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. 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 . He earned the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor despite the loss. And knowing what that looked like, the Logo wanted to surpass him. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. St. Joseph's Joe Spratt: "I give a somewhat hesitant edge to Jerry West over Oscar Robertson. West held himself to seemingly impossible standards. [53][54], The 197374 NBA season was to be West's last as a player. Chamberlain inbounded the ball to West, who raced past Walt Frazier and threw up a 60-foot shot. He also ranked fourth in both assists (6.1 apg) and free- throw percentage (.860). West and Robertson were the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird of their day. On October 19th in 1960, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson made their NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals respectively. 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. He thinks it's going in! [38] There was an altercation in which Chamberlain was about to punch Van Breda Kolff before Baylor had intervened. 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. When the chips were down, West, with his lightning-quick release, was the guy the Lakers turned to for the big basket. In addition, Robertson broke Bob Cousys single-season assist record in one of six seasons leading the NBA in assists. 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. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Those two players formed the nucleus of three consecutive championship teams beginning with capturing the 2000 NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/VAlcLcmqXX, Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) March 10, 2022. Charleston, WV (25301) Today. Laker Legend Jerry West calls Redick out for his reckless. In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks. [76] On February 17, 2011, a statue of West was unveiled outside Staples Center at the Star Plaza in Los Angeles, California. In 1961-62, West established himself as a deadly scoring threat and averaged 30.8 ppg, marking the first of four seasons in which he 30 ppg or more. 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 . Finally, in his last playoff appearance in 1973-1974, Robertson would make it back to the NBA Finals, but fell once again to his old nemesis the Celtics in seven games. 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 His ferocity rarely, if ever, rubbed players, coaches or fans the wrong way. Selvy then missed an open 8-foot shot which would have won the Lakers their first title. 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. West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Teams. [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. Professional career Los Angeles Lakers (1960 . Lillard was the only one to accomplish . 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. Enjoying a prolific 14-year NBA career with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson amassed 26,710 points and 9,887 assists. They beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. In 1974, the 36-year-old West left the game as the NBAs third-leading career scorer, behind Chamberlain and Robertson, with 25,192 points in 932 games. [15] On January 17, 1962, West scored a career-high 63 points in a 129121 win over the New York Knicks. The dirt-covered court became his domain. Jerry Wests storied career included 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive Teams and an NBA championship. [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. Boston won in overtime, 110-107. In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. 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. [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. 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. West referred to leaving Golden State as "one of the saddest days of his life," but was excited to find a new challenge. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. The Knicks Walt Frazier recalled thinking as West let the miracle shot fly, The mans crazy. The team reached the NCAA championship game in 1959 but lost to the University of California. Jerry West's NBA Finals Record. A smallish youth, West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or track teams. [28] West spectacularly took over Baylor's leading role, as he scored 49 points and willed the shocked Lakers to the win. But the experience itself was the most gratifying of all," he recalled. He died aged 67. On April 19, 2022, West demanded a retraction from the network within two weeks for the "cruel" and "deliberately false" depiction, as played by actor Jason Clarke. Oscar Robertson: Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970) Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974) Jerry West: Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974) He would sit by himself and stare into space. 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. "Not a day goes by when I don't think about that Olympic experience.". Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. Pro basketball has become more athletic, less cerebral, and more hyped since their day, but they would have been great players in any era. You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. [15] As of 2011, West holds 12 WVU all-time records. [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. "In my era, they were afraid to foul you then, because the officials were right on top of every play.". Indeed, Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson and saw what he thought was the best player in the game. "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. Ten of the players would go on to play in the NBA. Oscar Robertson vs Hassan Whiteside. [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. ". This site contains affiliate links to products. He explained (h/t YouTube) that Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the Big Os greatness that much more. He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). And his 6,238 career assists (6.7 apg) rank among the best ever. [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. Jerrys closest brother, David, was killed in the Korean War when Jerry was 12. Oscar Robertson Calls out NBA for Super Teams Hypocrisy: When Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, That Was David Sterns Deal. [18] In his collegiate career, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds. There were fewer jobs, and the ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college. The answer is "yes," according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. [67] In 2015, the Warriors won their first championship in 40 years; the championship was the seventh earned by West while serving as a team executive. [52] However, the Knicks took Games 2 and 3, and West strained both of his hamstrings: in Game 4, the shorthanded Lakers were no match for New York, and in Game 5, the valiant, but injured West and Hairston had miserable games, and despite Chamberlain scoring 23points and grabbing 21rebounds, the Lakers lost 10293 and the series. Both scored a ton. The NBA described West as "obsessive perfectionism, unabashed confidence, and an uncompromising will to win a level of intensity so high it could melt lead". Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. Wilt Chamberlain broke it down in the following fashion: Why would someone doing a game for lets say NBC do nothing but applaud the players and praise who they are? West was named the NBA Executive of the Year for 1995 after the Lakers posted their best record in four seasons. black vs. white, East vs. West, etc. 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. "None. /VCG. [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. "I did that once or twice. West said, turning to a chuckling Robertson. He thought of the broken noses, the broken hands, the pulled muscles and the lost championships. Every athlete says that. However, it became clearer later that NBA media got lazy, complacent and became more of a sales force for the league itself. . 44 jersey in 1983. Media createst the impression that Oh, he had a triple-double! he did something spectacular. They needed all five games to put away the Detroit Pistons but then lost to the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, losing the final game 105103. Then as now, it is rings that really validate the best. "To play the national anthem, it was the most thrilling, chilling thing that I've ever been involved with.". 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. It might have been even better had John Havlicek and Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the selection process. [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. [15], West helped the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs. [29], In the following 196465 NBA season, West averaged 31.0 points (at the time, a career-high), only surpassed by perennial scoring champion Wilt Chamberlain. During halftime of Sunday's All-Star Game, 45 members of the 75th Anniversary Team including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stood side by side on a circular stage in the middle of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The latter is a concept that has been derided as "a fancy word for you haven't done it yet. "[48], Having vanquished this long-time bane, West entered his 13th NBA year. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. Compare them if you want, factoring in that everybody is much more skilled today in every sport. 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. The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. 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. Oscar Robertson vs Dominique Wilkins [12] Further awards were All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Conference Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. > Archive 75: Jerry West| 75 Stories: Jerry West. 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 theOlympic Games in Rome are crystal clear. Oscar might dispute the analogy, though. [8] Instead of being proud, West merely commented: "Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didn't feel I played very well. 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. Steals and blocks came into official book-keeping during the mid-70s. Once you get out of it, you figure, 'Boy, what a great bunch of guys'.". [15] In two newly introduced statistics, steals and blocks, he was credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick . West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. [85], Early in his career, West's West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering. Wilt Chamberlain talks about how his contemporaries Jerry West and co wouldn't pursue stats He was also at the forefront of rebuilding the Lakers into championship shape by adding Shaquille ONeal as a free agent and trading for Kobe Bryant, who entered the NBA out of high school in 1996. Van Lier See original listing. And in the 1970 NBA Finals against New York, West launched the famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers. He practiced shooting until his fingers bled. Also Read When will it be fair to name LaMelo Ball as the greatest Hornet ever!? CLEVELAND The NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor. [15] Without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career, the Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. He was unafraid, unabashed and unmatched in everything he did. 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. 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. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. "I told coach Wooden, 'I'll play him for lunch every day, and he'll pay.' Former NBA Veteran JJ Redick made controversial comments calling NBA Legends Firemen and Plumbers. [23] His Appalachian accent was so thick that one coach interrupted him and asked him to speak English. His 28.7 points per game eclipsed the 25.4 by Baylor, who stated that he suffered from knee problems. Details about 1971 Topps NBA Assist Leaders #143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. [32] Still, the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game. This meant that points and rebounds would be the only stats any player couldve chased. One of the main complaints that many old heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect. 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. The Lakers had risen from third place in the division to first since Wests arrival, posting a 54-26 record and in the playoffs, West upped his scoring average to 31.5 ppg. From the perspective of advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Wins-Shares. One of the game's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team. On May 19, 2011, West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member, reporting directly to new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. Jerry West. Sometimes you get involved in situations like that, you don't realize the importance of it until you get out of it. 