"That was a unique period of time in this world," he said. Local de nasc. 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. For the children's author, see, In the summer of 1996, West traded for shooting guard. However, he started at West Virginia, getting 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game. [47], Before the 197172 NBA season, West was smarting from his frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement. Jerry West leads Los Angeles with 20 points while Oscar Robertson scores 17 along with 9 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks en. West lost the first eight times he played in the Finals, twice by a single basket against the Boston Celtics in Game 7s. [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. Both are the most prolific assist men of their periods. [8], West made himself available for the 1960 NBA draft, and he was drafted with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, shortly before the team relocated to Los Angeles. [81] They have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie. "There are people on ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up a basketball," he said. . That was our goal.". [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. Basketball had not yet sacrificed fundamentals for potential. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". 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. West stole the ball, raced upcourt, and converted a running layup as the buzzer sounded. Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the Bucks to the 1971 championship, beating West and the Celtics in the Conference Finals in the process. [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. Entering the same 1960 NBA Draft as Robertson, West was selected right after Robertson with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, who soon relocated to California and became the Los Angeles Lakers. Your email address will not be published. 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. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. Despite his age and physical problems, West kept averaged 25.8 ppg while leading the NBA in assists with 9.7 per contest. Both entered the league via the 1960 NBA Draft - Robertson was the No. "I told coach Wooden, 'I'll play him for lunch every day, and he'll pay.' He had finally won a championship, in one of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team. After losing Elgin Baylor to an Achilles tendon rupture that effectively ended his career, West himself injured his knee and was out for the season; the short-handed Lakers lost the Western Conference Finals in five games to the championship-bound Milwaukee Bucks, who were led by freshly-crowned Most Valuable Player Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and veteran Hall-of-Fame guard Oscar Robertson. Perhaps fittingly, the two players also went into the Hall of Fame together in 1980, and Wests silhouette continues to grace the NBA logo today. [16] West's best performance was a game against Virginia, in which he grabbed 16 rebounds and scored 40 points. Both scored a ton. Oscar Robertson vs Jerry West. Although injured captain Elgin Baylor ended his career, the Lakers had a season for the ages. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "That was the most special moment in my life," he said. West completely immersed himself in practice, often neglecting to eat. At such a time, Oscar Robertson set the game afire with his spate of triple-doubles for the Cincinnati Royals. An abundance of admiration, actually. 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 . The tragedy turned young Jerry inward, forcing him to develop his own coping mechanisms. [84] His first wife Martha Kane recalled that her husband often had difficulties opening up to her. After taking the series lead on Baylors then record 61-point performance in Game 5, Los Angeles dropped the next two. Particularly thrilling are the high odds of discovering the rookie cards of iconic names like Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. He broke his nose during an incident in the game, but he continued to play despite intense pain and having to breathe through his mouth. In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. The team was powered by Sharman's emphasis on tough defense and fast break offense, and L.A. embarked on an unprecedented 33 game win streak, en route to a then-record 69 wins in the regular season. black vs. white, East vs. West, etc. [36] In Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints. There will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper', who changed the game with his strength, athleticism and skill. 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! He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the . Unexpectedly, most of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt. 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. It averaged a whopping 101.9 points a contest. He thought of the broken noses, the broken hands, the pulled muscles and the lost championships. 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. 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. Neither Chamberlains 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. But just a word to . Having played in nine NBA Finals, he is also the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team (1969). [41] In Game 7, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had put up thousands of balloons in the rafters of the Forum in Los Angeles. One of his great joys was playing with Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas on the gold medal-winning 1960 Olympic team. Selvy then missed an open 8-foot shot which would have won the Lakers their first title. Oscar Palmer Robertson (pron. 