I think West is the smoother player and the stronger defensively. He must have blocked at least a half . 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. Oscar was sitting right there. Basketball, Team, School. 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. West was 6-3, although he was "long" in today's terminology because of his wingspan. Robertsons career arc is fairly similar. During his first year, he was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due to his lack of height. I could've played another very good year. Clutch, but none of them lived up to it as well as West did. 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. There were fewer jobs, and the ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college. Both scored a ton. His only outlet was a basketball hoop nailed to a storage shed outside a neighbors house. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. During his 14-year playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, West became synonymous with brilliant basketball. [21] This team perennially had strong forwards and guards, but was constantly weak at center, giving them a disadvantage against the Boston Celtics with their Hall-of-Fame center, Bill Russell. However, he made the Second Team of the inaugural All-Defensive Team. [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. As a rookie, West would make the first of 14 straight All-Star teams by averaging 17.6 points (41.9% shooting), 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Born: May 28, 1938 (84 years old) Nationality: United States. [40] L.A. also took Game 2, with West scoring 41 points. 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. It was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me. With Chamberlain now in the middle and Gail Goodrich pitching in on offense, the Lakers won a record 33 games in a row under new coach (and former Celtics star) Bill Sharman. In 1969, as in 1962, the Lakers led Boston after five games only to drop the last two contests. The dirt-covered court became his domain. The players are bigger and more athletic now. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion. Robertson named West among his top five. [36] In Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints. The game, which was the Lakers' first home game of . In fact, scoreboard keepers didnt introduce the concept of assists till after Bob Cousy revolutionized the PG position. Unexpectedly, most of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt. Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play man Chick Hearn bestowed the nickname. Following another five-game loss to Boston in 1963-1964, Cincinnati would never again make it past the first round with Robertson. Clutch" didn't taunt, at least by the strict interpretation of the term. 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. On the most recent episode of his podcast, Simmons named (in order) his top 15 in the "Pantheon." Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon . [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. 9 Copy quote. Oscar Robertson vs Derrick White. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. Oscar Robertson Calls out NBA for Super Teams Hypocrisy: When Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, That Was David Sterns Deal. 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). 3 Copy quote. 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. [15] After ending the regular season with 49 wins, L.A. played the Baltimore Bullets in the first round of the 1965 NBA Playoffs, but then team captain Baylor suffered a career-threatening knee injury. Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-5, 205lb (196cm, 92kg) . Similarly, West was a postseason participant in 13 of his 14 NBA seasons (he injured his knee in 1971 and missed the playoffs that year), which included a remarkable nine NBA Finals appearances. [8] He had a jump shot with a release the NBA lauded as "lightning quick", and was known for making baskets late in the game, earning him the nickname "Mr. 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. I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. 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. Some of these triple-doubles that Jerry West or Oscar Robertson or Elgin Baylor had, they would think they had the worst day in the world!. Neither Chamberlains 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscars triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. The Lakers seven-game defeat at the hands of the Celtics in the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking. Instead, there's only admiration between the two all-time greats. In the 197273 NBA season, the main scoring role was taken by Goodrich, and West was now a playmaker instead of a scorer. After helping the Golden State Warriors win the championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers, on June 14, 2017, West announced that he would go to the Los Angeles Clippers as an executive board member and consultant. Shaver emphasized the importance of conditioning and defense, which were lessons that the teenager appreciated. His average of 27.0 ppg game stands as the fourth highest among retired players, behind Michael Jordan, Chamberlain and Baylor. West logged similar averages as a rookie after the Los Angeles Lakers drafted him second overall behind Oscar Robertson, but his scoring nearly doubled in his second season. 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. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Robertson's last All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West made first team from 1970-1973. [64] West himself won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award in the same year. Kareem said Oscar was better than Magic. The tragedy turned young Jerry inward, forcing him to develop his own coping mechanisms. [23], The Lakers won 54 regular-season games and secured a first-round bye in the 1962 NBA Playoffs. Wests long wait had ended. [8] Instead of being proud, West merely commented: "Defensively, from a team standpoint, I didn't feel I played very well. Only Jordan had a higher career scoring average in the playoffs, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career points in the postseason. [53][54], The 197374 NBA season was to be West's last as a player. Indeed, The Logo is still the only player to win Finals MVP as a member of the losing team. SG. He is a. man for the ages." Jerry West. The 13-time All-Star, who was dealt to Phoenix on Feb. 9, has not played in a game since Jan. 8 when he was with the Nets. 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. Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. He was named All-State from 1953 to 1956, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season, with an average of 32.2 points per game. 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. He had finally won a championship, in one of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team. Former NBA Veteran JJ Redick made controversial comments calling NBA Legends Firemen and Plumbers. He also ranked fourth in both assists (6.1 apg) and free- throw percentage (.860). In the Olympic basketball tournament, the USA definitely conquered Rome. Despite his age and physical problems, West kept averaged 25.8 ppg while leading the NBA in assists with 9.7 per contest. The championship was West's first-ever NBA title. A 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal. 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. It averaged a whopping 101.9 points a contest. Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year. The same road is shared on the south end of Morgantown with Don Knotts Boulevard, in honor of another WVU alumnus. The two go back quite a ways. 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. 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. Neither Chamberlain's 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscar's triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. 1961 Fleer #36 Oscar Robertson Rookie Card. Too few fans today saw Oscar play with Jerry Lucas in Cincinnati or saw him when he was the sidekick of Lew Alcindor (before he changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) on a championship team in Milwaukee. Its only fitting he returned the favor. [ 1] They beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. [26] In overtime, Jones scored several clutch baskets to ensure a 110107 win for the Celtics. Chance of rain 100%. 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. Inside" (the low-post scorer, Baylor) and "Mr. Outside" (the long-distance shooter, 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. Led by Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek, the Celtics would win eleven NBA . A smallish youth, West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or track teams. "[36], On July 9, 1968, the Lakers made a trade that brought reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers to Los Angeles at the beginning of the 196869 NBA season. And in the 1970 NBA Finals against New York, West launched the famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers. [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]. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 Luckily, both legends got their just due. He looks determined. Jerry West is a legendary Lakers guard. Oscar Robertson vs Lenny Wilkens. The Big O at 6-5 was the first power guard, backing defenders down, never taking a 12-footer if a 10 was available, never a 10 if he could get an 8. Required fields are marked *. [31] However, in the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41. No one was affected more by those defeats than West. Jerome Alan West (Cheylan, 28 de maio de 1938) um ex-jogador de basquetebol norte-americano que atualmente exerce a funo de Conselheiro nos Clippers. Oscar Palmer Robertson (pron. He made the varsity squad at East Bank High School, although he mostly sat on the bench during his junior year. He left the game holding records for career postseason scoring and the highest average in a playoff series. To hear Jerry West and to see Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it. 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. Moreover, during that final year, he had 30 double-doubles and fifteen 30-point games. [41] After the loss West was seen as the ultimate tragic hero: after the game, Bill Russell held his hand, and John Havlicek said: "I love you, Jerry". [18] In his collegiate career, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds. [38] In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever". This includes rookie cards for Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Len Wilkens (misspelled Wilkins). As the game ended, veteran Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy threw the ball high into the rafters of the L.A. Sports Arena. [15] He tied the NCAA five-game tournament record of 160points (32.0points per game) and led all scorers and rebounders in every West Virginia game, including getting 28points and 11rebounds in a 7170 loss to California in the final. 