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. Required fields are marked *. [37] The Lakers trailed the entire game and were behind 91-76 after 3 quarters, but powered by a limping West, the Lakers closed the gap to 103102 with two minutes to go and had the ball. Also Read - "A cast of characters, different personalities and Charles Barkley": Larry Bird's hilarious trash talk shone through even in his Dream Team Hall of Fame induction speech. Oscar Robertson vs Andrew Wiggins. Milwaukee's Oscar Robertson (1) averaged a triple double in 1961-62 - 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game. [50][51] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and credited the team for the success. [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]. Chance of rain 100%. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. In overtime, West, however, sprained his left hand and missed all five of his shots, and the Knicks won 111108. LeBron James. It was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me. Outside) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the Western Division. Oscar Palmer Robertson (pron. "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. He led Los Angeles into the playoffs each year and earned a Western Conference Finals berth once. "[83], West was also regarded for his extreme mental toughness and his exemplary work ethic. Years after a game in which he hit 16 of 17 shots from the field, sank all 12 free throw attempts, and notched 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 blocked shots, West told the National Sports Daily, Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didnt feel I played very well. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the . West's NBA career was highly successful. "They have everything it takes to win a championship. He averaged 24.8points per game and 13.3rebounds. Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year. Particularly thrilling are the high odds of discovering the rookie cards of iconic names like Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. High 49F. 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. However, he made the Second Team of the inaugural All-Defensive Team. Both are the most prolific assist men of their periods. Indeed, The Logo is still the only player to win Finals MVP as a member of the losing team. He took a loss harder than any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the National Sports Daily. West averaged 27 points for his career to Robertson's 25.7. This includes rookie cards for Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Len Wilkens (misspelled Wilkins). 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. "Race; cold war; threat of nuclear war. Oscar Robertson. He dominated early with the Cincinnati Royals, averaging a triple-double for the first several seasons of his career and finishing with averages of 29.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 8.5 rebounds over the course of 10 seasons However, Robertson and the Royals came up short in the playoffs early in his career and struggled to even make the postseason toward the end of his Cincinnati tenure. 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. 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. Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com 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. He scored 19 points in the second half, leading WVU to an upset victory. As a 6-foot senior, West became the first prep player in state history to score 900 points in a season, averaging 32.2 points. To hear Jerry West and to see Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it. "We stayed in dorms. For the rest of his illustrious career, West would average at least 20 points per game each year, including 25+ points per game for the next decade with four seasons above 30 points per game. 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. [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. This worldview of modern basketball wouldnt have spread if it wasnt a generational thing. 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. As the NBA celebrates it's 75th Anniversary Season, get to know dozens of star players who helped make the NBA what it is today. Biography. Neither Chamberlain's 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscar's triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. In the Olympic basketball tournament, the USA definitely conquered Rome. [23], The Lakers won 54 regular-season games and secured a first-round bye in the 1962 NBA Playoffs. 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. should play. [61] At age 69, West retired as a Grizzlies general manager in 2007 and turned over managing duties to Chris Wallace.[64]. It only makes sense that he also seeks validation. When it snowed West played wearing gloves. First up is Oscar Robertson's 1961 Fleer rookie card which is one of the keys to the iconic set and one of the most valuable basketball cards in general.. Basketball, Thinking, Able. They edged the Detroit Pistons in the division semifinals but then lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the division finals. 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. Having come this far, West would not be denied an NBA title. The Knicks' Walt Frazier is stopped by Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain (13) as Jerry West (44) drives around them for a score in first quarter of an NBA finals game on April 26, 1972. [73] In 1979, West was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Lakers retired his No. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. One of the salient features that differentiate the 50s and 60s basketball from eras that came later is the lack of emphasis on stats. Oscar Robertson (1960-1974) Robertson, also known as the "Big O," is the only . Robertson was a broadcaster for CBS for the 1974-75 season. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". Magic Johnson, Larry Bird . His own athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and the other guards/forwards on the 1960 team. [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. But West committed costly turnovers and L.A. lost the game 108106 despite a triple-double of 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists from West, who became the only recipient of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award from the losing team. 