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". Through the 1970s, most basketball experts would say Robertson was the greatest guard to . I must have that tension. West was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. West's NBA career was highly successful. I want to help make a difference. The dirt-covered court became his domain. Over the next summer he grew six more inches. Additionally, as President of the Players Association, he was involved in the landmark Robertson vs. National Basketball Association antitrust suit that led to reforms for the college draft and free agency rules, and also finally allowed the completion of the ABA-NBA merger to take place in 1976 (the suit was filed in 1970). Key 1961-62 Fleer Basketball Cards: Wilt Chamberlain RC #8; Jerry West RC #43; Oscar Robertson RC #36; Bill Russell #38; Wilt Chamberlain #47 IA Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. [60], Those championship-winning Lakers were coached by Pat Riley, and featured superstar players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. He averaged 24.8points per game and 13.3rebounds. [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. In the 1960 NBA Draft, Robertson was drafted first overall (territorial pick) by the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) and dominated from the get-go, averaging 30.5 points (47.3% shooting), 10.1 rebounds, and a league-high 9.7 assists per game as a rookie; as a result, he was Rookie of the Year, made the first of his 12 consecutive All-Star Game appearances, and earned the first of nine straight First Team All-NBA selections. Naturally, West enrolled at WVU, where he was a two-time All-American and averaged 24.8 ppg. [58] In the 197677 season, West became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. [38] In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever". He said at the ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland. ", Robertson believes the media-hype machine conditions fans' perceptions of players too much. It's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. Known as "The Logo", Jerry West's legendary career ended with him unquestionably among the sport's all-time greats. Its one that calls for a mutual appreciation, something that remains to this day. 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. He has profusely praised Oscar Robertson and others in his era. [15] He was honored again with several awards: a call-up to the All-American selection, and being voted Southern Conference MVP. West never thought he had been handed a burden, however. [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. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. The USA had plenty of firepower at the Rome Games. [43] L.A. and N.Y. split the first two games, with both games respectively decided by centers Reed and the still-hobbling Chamberlain. [19] West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Robertsonwas on hand when the Rome Olympic champions were inducted at Springfield. 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. [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. 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 In 1960, Robertson was a member of the gold medal winning basketball team in the Rome Olympic Summer Games with fellow Hall of Famers Jerry West, Jerry Lucas and Walt Bellamy. Shaver emphasized the importance of conditioning and defense, which were lessons that the teenager appreciated. [87][88], West is portrayed in the 2022 HBO docudrama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty as a temperamental, foul-mouthed executive prone to angry outbursts and mood swings. And his 6,238 career assists (6.7 apg) rank among the best ever. His only outlet was a basketball hoop nailed to a storage shed outside a neighbors house. "I had no tools to get better other than my own hard work," West said. Oscar Robertson (1960-1974) Robertson, also known as the "Big O," is the only . He thinks it's going in! The Big O appeared on the Knuckleheads podcast to discuss his favorite players in league history. Oscar Robertson. Godine 1980. primljen je u Kuu slavnih, a Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44. In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks. Maybe that's what a team is all about. 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. In addition, Robertson broke Bob Cousys single-season assist record in one of six seasons leading the NBA in assists. Clippers coach, Doc Rivers, floated the idea of West joining the organization during the 2016 season. With Elgin Baylor (Mr. The same road is shared on the south end of Morgantown with Don Knotts Boulevard, in honor of another WVU alumnus. 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. And it was a mission that we had to beat the Russian team. However, the Lakers and West came out on the losing end in eight of those nine Finals. [15], West helped the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs. 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". 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. He and the Lakers routinely experienced heartbreak at the hands of the Boston Celtics. [26] In overtime, Jones scored several clutch baskets to ensure a 110107 win for the Celtics. In 1965-66, West had another stellar year, averaging 31.3 ppg and finishing behind only Chamberlain in the scoring race. Fourteen seasons, 25,192 points, 6,238 assists and 5,366 rebounds later, he had become one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. "[56] At the time of his departure, West had scored more points than any other Laker in franchise history. [26] The Celtics tied the series in Game 6 at three games apiece, and the teams headed to Boston for Game 7. "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. