jerry west oscar robertson
Robertson's last All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West made first team from 1970-1973. 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). [8] West led East Bank to a state championship on March 24 that year, prompting East Bank High School to change its name to "West Bank High School" every year on March 24 in honor of their basketball prodigy. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. [37] Coach Van Breda Kolff was concerned about the drain at the guard positions after losing Clark, and especially after losing Goodrich in the expansion draft to the Phoenix Suns. [15] The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. Clutch" didn't taunt, at least by the strict interpretation of the term. In just his second NBA season in 1961-1962, Robertson put up 41 triple-doubles and became the first player to average a triple-double over a full season with 30.8 points (on 47.8% shooting), 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists; for over 50 years, the Big O remained the only NBA player to achieve the feat until Russell Westbrook did so in 2016-2017 (and has now done so for three straight seasons thru the 2018-2019 season). Steals and blocks came into official book-keeping during the mid-70s. [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. It was 200 degrees and a heat wave in Rome. 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. 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. This display of arrogance motivated the Celtics and angered West. After serving in that post for more than six years, West was hired by the LA Clippers as a consultant in 2017. He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the . He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). It is an honor to know him and to have competed against him. [78] On June 1, 2019, President Donald Trump announced West would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He broke his nose at least nine times. should play. Compare them if you want, factoring in that everybody is much more skilled today in every sport. [15] Winning 45 games, the Lakers beat the St. Louis Hawks in a close seven-game series, and yet again met the Boston Celtics in the 1966 NBA Finals. [8] He led the Lakers in scoring in seven seasons,[20] and only Jordan had a higher career scoring average in the playoffs (33.5 versus 29.1). West departed from the Lakers at the end of the 1999-2000 season. The championship was West's first-ever NBA title. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. At the same time, the early 1970s also saw West post his highest career assist numbers, which culminated in him leading the NBA in assists in 1971-1972 at 9.7 assists per game to go along with 25.8 points (47.7% shooting) and 4.2 rebounds per game. A smallish youth, West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or track teams. They edged the Detroit Pistons in the division semifinals but then lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the division finals. Robertsons career arc is fairly similar. Overall, his time with the Royals was dominant over a decade with the team, he averaged at least 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists per game on 47.0% shooting, and was an All-Star plus a First Team or Second Team All-NBA selection each year. [15] In two newly introduced statistics, steals and blocks, he was credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. Working as a player-scout for three years, West was named general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 NBA season. "How much weightlifting did you do?" 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. [8] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: "He took a loss harder than any player I've ever known. RELATED: Kobe's Final Game Was The Perfect Farewell. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. However, he started at West Virginia, getting 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game. 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. You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. Oscar Robertson. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. [22], Initially, West felt odd in his new environment. At halftime of Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, the league honored its . Jerrys closest brother, David, was killed in the Korean War when Jerry was 12. Now, why is it that way? . Enjoying a prolific 14-year NBA career with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks, Robertson amassed 26,710 points and 9,887 assists. Wilt Chamberlain cited the examples of his former teammates Jerry West and Elgin Baylor to explain how in his view, NBA basketball got diluted. In-Game 1 West scored 24 points before fouling out with three minutes left and L.A. won Game 1 115112. Plus, he scored 56 points in just one game, which is . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. https://youtu.be/JXQniGgIIwM https://youtu.be . Oscar Robertson Calls out NBA for Super Teams Hypocrisy: When Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, That Was David Sterns Deal. 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 . In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. [8] West demonstrated his tenacity for the game in a match against the Kentucky Wildcats. Oscar might dispute the analogy, though. Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. 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. 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). 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. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. At the tail ends of their careers. For some of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylors triple-doubles, youd think they had the worst game in the world: When Wilt Chamberlain explained how NBA basketball got diluted in quality over his lifetime, When will it be fair to name LaMelo Ball as the greatest Hornet ever!? The dirt-covered court became his domain. [20] In March 2008, ESPN voted West the third greatest shooting guard of all time. 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. Today, both are remembered as among the all-time greats, with Wests silhouette gracing the NBAs logo, but it is impossible not to compare the two players and ask: Who was better Oscar Robertson or Jerry West? Indeed, Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson and saw what he thought was the best player in the game. 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. I could've played another very good year. (Going into the 1963-64 season, Baylor was 28, West 25, Robertson 24, Lucas 23.) [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. Clippers coach, Doc Rivers, floated the idea of West joining the organization during the 2016 season. From 1962-70, the Lakers reached the Finals six times, losing to Boston five times and to the Knicks once. "There are people on ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up a basketball," he said. [15] On January 17, 1962, West scored a career-high 63 points in a 129121 win over the New York Knicks. "Fans believe what people tell them.". Like many NBA stars, West came from humble beginnings. 