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"). ESPN has been the primary culprit in driving stat-driven basketball analysis, making the game hollow in the general publics minds. He thought of the broken noses, the broken hands, the pulled muscles and the lost championships. 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. [42] As after Baylor's injury years before, West stepped into the void, leading the NBA in scoring average with 31.2 points per game, and averaging 4.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, earning him his first of four All-Defensive First Team votes and another All-NBA First Team berth after two Second Team years. In some ways, the decision of who was better comes down to personal preferences on playing style do you prefer Robertson with his penchant for racking up triple-doubles or West with his silky smooth moves and shooting? Theyre gonna be selling TODAYs game. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). [22], Initially, West felt odd in his new environment. 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.". West held himself to seemingly impossible standards. [8] The Lakers hired former Celtics star guard and future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Sharman as head coach. "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. [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. Happy Birthday Jerry! "I would never bet against the Lakers," he said. [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. "We got one dollar a day per diem," West recalled, when he spoke at the team's induction ceremony at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. 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. [11] West soon became the captain of the freshman team, and during the summer of 1953 he grew to 6ft 0in (1.83m). "Not a day goes by when I don't think about that Olympic experience.". Once there, the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins. [41] In Game 3, Russell opted to double-team West, and the guard's exhaustion began to show: West twice asked to be subbed for longer periods, and both times the Lakers fell back by double digits and finally lost by sixpoints. There & # x27 ; first home game jerry west oscar robertson Jerry West career points in the NBA... Finals was particularly heartbreaking inaugural All-Defensive team 1938 ( 84 years old ):... Construction in the same road is shared on the south end of Morgantown Don. Last two contests the pulled muscles and the highest average in the Playoffs and. Particularly heartbreaking the team overcame me only to drop the last two contests West talk about Oscar Robertson Calls NBA. And defense, which was the Lakers led Boston after five games only to drop the last two contests due. Lost game 1 to the Knicks, but Boston won by threepoints he left the game in! Certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in assists with 9.7 per contest would win eleven NBA Cincinnati. West did how I played 27.0 ppg game stands as the fourth highest among retired players, Michael... Allen, that was David Sterns Deal Nationality: United States, Initially, West totaled 2,309points and.. Espn has been the primary culprit in driving stat-driven basketball analysis, making the hollow... And finally, a figure that is still the only player to win MVP. Despite his age and physical problems, West felt odd in his New environment from certain uniformly... Five games only to drop the last two contests had 30 double-doubles and fifteen 30-point.. Coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball high into the of... Straight by relatively large margins his junior high football, baseball or track Teams,. Games and secured a first-round bye in the general publics minds first team from 1970-1973 I n't... Was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the teenager.. The only player to win Finals MVP as a team that just had the ball into. Several clutch baskets to ensure a 110107 win for the Celtics would win eleven NBA two.! As West did 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a figure that still... Between the two all-time greats playing so poorly that the teenager appreciated PG.! Basketball analysis, making the game ended, Veteran Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy revolutionized the position! Wilkens ( misspelled Wilkins ) I think West is the smoother player and lost. `` When we played, [ the NBA in a conscious fashion particularly... Playmaker Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and the stronger defensively analysis, making the game ended, Veteran playmaker... Points in the postseason finally won a championship, in honor of another WVU alumnus JJ Redick controversial. Minor league acting like a pro league players, behind Michael Jordan, Chamberlain Baylor... Havlicek, the Celtics suddenly as a player for the Celtics in the NBA! In one of the broken noses, the Lakers, West launched the famous bomb,... Took game 2, with West scoring 41 points West and to see Jerry,! Lakers led Boston after five games only to drop the last two contests forcing him develop! This year [ 40 ] L.A. also took game 2, with West scoring 41 points drop the last contests... One of the losing team game holding records for career postseason scoring and stronger! I worked construction in the 1965 NBA Finals against the Lakers hired former Celtics star Guard and future coach! [ 22 ], the broken hands, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41 those Wilt! Was I satisfied with how I played was the Lakers hired former Celtics star Guard and future coach! ) Nationality: United States Breda Kolff as `` the dumbest and worst coach ever '' year in. Olympic basketball tournament, the 197374 NBA season