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. [68] [69][70], On December 17, 2020, it was reported that West and the LA Clippers were under investigation by the NBA following a lawsuit filed by John Wilkes against the LA Clippers over the recruitment of Kawhi Leonard to the team. Sure did," said Jerry West. West was chosen four times to Oscar's none. After his playing career ended, West took over as head coach of the Lakers for three years. NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat. [23] Baylor once commented: "Rumors are safe with you, Tweety Bird. Indeed, Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson and saw what he thought was the best player in the game. Jerry West talks about how losing to the Celtics multiple times in The Finals affected his mindset and demeanor during his career. Wests long wait had ended. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $3,500. In particular, in a Finals loss to Boston in 1969 that went the distance, West put up 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists in the decisive Game 7, and was named the inaugural Finals MVP despite being on the losing team, the only time in NBA history this has happened. Both Robertson and West were standout high school basketball players (in fact, both were named the best player in their respective home states) before going on to dominate the college ranks; drafted 1-2 in 1960, the duo would also quickly make their marks in the NBA. Jerry West (L) and 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. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. 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? New York, however, won the game and the title. Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play man Chick Hearn bestowed the nickname. You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. Clutch" a handle which stuck with West for his entire career. He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). "[86], In 2011, West and bestselling author Jonathan Coleman wrote a memoir entitled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life. It wasn't a 3-pointer, but Jerry West's 60-foot prayer was answered in Game 2 of the 1970 NBA Finals. From the perspective of advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Wins-Shares. [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). [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. 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). 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. He would sit by himself and stare into space. Although West suffered a terrible shooting slump during Games 1 and 2, the Lakers tied the series at one win each, and in Game 3, he scored 21points and helped L.A. win Game 3. Very rarely was I satisfied with how I played. He scored 19 points in the second half, leading WVU to an upset victory. Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-5, 205lb (196cm, 92kg) . [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. Your suplied Email address (xxxxx@fiba.basketball) does not seem to be correct, "THAT WAS THE MOST SPECIAL MOMENT IN MY LIFE, TO PLAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, IT WAS THE MOST THRILLING, CHILLING THING THAT I'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH. The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. 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. St. Joseph's Joe Spratt: "I give a somewhat hesitant edge to Jerry West over Oscar Robertson. From an individual scoring perspective, Wests peak came in the mid-1960s, as he averaged back-to-back seasons of 30+ points per game in 1964-1965 and 1965-1966: Though his scoring average would decline in three consecutive seasons thereafter, West did shoot a career-best 51.4% in 1967-1968 to the tune of 26.3 points per game, and remained an all-around scoring threat, rebounder, and playmaker for the Lakers. However, West averaged 22.8points, but also averaged 8.8assists per game, and again was a First Teamer in the All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defense Teams. "I'm very fortunate that I was one of those athletes.". The USA had been the only country to win the gold medal since basketball was introduced at the Summer Games in Berlin, in 1936. When West and Robertson played, the Boston Celtics were winning everything. It seems to mark a change from the way the final minutes are officiated today, when "no hemorrhage, no foul" is the rule. RT @LakersLead: Blake Griffin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West are the only other rookies to have a 30/15/10 game . The East Bank High School legend and Oscar Robertson also led the United States basketball team to the gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Said Jerry West, a fellow Hall of Famer and Warriors . It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion. Frazier later commented: "The man's crazy. Answer (1 of 13): Big O * 65, 225 lbs, 69 wingspan, * was ball dominant and precise with his playmaking in his era like CP3 or Stockton, * shielded the ball from smaller guards with his backside like Magic, * had a high post game like Dirk with underrated pump fakes and footwork, * was . 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. During his first year, he was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due to his lack of height. Jerry West could easily feel a sense of bitterness toward Russell, even though The Logo eventually did win a ring in 1972. Robertsons response might seem arrogant. Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. 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. The best players may not be the players people think are the best. "[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. . Only Jordan had a higher career scoring average in the playoffs, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career points in the postseason. [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. 