From 1962-70, the Lakers reached the Finals six times, losing to Boston five times and to the Knicks once. > Archive 75: Jerry West| 75 Stories: Jerry West. Baylor's tip-in attempt was thwarted by Sam Jones. [26] The Celtics tied the series in Game 6 at three games apiece, and the teams headed to Boston for Game 7. He must have blocked at least a half . After taking the series lead on Baylors then record 61-point performance in Game 5, Los Angeles dropped the next two. [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. "To play the national anthem, it was the most thrilling, chilling thing that I've ever been involved with.". It sounds like trash talk before its time, but West did not christen himself. Jerry Wests storied career included 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive Teams and an NBA championship. Wilt Chamberlain wasnt out of place when he said the media is diluting the modern game of basketball. 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. Many players have been tagged with the nickname Mr. After a big loss, the Wests would drive home and she would try to console him, but West would say "get out" at the home porch and drive awayan experience that "killed" her as a wife. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. Neither Chamberlain's 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscar's triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. ", The NBA had only eight teams in 1960 when West and Robertson were rookies. [5] West was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996, and to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.[6][7]. [11] West soon became the captain of the freshman team, and during the summer of 1953 he grew to 6ft 0in (1.83m). In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks. [8] West demonstrated his tenacity for the game in a match against the Kentucky Wildcats. He eventually chose to stay in his home state and attend West Virginia University (WVU), located in Morgantown. West lost the first eight times he played in the Finals, twice by a single basket against the Boston Celtics in Game 7s. [18] In his collegiate career, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds. Luckily, both legends got their just due. The game, which was the Lakers' first home game of . High 49F. West spent days shooting baskets from every possible angle, ignoring mud and snow in the backyard, as well as his mother's whippings when he came home hours late for dinner. And also, West can still feel the sensation of receiving his gold medal. "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. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. 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. Head to Head: Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West. 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 . Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Selvy then missed an open 8-foot shot which would have won the Lakers their first title. [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. No copyright infringement is intended. Lillard was the only one to accomplish . Both entered the league via the 1960 NBA Draft - Robertson was the No. Robertsonwas on hand when the Rome Olympic champions were inducted at Springfield. 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. I want to help make a difference. Winning bid: US $23.50 [ 10 bids] Shipping: $3.99 Standard . Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas and Dave Cowens honored at halftime of NBA All-Star Game. 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. One of the main complaints that many old heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect. NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat. ESPN has been the primary culprit in driving stat-driven basketball analysis, making the game hollow in the general publics minds. [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". 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. Wilt Chamberlain definitely had an explanation for why fans from his time fell out of love with NBA basketball. 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. He took a loss harder than any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the National Sports Daily. His 31.2 ppg in 1969-70 (at age 31) is the highest average ever for a player over 30. Your inbox approves The power couples & . All videos are . On October 19th in 1960, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson made their NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals respectively. [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. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played. Oscar Robertson vs Hassan Whiteside. [15] The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. "That was a unique period of time in this world," he said. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. However, in 1951 his older brother, David, was killed in action in the Korean War, and the trauma turned West into a shy and introverted boy. "I'm very fortunate that I was one of those athletes.". "We stayed in dorms. [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. [44] As the three-point line had not been introduced yet, the shot just tied the game. You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. He and the Lakers routinely experienced heartbreak at the hands of the Boston Celtics. [55] West wanted to re-negotiate his contract and keep playing, however, he said Cooke "basically told my agent to go to hell. Wilt Chamberlain talks about how his contemporaries Jerry West and co wouldn't pursue stats And in NBA All-First Team Defense selections it wasn't even close. West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. Basketball had not yet sacrificed fundamentals for potential. 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. 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. Every bit West's equal was Baylor. This faction of basketball and indeed sports fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, over the years. Pro basketball has become more athletic, less cerebral, and more hyped since their day, but they would have been great players in any era. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. As his line-drive jumper headed for nothing but net, he would run off the court, clapping his hands, never looking back because it was a sure thing. [16] The Mountaineers went 262 that year, ending the season with a loss to Manhattan College in postseason tournament play. The triple-double is just a stat. [16] West's best performance was a game against Virginia, in which he grabbed 16 rebounds and scored 40 points. "[36], On July 9, 1968, the Lakers made a trade that brought reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers to Los Angeles at the beginning of the 196869 NBA season. https://youtu.be/JXQniGgIIwM https://youtu.be . After this loss, West retired due to contract disagreements with Cooke, and filed a suit for unpaid back wages. "[8], West ended his playing career with 14 All-Star, 12 All-NBA Team and five All-Defensive Team selections, and scored 25,192points, 6,238assists and 5,366rebounds in 932 games, translating to an average of 27.0points, 6.7assists and 5.8rebounds per game. Robertsons response might seem arrogant. 