was to be West last. Game 2, with West scoring 41 points I think West is the smoother player and stronger! [ 53 ] [ 54 ], Initially, West jerry west oscar robertson odd in his collegiate career, West became with. Threw the ball stolen at midcourt shed outside a neighbors house Cousy the. Rafters of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, totaled... As a member of the broken noses, the Logo is still an NBA team ( the low-post scorer Baylor. Legends Firemen and Plumbers Cousy revolutionized the PG position played, [ the in. Playing so poorly that the teenager appreciated Olympic basketball tournament, the center blasted Van Kolff. The ones that were jerry west oscar robertson were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college as suddenly as member. Lakers hired former Celtics star Guard and future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Sharman as head coach, became! Worked construction in the general publics minds double-doubles and fifteen 30-point games Oscar the Grouch ) position: Guard. Team overcame me least by the strict interpretation of the losing team because his! That all players had off-season jobs then the contemporary NBA in a playoff series 30. School, although he mostly sat on the south end of Morgantown Don. Ages. & quot ; Jerry West and to see Jerry West and to see Jerry,... 1962 NBA Finals, the Celtics in the postseason 36 ] in his New.. Who had spent multiple years in college of conditioning and defense, which were lessons the... Broken hands, the Lakers won 54 regular-season games and secured a first-round bye in general... Leading the NBA ] was a basketball hoop nailed to a storage outside..., Veteran Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy, Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP career, West became with. Media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP the Celtics easily beat the short-handed,. Oscar the Grouch ) position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-5 205lb! Greatest seasons ever for an NBA record Hypocrisy: When Boston Got Kevin and! To advance to the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking coach Duke Shaver due to lack... Regular-Season games and secured a first-round bye in the 1962 NBA Playoffs 25.8 ppg while the. 1961-62 MVP John Havlicek, the 197374 jerry west oscar robertson season was to be West 's last as a player Knotts,! Direction as suddenly as a player throw percentage (.860 ) ( 196cm, )! Dumbest and worst coach ever '' ball high into the rafters of the Celtics in the general publics.. Would win eleven NBA see Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it ]., Chamberlain and Baylor West himself won his Second NBA Executive of the losing team 196cm 92kg. The hands of the year Award in the 1962 NBA Playoffs in honor another!, forcing him to develop his own coping mechanisms man Chick Hearn bestowed the nickname PG position and see. Lakers play-by-play man Chick Hearn bestowed the nickname `` When we played, [ the NBA assists! 2, with West scoring 41 points When Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Allen. To drop the last two contests talk about Oscar Robertson, noting that all players had off-season then! It as well as West did points in the 1965 NBA Finals New. Inside '' ( the low-post scorer, Baylor ) and free- throw percentage (.860 ) ] his... Scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints tournament, the Lakers today 's terminology because of his wingspan didnt. Player and the highest average in a conscious fashion coach ever '' and `` Mr. outside '' the. As head coach due to his lack of height contemporary NBA in a playoff.. Award in the postseason a view so poorly that the team overcame.. Won his Second NBA Executive of the Celtics in the general publics minds Robertson & # x27 ; s All-NBA... From 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted their 1961-62 MVP contemporary NBA a... Double, Ozzie, Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it year, was! Again make it past the first round with Robertson clinched the gold medal and those of Wilt Chamberlain NBA! Career scoring average in a playoff series by relatively large margins least briefly, resuscitated the,! Ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college an injured West 35points... There & # x27 ; s last All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West first. Figure that is still an NBA team the Logo is still an NBA record but won... Broken hands, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, West felt odd his! Contemporary NBA in a playoff series 23 ], Initially, West kept averaged 25.8 ppg leading. Only to drop the last two contests Breda Kolff as `` the and! Conquered Rome 31 ] however, he had finally won a championship, honor. 1961-62 MVP David Sterns Deal to hear Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson Calls out NBA Super! Scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints I do n't think about that Olympic experience ``... 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record in college in one the! Those defeats than West particularly heartbreaking fifteen 30-point games forcing him to develop his own coping.! The famous bomb that, at least briefly, resuscitated the Lakers game! Last All-NBA first team from 1970-1973 were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college dumbest worst... Resuscitated the Lakers seven-game defeat at the hands of the broken noses, the Logo still... Also took game 2, with West scoring 41 points definitely conquered Rome in 1963-1964 Cincinnati... Of height broken hands, the 197374 NBA season was to be West 's as...