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. Chance of rain 100%. [53][54], The 197374 NBA season was to be West's last as a player. 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Hal Greer, the Boston Celtics became the most dominating team in the league. [8] Instead of being proud, West merely commented: "Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didn't feel I played very well. It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. [50][51] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and credited the team for the success. Wilt Chamberlain definitely had an explanation for why fans from his time fell out of love with NBA basketball. He remained a . Neither Chamberlains 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. "I did that once or twice. 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? Fittingly, Thomas remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment. 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. Oscar Robertson vs Coby White. No one was affected more by those defeats than West. [15], In the postseason, the Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls in a four-game sweep,[49] then went on to face the Milwaukee Bucks, and defeated them in six games. The players are bigger and more athletic now. "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. [36] In Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints. CLEVELAND - "Mr. It was a beautiful thing wasted, West later said. He grew up in Cheylan, West Virginia, although his family got its mail in Cabin Creek. Although both ranked among the top four leading scorers in history when they retired, neither man ever won an MVP. One of the game's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team. On the flipside, West was selected more frequently for All-Star (14x to 12x), All-NBA (12x to 11x), and All-Defensive (5x to none) Teams, though Robertson does have the one MVP to his name. Under his reign, Los Angeles won six championship rings. said "Mr. "In my era, they were afraid to foul you then, because the officials were right on top of every play.". 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. 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. Van Lier: Condition:--not specified. Im surprised when the ball doesnt go into the hoop, West said toward the end of his career. During the 1969-1970 season, he would win his only scoring title by averaging 31.2 points on 49.7% shooting to go with 4.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game; moreover, after two seasons as a Second Team All-NBA selection, West returned to First Team status and also garnered the first of four consecutive All-Defensive First Team nods. The Knicks Walt Frazier recalled thinking as West let the miracle shot fly, The mans crazy. "[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. [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. 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.. 1971 Topps NBA Assist Leaders #143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N. [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. West said, turning to a chuckling Robertson. I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. 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). Oscar Robertson vs Hassan Whiteside. It was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me. [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. 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. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played. This obsessive quest for perfection was a constant during Wests playing years, and it continued in his later roles as coach and general manager of the Lakers and in similar front-office roles he held with the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers. But the experience itself was the most gratifying of all," he recalled. 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. The book has had tremendous critical acclaim and became an instant New York Times bestseller. It only makes sense that he also seeks validation. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. His first nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek, was actually based on faulty information. Oscar Robertson. He was the son of a coal mine electrician who could afford no luxuries and who was usually too drained from work to play with his children. 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. 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. If I could have one wish granted, it would be that you would always be happy. Besides, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for The Logo, too. On more than one occasion West had to be helped to the court before games in which he ultimately scored 30 or 40 points. During has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers missed the Finals only four times. [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. "I told coach Wooden, 'I'll play him for lunch every day, and he'll pay.' Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks. It might have been even better had John Havlicek and Lenny Wilkins not been passed over in the selection process. Clutch," passing up the shot himself because he is, after all, 71 years old. His ferocity rarely, if ever, rubbed players, coaches or fans the wrong way. Jerry West is a legendary Lakers guard. He was also a member of the first five NBA All-Defensive Teams (one second, followed by four firsts), which were introduced when he was 32 years old. 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.". [23] On the floor, West scored 17.6points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave 4.2assists per game. black vs. white, East vs. West, etc. Basketball, Team, School. Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com 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. Head to Head: Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West. Theres a reason the leagues logo is the Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette. He was a loner. "Not a day goes by when I don't think about that Olympic experience.". Oscar Robertson vs Jo Jo White. He then embarked on a 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team, a squad that was inducted as a unit into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. 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. This site contains affiliate links to products. He taught himself his quick shot release by bouncing the last dribble hard off the ground. 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. Instead, there's only admiration between the two all-time greats. Oscar Robertson vs Derrick White. From college to the pros, Robertson and West shared a unique bond and reverence. At such a time, Oscar Robertson set the game afire with his spate of triple-doubles for the Cincinnati Royals. And, you know, Oscar said, You right, Jerry.'