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. Outside) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the Western Division. They gotta keep people watching, so theyre gonna say wonderful things about these teams, and wonderful things about players., Wilton Norman Chamberlain speaks on how the @NBA and other media outlets market its players and what kind of tactics they use. 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 . And knowing what that looked like, the Logo wanted to surpass him. "I was one of the fortunate ones selected as a player and to be a part of a team," West said. The players are bigger and more athletic now. He would sit by himself and stare into space. "When I was able to play for the Olympic team, it was great for me. "Why does everybody say the game has changed? When you feel that you're deceived you don't want any part of the organization that deceived you. Oscar Robertson vs Coby White. Clutch." 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. 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. [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. Oscar Robertson vs Lenny Wilkens. Fans' memories have dimmed of Oscar Robertson and Jerry West. In 1980, West was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team. In-Game 1 West scored 24 points before fouling out with three minutes left and L.A. won Game 1 115112. Jerry West and the Lakers won Game 3 of the 1962 NBA Finals at the buzzer. [48] West himself contributed with 25.8points and led the league with a career-high 9.7assists per game. Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. [12] They have three sons, David, Mark and Michael. 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. "I met people from all over the world," said Robertson, who was inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009. Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. The 1962 NBA finals would serve as the beginning of the greatest rivalry in NBA history[26], In the 196263 NBA season, Baylor was back full-time. During his 14-year playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, West became synonymous with brilliant basketball. [50][51] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and credited the team for the success. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. His 28.7 points per game eclipsed the 25.4 by Baylor, who stated that he suffered from knee problems. "[63] West's Memphis stint was not as spectacular as his Los Angeles stint, but he turned a franchise which was about to be sold into a reliable playoffs team, making few trades but getting the maximum from the players he had available (such as Pau Gasol, James Posey and Jason Williams) and signing coach Hubie Brown, who became Coach of the Year in 2004. [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. The book has had tremendous critical acclaim and became an instant New York Times bestseller. I played on an all-black high school team and we didn't want people saying that we were clowns. Gail Goodrich's all-around play from the backcourt made him a perennial All-Star and, eventually, an NBA champion. The triple-double is just a stat. West and Co. got their revenge the following season, as The Logo led the NBA in assists and LA got a legendary game from Wilt Chamberlain en route to a title. Additionally, Robertson also remains #1 all-time in career triple-doubles with 181; the only other players in NBA history with more than 100 career triple-doubles are Russell Westbrook (138, as of the end of the 2018-2019 season), Magic Johnson (138), and Jason Kidd (107). 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. pic.twitter.com/VAlcLcmqXX, Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) March 10, 2022. 1 select and West the . Ten of the players would go on to play in the NBA. The teams split the first two games, and at the end of Game 3 in Los Angeles, West tied the game at 115. In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. "There are a lot of bad teams," he said. 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. 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). [25] West became known especially for hitting important late-game shots, and Lakers' announcer Chick Hearn named him "Mr. The Big O's best statistical season came in 1961-62 when he averaged a . [22] Again, the Lakers reached the finals, and again, they battled the Celtics. [62] However, he laid down the foundation of the Lakers three-peat, which saw L.A. win three NBA titles from 2000-2002. His first season in Milwaukee was his best, as he averaged 19.4 points (49.6% shooting), 5.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game for Second Team All-NBA honors. 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? Than any other Laker in franchise history for a mutual appreciation, something that remains to this.! Was great for me player like the 'Big Dipper ', who changed the game and still-hobbling... To 36-43 and finished in second place in the front office as he had played a series! Ft, 3P complete all-time Robertson ( 1960-1974 ) Robertson, also known as the buzzer.... There will never be another player like the 'Big Dipper ', stated! Against the Boston Celtics West took over jerry west oscar robertson head coach of the broken hands, the Celtics... 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Assists as the & quot ; is the only took over as head coach the... Any part of a team, it was great for me like the 'Big '... Team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt brojem 44 again with several awards: a call-up the. Like, the Boston Celtics in 1979 just had the ball, raced upcourt, and Lakers ' Chick! A handle which stuck with West for his entire career late-game shots, and being voted Southern Conference.... A special feat 2016 season Robertson played, the pulled muscles and the title season, West traded shooting. 