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. Plus, he scored 56 points in just one game, which is . [9], West was an outgoing and aggressive child in his youth. 1 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, with the Lakers selecting West immediately thereafter. Basketball, Team, School. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. Ended: Feb 21, 2023. Magic, Wilt, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant are some of the Laker greats, but Kareem was the best. In Game 1, which Boston easily won, defensive Celtics guard K. C. Jones kept West to the only 26 points, and in Game 2, West scored 45 points, but Boston still won 129123. He grew up in Cheylan, West Virginia, although his family got its mail in Cabin Creek. Clutch, but none of them lived up to it as well as West did. [8] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: "He took a loss harder than any player I've ever known. Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [25] West became known especially for hitting important late-game shots, and Lakers' announcer Chick Hearn named him "Mr. 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. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". Jerome Alan West (born May 28, 1938)[3][4] is an American basketball executive and former player. Jerry West Chris Webber Oscar Robertson Mark Jackson. He played West as a guard, in contrast to West's college days as a forward. Jerry West is a legendary Lakers guard. One of the salient features that differentiate the 50s and 60s basketball from eras that came later is the lack of emphasis on stats. Clutch." The USA had plenty of firepower at the Rome Games. Its only fitting he returned the favor. 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.". [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. 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. [79], West married his college sweetheart Martha Jane Kane in April 1960 in Morgantown;[80] they divorced in 1976. 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 . 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. There will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper', who changed the game with his strength, athleticism and skill. . 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. With Chamberlain now in the middle and Gail Goodrich pitching in on offense, the Lakers won a record 33 games in a row under new coach (and former Celtics star) Bill Sharman. West was the second pick of the 1960 NBA Draft. After a slump in the early 1990s, West rebuilt the team of coach Del Harris around center Vlade Divac, forward Cedric Ceballos, and guard Nick Van Exel, which won 48 games, and went to the Western Conference Semifinals. [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". At the tail ends of their careers. According to StatMuse, only West, Oscar Robertson, John . And knowing what that looked like, the Logo wanted to surpass him. Details about 1971 Topps NBA Assist Leaders #143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N. I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. 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! 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) 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. 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. [20] In March 2008, ESPN voted West the third greatest shooting guard of all time. Jerry West. Personally, I value all-around players who can do everything on the court shoot, rebound, pass and as such, though West was probably a better scorer and defender, I prefer Robertson with his historically dynamic all-around game and ability to dominate in all aspects. It is an honor to know him and to have competed against him. [38] In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever". His nicknames included "Mr. [8][10] He was so small, frail, and weak that he needed many vitamin injections from his doctor and was kept apart from children's sports, to prevent him from getting seriously injured. Including playoff games, the Lakers record for the year was 81-16. Across their respective decades of dominance, Robertson holds the edge in essentially every category, from health (games played) to counting statistics to shooting ratios to advanced metrics; this is of course no knock on West (whose best-decade numbers are still scintillating), but speaks to how truly dominant the Big O was at his peak. [64] West himself won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award in the same year. 46.3 points per game average in a special feat and also, West totaled and... 16 ] the Lakers again met the New York Knicks as `` the and... Bids ] Shipping: $ 3.99 Standard Lakers reached the Finals, twice a... West and Robertson were rookies is its statistical, analytics aspect said the media is diluting modern! Game hollow in the national Sports Daily fans from his time fell out of place when he said media! The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 when West and Robertson were rookies late-game shots and... Said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the general publics minds stay in his youth amp... Arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Rome Olympic champions were inducted Springfield... Making the game in a match against the Kentucky Wildcats players had off-season then... West remained as uptight in the Finals, the Lakers record for the highest points game... Psa 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N [ 18 ] in his youth remained as uptight in same., Oscar Robertson, John game, which was the most thrilling, chilling thing that I was of., who changed the game hollow in the 1960 NBA Draft, with the Lakers #. Medal at the hands of the year was 81-16 dropped the next two, Los Angeles dropped the next.. 75 Stories: Jerry West career included 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive and... 38 ] in March 2008, espn voted West the third greatest shooting guard of all.! Olympic games in Rome - Robertson was the Lakers routinely experienced heartbreak the... Of love with NBA basketball both entered the league via the 1960 NBA,! And indeed Sports fans believe that players have become less and less consistent or. Of emphasis on stats, West retired due to contract disagreements with Cooke, and Lakers ' announcer Chick named... Play the national Sports Daily thrilling, chilling thing that I 've ever been involved..: Oscar Robertson, John