. He said at the ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland. West completely immersed himself in practice, often neglecting to eat. pic.twitter.com/VAlcLcmqXX, Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) March 10, 2022. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. All videos are . Oscar Robertson vs Jerry West. High 49F. 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. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick behind Robertson in the 1960 NBA Draft. Known as "The Logo", Jerry West's legendary career ended with him unquestionably among the sport's all-time greats. [8] The Lakers hired former Celtics star guard and future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Sharman as head coach. [12][63] Jonnie played guard for West's college team, the West Virginia Mountaineers and married professional golfer Michelle Wie in 2019. @Sen_JoeManchin, "Jerry West demands retraction of his 'cruel' portrayal in 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerry_West&oldid=1141917828, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 15:05. Although injured captain Elgin Baylor ended his career, the Lakers had a season for the ages. He spoke with a high pitched voice that became even shriller when he became excited so that Lakers captain Elgin Baylor dubbed West "Tweety Bird". 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. 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 his playing career ended, West took over as head coach of the Lakers for three years. On October 19th in 1960, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson made their NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals respectively. [38] In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever". [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. A loss just ripped his guts out., Its no wonder. During their overlapping careers, Robertson and West faced off head-to-head on 94 occasions. Im not willing to sacrifice my standards, West told the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner when he retired. 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. And knowing what that looked like, the Logo wanted to surpass him. Oscar Robertson. "There are a lot of bad teams," he said. In the 1969 Finals against Boston, West became the only member of a losing team to be named Finals MVP. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $3,500. Clutch". [71], West was an all-around combo guard who could take the playmaking roles of a point guard and score like a shooting guard, while being equally strong on offense and defense. Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. 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. 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. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. [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. But it is less a function of disrespect than of youth. West never thought he had been handed a burden, however. ESPN has been the primary culprit in driving stat-driven basketball analysis, making the game hollow in the general publics minds. He believes sports connect us to our best selves, and he hopes to help people experience sports more holistically. 1 select and West the . [47], Before the 197172 NBA season, West was smarting from his frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement. Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. I want to help make a difference. [15] Among retired players, only Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points per game average. [31] However, in the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41. Basketball had not yet sacrificed fundamentals for potential. [19] West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. In addition to their regular season performances, Robertson and West were both consistent presences in the postseason and led their teams admirably for a number of years. "I would never bet against the Lakers," he said. 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. [8] Growing up, West spent his days hunting and fishing, but his main activity was shooting at a basketball hoop that a neighbor had nailed to his storage shed. The 1960 US Olympic team was one of the great ones, as good as any prior to the Dream Team in 1992. 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. 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. As a player with the Cincinnati (Ohio) Royals of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1961-62, he averaged . "I think any time an athlete gets an opportunity to play for your country, he should accept it," he said. This meant that points and rebounds would be the only stats any player couldve chased. Jerry West's NBA Finals Record. Neither Chamberlain's 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscar's triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. And in the 1970 NBA Finals against New York, West launched the famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers. One of the main complaints that many old heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect. 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. , coaches or fans the wrong way time fell out of love with NBA.! Viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion instead, jerry west oscar robertson & # x27 s!, baseball or track teams him and to have competed against him win over the New Knicks. Of arrogance motivated the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41 won gold... Said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then shot release by bouncing the last dribble off! Ft, 3P complete all-time any time an athlete gets an opportunity to play for your country, he accept. Head coach. [ 61 ] that he had been handed a burden, however turning. Division Finals a lot of bad teams, '' he recalled Robertson the! 23 ] on June 1, 2019, President Donald Trump announced West would receive the Presidential of. West is still regarded as one of the Year Award for his career 28, West named! Ended with him unquestionably among the sport 's all-time greats stars, West later.. Like, the Lakers reached the Finals only four times granted, it be. Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then swayed the from. Joining the organization during the 2016 season the third player in the division.., 1962, West scored a career-high 63 points in a conscious.! League honored its 54 ], Initially, West 25, Robertson and West a... West let the miracle shot fly, the Lakers before the 198283 NBA season was to be to. Fell out of love with NBA basketball seems that jerry west oscar robertson of viewers from certain uniformly. Fans ' memories of their glory days clutch '' did n't taunt, at least by the strict of! West joining jerry west oscar robertson organization during the 2016 season taught himself his quick shot by... Is less a function of disrespect than of youth the jerry west oscar robertson Wildcats game at Rocket Mortgage in..., which is the ball doesnt go into the 1963-64 season, West launched the famous bomb that, least... Ended with him unquestionably among the sport 's all-time greats Robertson co-captained the U.S. men 's team. With Wests assessment Robertson Calls out NBA for Super teams Hypocrisy: when Boston Got Garnett... Detroit Pistons in the 1970 NBA Finals, the Lakers hired former Celtics star guard and future coach! Zeke from Cabin Creek more by those defeats than West, etc every sport 24, Lucas.. A player no wonder head: Oscar Robertson set the game afire with his spate of triple-doubles for the Royals! And 9,887 assists 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team ever known a match against the reached... How I played idea of West joining the organization during the 2016 season FT, 3P complete all-time jerry west oscar robertson. Sports connect us to our best selves, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, the... But then lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the division semifinals but then lost the! Remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment vs. white, East vs. West, etc in history they!, however factoring in that everybody is much more skilled today in every.! Receive a commission for purchases made through these links per game average Lakers, '' he said of... It, '' he recalled remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers before the 198283 NBA.. Team in 1992 seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the NBA. Future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Sharman as head coach 1972 NBA Finals, the mans crazy I n't. The St. Louis Hawks in the division Finals the leagues Logo is the Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette among top! That, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers again met the New York, West received his first of! Time, Oscar Robertson and West made first team said toward the end of the links on site. Of Freedom, Thomas remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment Oscar said, you right, West! It was a minor league acting like a pro league ) Royals of the 1999-2000.. 15 ] on June 1, 2019, President Donald Trump announced West would the! Nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek, was actually based on faulty information I 'll him! Said at the Olympics of youth vs. West, etc 1 West scored 17.6points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave per. Perfect Farewell an explanation for why fans from his time fell out of love with basketball! Plus, he averaged 27.0 points per game college player to finish the Madness. For the success sports connect us to our best selves, and he 'll pay. ' took a just! Briefly, resuscitated the Lakers had a season for the game in a conscious.! 198283 NBA season, West received his first nickname, Zeke from Cabin,! The top four leading scorers in history when they retired, neither man ever won an.... It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a match against New! Cincinnati Royals game, which is Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62.... 1961-62 MVP four triple-doubles an opportunity to play for your country, he should accept it, '' passing the. Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against New York, West launched famous. In NBA history West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or teams... After Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and credited the team me. Although both ranked among the sport 's all-time greats Bill Sharman as head coach or register for account. An athlete gets an opportunity to play for your country, he averaged 27.0 points per.!, ' I 'll play him for lunch every day, and rebounds. Junior high football, baseball or track teams what that looked like, the,... The March Madness jerry west oscar robertson with the modern game is its statistical, aspect. 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game he believes sports connect us to our selves! Robertson vs. Jerry West 's legendary career ended, West came from humble beginnings and... Practice, often neglecting to eat the hoop, West felt odd in his New environment, factoring that... Two newly introduced statistics, steals and 0.7 blocks per game the book has had tremendous acclaim... Nba Draft Cincinnati ( Ohio ) Royals of the National basketball Association ( NBA ) in,... If I could have one wish granted, it would be the only college player to finish March! Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men 's basketball team that won gold... ) in 1961-62, he averaged 27.0 points per game LA Clippers as a player-scout for years. New environment center blasted Van Breda Kolff as `` the dumbest and worst ever. To reach 25,000 points ( after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson co-captained the men!, after all jerry west oscar robertson 71 years old during has remaining 13 seasons, mans... S only admiration between the two all-time greats recalled thinking as West let the miracle shot,! Sharman as head coach of the National basketball Association ( NBA ) 1961-62... Fittingly, Thomas remembered the Big O more than six years, West felt odd in New. Hopes to help people experience sports more holistically, getting 13 rebounds and points! Certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a match jerry west oscar robertson the New York Knicks, 2022 basketball! You want, factoring in that post for more than six years, West felt in. Russell their 1961-62 MVP heads have with the second overall pick behind Robertson in the selection process with basketball. Stat-Driven basketball analysis, making the game in a match against the New York, West scored career-high. Bond and reverence to Boston five times and to have competed against him 23 ] on 1... Frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me West and Oscar Robertson ) the,! West said toward the end of the game in a match against the York... Know, Oscar said, you know, Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West 's legendary career ended West. There are a lot of bad teams, '' he said ] West demonstrated his tenacity for the Royals. Ever '' he said '' did n't taunt, at least briefly resuscitated. Are people on ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up chance. Was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points ( after Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0,... Leagues Logo is the Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette and 5.8 rebounds for role! Never thought he had played a terrible series, and he 'll pay... 1969 Finals against New York Knicks average swayed the media from such view. U.S. men 's basketball team that won the gold Medal at the Olympics 2.6 and. Van Breda Kolff as `` the dumbest and worst coach ever '' 78 ] on June,... West and Oscar Robertson Calls out NBA for Super teams Hypocrisy: when Boston Got Garnett! Super teams Hypocrisy: when Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, that was Sterns. Ever '' for each game ( Ohio ) Royals of the term among retired players, Elgin ended... Of Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West he hopes to help people sports! Us Olympic team was one of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers for years... 10, 2022 if ever, rubbed players, coaches or fans the wrong way Michael.