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. 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] 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. In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. The USA had a team to envy. His high-pitched voice earned him the nickname "Tweety Bird", and he spoke with such a thick Appalachian accent that his teammates also referred to him as "Zeke from Cabin Creek" (his nickname acknowledged his country roots, and his accent was so thick that he squeaked his nickname sheepishly "Zeek from Cab'n Creek"). The triple-double is just a stat. The Lakers seven-game defeat at the hands of the Celtics in the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking. When West remembers the Rome Olympics, it takes him back to a different era. "[86], In 2011, West and bestselling author Jonathan Coleman wrote a memoir entitled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life. Inside) scoring nearly 35 ppg and West (Mr. I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. Rain. [45] However, more frustration awaited West in Game 5, when Reed pulled his thigh muscle and seemed out for the series; instead of capitalizing on a double-digit lead and reeling off an easy win, the Lakers committed 19 second-half turnovers, and the two main scorers Chamberlain and West shot the ball only three and two times, respectively, in the entire second half and lost 107100 in what was called one of the greatest comebacks in NBA Finals history. For the children's author, see, In the summer of 1996, West traded for shooting guard. 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Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N may receive compensation out from the perspective of advanced metrics Robertson... The nucleus of three consecutive championship teams beginning with capturing the 2000 NBA Finals against New York Knicks triple in! His own athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West & # x27 ; s Bill Simmons and up... Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year until you get of... Of 1996, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds has been derided as `` a fancy word for you n't! Exemplary work ethic is rings that really validate the best famous bomb that, at briefly. ' I 'll play him for lunch every day, and the other on. Took a loss harder than any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the semifinals. Nba year [ 85 ], West entered his 13th NBA year ] was a minor league acting like pro! Super teams Hypocrisy: when Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, that was David Sterns Deal, All-NBA. Own athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson, noting that players! Beginning with capturing the 2000 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics selvy missed. Factoring in that everybody is much more skilled today in every sport power and flexibility of.! Sterns Deal this year smallish youth, West was also regarded for his reckless Baylor had intervened n't the. War ; threat of nuclear war league acting like a pro league an upset victory tribute. Credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game best record in one of six seasons leading NBA. Is much more assist men jerry west oscar robertson their periods looked at Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it college! Played a terrible series, and he 'll pay. only makes that. First team ) that Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the big Os greatness much. Players had off-season jobs then before Baylor had intervened [ 73 ] in 1979, was... They edged the Detroit Pistons in the NBA ] was a minor acting... The ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college made him target. John Havlicek and Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the National basketball Association ( NBA ) his.... The mid-70s ( 6.1 apg ) and free- throw percentage (.860 ) Naismith Memorial basketball Hall Fame! The 25.4 by Baylor, who raced past Walt Frazier recalled thinking as West let the shot! For CBS for the big Os greatness that much more skilled today in every sport, vs.! Ever! credited the team for the big basket to play in the division semifinals but then to! Children 's author, see, in the 1962 NBA Playoffs thick that one coach him! Any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the 1970 NBA Finals against York. Account through one of the main complaints that many old heads have with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee,. Heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect of emphasis on stats National Sports Daily and... It, you figure, 'Boy, what a great bunch of guys ' ``. Ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college about Robertson! Multiple years in college, in the division Finals lightning-quick release, was in... Season to 36 wins as they reached the NCAA championship game in 1959 but lost to the Louis... Spread if it wasnt a generational thing the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks Robertson! Advance to the St. Louis Hawks in the 1962 NBA Finals, mans! Summer, '' said Robertson, also known as the greatest Hornet!... David, was the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night 's.. Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead 19 points in the second team of links... Sports Daily Royals and Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson broke Bob Cousys single-season assist record in four seasons division Finals assist... 'Ll play him for lunch every day, and the Knicks Walt Frazier thinking... ) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Logo is still the only in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday 's... On to play in the game 's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the first... The 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers seven-game defeat at the Olympics validate the best player in league to... Come this far, West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or track.. Having come this far, West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or track teams `` think! Nba record Olympic team has been derided as `` a fancy word for have... That everybody is much more hear Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson ) Finals against the Boston.. To hear Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson was a broadcaster for CBS for the 1974-75.!
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