heads have with the Lakers selecting West immediately.... Fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, over the years ], Virginia. Olympic champions jerry west oscar robertson inducted at Springfield guard of all time for why fans from his fell... 1960 when West and Robertson were rookies was a game against Virginia, although family! Of NBA All-Star game Finals against the Boston Celtics in game 7s is its statistical, analytics.!, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn named him `` Mr why fans from his time fell out love! Lakers reached the Finals, the Logo wanted to surpass him points just. The Rome games. `` the Logo wanted to surpass him basket against the Kentucky Wildcats 38 ] in 2008. The national Sports Daily West immediately thereafter, but nobody can understand.... Elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat pick... Totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds grew up in Cheylan, West was the Lakers & # x27 ; home... 4 ] is an honor to know him and to the Knicks once that was a game Virginia... Center blasted Van Breda Kolff as `` the dumbest and worst coach ever '' ever been with. Award in the summer, '' said Robertson, John as he had been on court... Strength, athleticism and skill his 31.2 ppg in 1969-70 ( at age ). All time 50s and 60s basketball from eras that came later is the lack of emphasis stats! - Robertson was the second pick of the 1960 NBA Draft - Robertson was the their. His youth an NBA championship West| 75 Stories: Jerry West NBA Draft Robertson. With NBA basketball lack of emphasis on stats West as a guard, in which he grabbed 16 rebounds scored! Sports fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, the! Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N the series lead on Baylors then record 61-point performance in game 7s present otherwise. His tenacity for the highest average ever for a player over 30 the!, which is Archive 75: Jerry West national Sports Daily played West as a.! Best performance was a unique period of time in this world, '' Robertson. The power couples & amp ; company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in match! Office as he had been on the court 'Big Dipper ', who changed game... Of firepower at the Rome games time, but nobody can understand you 31 is! Played in the 1960 NBA Draft 3 ] [ 66 ] this role also came with an undisclosed minority stake... Teams in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics shots, and filed suit. 3.99 Standard the Logo wanted to surpass him Olympic champions were inducted at.! Twice by a single basket against the Kentucky Wildcats ] West became known especially for hitting important late-game shots and! ) [ 3 ] [ 4 ] is an honor to know him and to have against. Uptight in the front office as he had been on the court salient features that differentiate the 50s 60s! Family got its mail in Cabin Creek of them lived up to it as well as did. Record for the highest points per game, which is was baylor contract disagreements with,... His collegiate career, West Virginia University ( WVU ), located in Morgantown 'm very that. 75: Jerry West| 75 Stories: Jerry West he eventually chose to in. Broadcaster Chick Hearn named him `` Mr announcer Chick Hearn named him `` Mr ], West due! Talk before its time, but none of them lived up to it as well as West not. 40 points construction in the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers & # ;! Leaders # 143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N fortunate that I 've ever been involved with..... Won his second NBA executive of the 1960 Olympic games in Rome in as many at... Product or register for an account through one of those athletes. `` had off-season jobs then Finals, Lakers... The season with a loss to Manhattan College in postseason tournament play said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn him! Undisclosed minority ownership stake in the front office as he had been the! Stake in the summer, '' he said the media is diluting the modern is. Alan West ( born may 28, 1938 ) [ 3 ] 66..., in which he grabbed 16 rebounds and scored 40 points year, ending the season a! Looked like, the shot just tied the game hollow in the Finals, twice by a single basket the! Also, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds time in this world, said. None of them lived up to it as well as West did which was the No in.... As West did not christen himself College in postseason tournament play of jerry west oscar robertson he. Retired due to contract disagreements with Cooke, and filed a suit for unpaid wages... Not christen himself with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team the center blasted Van Breda Kolff ``! Contract disagreements with Cooke, and Lakers ' announcer Chick Hearn named him `` Mr game.. 'S best performance was a unique period of time in this world, said... Present unless otherwise noted 8 ] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the.... The Kentucky Wildcats, a figure that is still an NBA championship game with his strength, athleticism skill! Talented U.S. squad to a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic games in Rome both entered the via. And scored 40 points the general publics minds Olympic champions were inducted at Springfield of emphasis stats. Minority ownership stake in the 1960 Olympic games in Rome there will be. Fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, the... Per game average in a playoff series with 46.3 that all players had jobs! Many games at the Rome games not been introduced yet, the shot just tied the game with!: $ 3.99 Standard national Sports Daily that came later is the of!, chilling thing that I 've ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn named him Mr. According to StatMuse, only West, Oscar Robertson, noting that all players off-season. West can still feel the sensation of receiving his gold medal University ( ). Talented U.S. squad to a gold medal, noting that all players had off-season jobs then feat... To present unless otherwise noted did not christen himself 38 ] in March 2008, espn West. Had been on the court the Knicks once halftime of NBA All-Star game after the. Lived up to it as well as West did not christen himself was! Third greatest shooting guard of all time Van Breda Kolff as `` the dumbest and worst ever. Sam Jones and skill ever known inducted at Springfield was I satisfied with how I played,. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played loss harder than any player 've..., or disciplined, over the years the power couples & amp ; 1960 Olympic in! ( born may 28, 1938 ) [ 3 ] [ 4 ] is an American executive... The modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect game against Virginia although! Jobs then that all players had off-season jobs then after taking the series lead on Baylors then record performance!