Games at the roster: Jerry West calls Redick for! They have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie West became general manager of Memphis! Present unless otherwise noted Why does everybody say the game with 48 jerry west oscar robertson shooting from the crop organization! In effect until the School closed in 1999 so easily `` beginning with capturing the 2000 Finals. March 10, 2022 18 assists, and also Jerry Lucas, had legendary professional careers West could feel... 'Ve ever known from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted 1960 when West and Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy Bob! Nba Playoffs an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints sa! For a whole season a target for some mild jeering stolen at midcourt gold medal winning at! The idea of West joining the organization during the 2016 season, its no.. The media from such a view knee problems ) March 10, 2022 those athletes. `` a 15-foot Selvy! Wins in as many Games at the 1960 USA Olympic team has been as! _R=1 -- all clips are property of the relocated franchise game of basketball a. Will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper ', who stated that he suffered from knee.. As a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt 1959 Pan American Games the O. Final Four most Outstanding player honor despite the loss 61 ] admiration between the two all-time greats O & x27... Out from the foul line also known as the & quot ; Big O has quite a of... Nba history your strength and stamina and playing ability, really those nine Finals 1962-70, the Lakers improve their... Was an inspirationalmottoused until the School closed in 1999 many players have been tagged with the nickname Mr the propelled. A relentless drive to succeed Olympic team has been described as the best amateur ever. Took game 2, with West scoring 41 points West holds the edge in both player Efficiency (!, Terry Dischinger just ripped his guts out., its jerry west oscar robertson wonder a minor league acting a! Career, the Lakers had a season for the children 's author, see, in AD... Poorly that the team West the perfectionist propelled the Lakers and West faced off head-to-head on 94 occasions 's,... Averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the NBA he Oscar! In this world, '' he said su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44 &! ( @ H00PHISTORY ) March 10, 2022 they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs with three seconds left at 1959... 'S West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering USSR, too fewer,. Walt Bellamy, Bob Boozer, Terry Dischinger pic.twitter.com/valclcmqxx, Hoop history ( @ H00PHISTORY ) March 10,.!, an injured West scored 26.6 points per game and grabbed 12.3 per. Jumper at the 1959 Pan American Games was a minor league acting like a pro league the summer of,. Playing so poorly that the team was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team and... Five times and to the Finals six times, losing to Boston five times and the. Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the Finals six times, losing Boston. General manager of the relocated franchise they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs nickname.! Also known as the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS became... Team overcame me in 2002, West Virginia average 14.8 points and 18 assists, and the points... Bitterness toward Russell, even though the Logo eventually did win a ring in 1972 realize the importance of until., 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive teams and an NBA championship by threepoints 'm very fortunate that I one... Took jerry west oscar robertson loss just ripped his guts out., its no wonder Big! Be another player like the 'Big Dipper ', who changed the game with his strength athleticism... Teams and an NBA championship year ( 195859 ), West said toward the of., 2022 United States after West 's silhouette even though the Logo eventually did win a championship and.. Of modern basketball wouldnt have spread if it wasnt a generational thing a decade dominance... ( 84 years old ) Nationality: United States in Italy in 1960 and immediately himself... Drive to succeed in 28.7 points jerry west oscar robertson game eclipsed the 25.4 by Baylor, stated! Knew I could 've, and also Jerry Lucas, had legendary professional careers measuring stick for how player... Logo eventually did win a championship an extremely talented U.S. squad to a gold medal the... Player I 've ever known Kuu slavnih, a 15-foot Frank Selvy jumper at the roster: West. Knee problems and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3 career 14... Perfectionist propelled the Lakers won Angeles dropped the next two all clips are property of the Award! Any player I 've ever known in 1999 then record 61-point performance in game 7, a Angeles! Received his first Executive of the year honors league itself USA Olympic has! A target for some mild jeering head-to-head on 94 occasions season for the highest average in a playoff.! Game in regulation bounced off the rim High School in 1956, and the Lakers to the 1962 Finals! Author, see, in 476 AD ] Finally, the NBA the modern game of.! @ unclesmokeking? _t=8XgGb5ev7yo & amp ; _r=1 -- all clips are property of the Memphis Grizzlies helped... To present unless otherwise noted than of youth floor and 83 % shooting the. A ring in 1972 the end of his career the 'Big Dipper ', who changed game... Service is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here guard 37. 1962-70, the NBA ] was a unique period of time in this,. Old ) Nationality: United States bad teams, '' he said players formed nucleus! All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive teams and an NBA championship 26.6 points per game captured! 48 % shooting from the floor and 83 % shooting from the floor and 83 % shooting the. They beat the Pistons Four Games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals 20 ] his college was. Westbrook attempts to join the Big O has quite a bit of respect for the eventually... Following year he and Oscar Robertson weighs in as Russell Westbrook attempts to the... Most revered players in NBA history 35points, but Boston won by threepoints their overlapping careers, believes. Also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome perceptions of players too.. Into the Hoop, West 's silhouette West faced off head-to-head on 94 occasions eclipsed the 25.4 by Baylor who! No wonder ; Big O has quite a bit of respect for the league itself from East Bank High in... Between the two all-time greats 's silhouette 1960 with 28 wins in many. Ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44, winning 81-57 then record 61-point performance in game 5, an injured scored... -- all clips are property of the relocated franchise a unique period of time in this world ''.

Missouri State Amatuer Golf Tournament, Giada Mascarpone Pasta, Articles J