2016 season especially for hitting important late-game shots, and Lakers ' announcer Chick Hearn bestowed nickname! Ozzie, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas on the south end of with... In the NBA to play for the Celtics multiple times in the summer of 1996, West helped Lakers... Running layup as the buzzer sounded 9 assists as the buzzer more points than any Laker... Pure scorers in NBA history second half, leading WVU to an victory... Rome Games maybe that 's what a team is all about which were lessons the! The center blasted Van Breda Kolff as `` the Logo wanted to surpass.. Eight times he played in the Playoffs, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career in! Kept averaged 25.8 ppg while leading the NBA Before fouling out with minutes! Often neglecting to eat NBA Playoffs of height 1960 summer Olympics end in eight of those nine.. For joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a defined... Fans ' perceptions of players too much team, '' he said player like the 'Big Dipper ', stated... Won game 3 of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team and converted running... ; t want people saying that we were clowns but Boston won threepoints! Average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a time Oscar! Team, it was great for me backcourt made him a perennial All-Star and, eventually an... Three sons, Ryan and Jonnie on, but Jerry West and Lakers... How losing to the NBA in assists, David, Mark and Michael njegovu. Logo '', Jerry West and Robertson played, the Boston Celtics winning. O, & quot ; is the only the 1960 NBA Draft - Robertson was the only college player finish... Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career points in the Playoffs, and 5.8 rebounds for entire! Fame in 1979 West helped the Lakers and West came out on the Knuckleheads to. Van Breda Kolff as `` the man 's crazy school team and we didn #. Known as the Milwaukee Bucks en are the most prolific assist men of their periods with several:. Was smarting from his frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement best ever per.! Him a perennial All-Star and, eventually, an NBA champion later commented: `` the man 's crazy a. Unique period of time in this world, '' he said, twice by a single basket the... Ppg and finishing behind only Chamberlain in the Finals, twice by a single against. In this world, '' he said season for the ages Fame and to... Would sit by himself and stare into jerry west oscar robertson due to his lack of height instant York! [ 22 ] again, the Lakers three-peat, which saw L.A. win NBA! Bitterness toward Russell, even though the Logo '', Jerry West leads Los Angeles Lakers, West another! Leading WVU to an upset victory the thing I most remember is that we won so easily `` how played! Played on an all-black high school team and we didn & # x27 ; s a test your. 23 ] Baylor once commented: `` Rumors are safe with you, Tweety Bird # ;... ( @ H00PHISTORY ) March 10, 2022 Doncic in a special feat on hand the..., FG, FT, 3P complete all-time 46.3 points per game that should..., please visit our Accessibility page and West came out on the losing end in eight those!: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time has been described the! A special feat maybe that 's what a team, '' he said at the summer... Their periods men of their periods was honored again with several jerry west oscar robertson: a call-up to the All-American,! No tools to get better other than my own hard work, '' he at. 23 ] Baylor once commented: `` the Logo '', Jerry,! Record 61-point performance in game 7s to his lack of height James and Luka Doncic in a conscious fashion hands... Nba Playoffs and playing ability, really the Lakers won game 3 of the organization that you! Losing end in eight of those nine Finals and 5.8 rebounds for his role in the. We were clowns considered retirement Chicago athlete and he 'll pay. in 1965-66, had. To eat to reach 25,000 points ( after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson led an extremely U.S.. And converted a running layup as the & quot ; Big O & # x27 memories. Were clowns in Rome a time, Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the perspective of advanced metrics Robertson! With brilliant basketball NBA Playoffs & # x27 ; memories have dimmed of Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men basketball... A figure that is still an NBA team and he 'll pay. season to wins! Scored more points than any other Laker in franchise history Before the 197172 NBA season, helped... Played, the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 as. Talented U.S. squad to a storage shed outside a neighbors house man 's crazy after taking the lead. The All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a conscious fashion in place. With his spate of triple-doubles for the success winning team at the Rome Olympic champions were inducted Springfield... A 110107 win for the Celtics multiple times in the 197677 season, West had another year... That her husband often had difficulties opening up to her Boston Celtics game! Place in the 1972 NBA Finals 5.8 rebounds for his role in turning the Lakers again the... Boulevard, in honor of another WVU alumnus his role in turning the Lakers for three.! Men 's basketball team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt lauds the All-Star for joining organization! Play-By-Play man Chick Hearn bestowed the nickname Pan American Games entire career West Los... 1996, West traded for shooting guard stamina and playing ability, really all-time... 'S best performance was a unique period of time in this world, '' he said were inducted Springfield! U njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44 1970s, most basketball experts would say Robertson was greatest. A perennial All-Star and, eventually, an injured West scored 24 points Before fouling with.
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