He said at the ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland. [23] However, West soon impressed his colleagues with his defensive hustle, with his vertical jumphe could reach up 16 inches above the rim when he went upand with his work ethic, spending countless extra hours working on his game. However, in 1951 his older brother, David, was killed in action in the Korean War, and the trauma turned West into a shy and introverted boy. New York, however, won the game and the title. Thus, after weighing their careers against each other in terms of statistics, achievements, and impact, the winner of this faceoff is: As always, vote for your choice and leave your thoughts and comments below. One of his great joys was playing with Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas on the gold medal-winning 1960 Olympic team. [16] West's best performance was a game against Virginia, in which he grabbed 16 rebounds and scored 40 points. Additionally, in the 1974 Western Conference Semifinals, the Bucks would get revenge and defeat the Lakers 4-1, though West only played one game in the series. [30] The Bullets took their two home games, despite West scoring 44 and 48 points respectively, but in the decisive Game 5 in L.A., the guard helped beat the Bullets with 42 points in a close 117115 win. Unrealistic or not, West the perfectionist propelled the Lakers to The Finals repeatedly in the 1960s and early 1970s. 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. Under his reign, Los Angeles won six championship rings. [26] The Celtics tied the series in Game 6 at three games apiece, and the teams headed to Boston for Game 7. [84] His first wife Martha Kane recalled that her husband often had difficulties opening up to her. [15], In the 1968 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls and the Warriors to set up yet another Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals; it was considered a match of size versus speed, as the Lakers had nobody to guard Celtics coach/center Bill Russell or forward John Havlicek close to the basket, but the Celtics in return had difficulties guarding prolific L.A. outside shooters Baylor, West and fellow guard Gail Goodrich. Charleston, WV (25301) Today. Jerry West is a legendary NBA star, and his silhouette is the logo. [8] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: "He took a loss harder than any player I've ever known. [39] West was disturbed by locker room tension; used to playing on teams with good chemistry, his quality of play became erratic, and his scoring average of 25.9 points was his lowest since his rookie season. One of the game's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team. [15] Without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career, the Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. CLEVELAND The NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor. The next season, though he averaged 27.1 points per game, he only played in 55 games; injuries and missed games were a prevalent theme throughout Wests career, as he would play in fewer than 70 regular season games in half of his 14 NBA seasons. Jerry West. 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. "I had no tools to get better other than my own hard work," West said. However, the Lakers and West came out on the losing end in eight of those nine Finals. As the game ended, veteran Celtics playmaker Bob Cousy threw the ball high into the rafters of the L.A. Sports Arena. Baylor's tip-in attempt was thwarted by Sam Jones. This site contains affiliate links to products. [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. During that time, West was the better scorer (27.0 to 25.7), but Robertson grabbed more rebounds (7.5 to 5.8) and averaged more assists (9.5 to 6.7) and also had slightly better shooting percentages. West played the small forward position early in his career, and he was a standout at East Bank High School and at West Virginia University, where he led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game. After two years away from basketball, West became the Lakers coach before the 1976-77 season. [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. Led by Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek, the Celtics would win eleven NBA . Oscar Robertson. 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. LeBron James. Wilt Chamberlain definitely had an explanation for why fans from his time fell out of love with NBA basketball. 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. Perhaps I expect too much.. The latter is a concept that has been derided as "a fancy word for you haven't done it yet. Unfortunately for West, individual success could not prevent. "[86], In 2011, West and bestselling author Jonathan Coleman wrote a memoir entitled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life. "How much weightlifting did you do?" Jerry West leads Los Angeles with 20 points while Oscar Robertson scores 17 along with 9 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks en. [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. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. With Elgin Baylor (Mr. Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. West was also superior as a clutch performer and in playoff competition. Van Lier: Condition:--not specified. He made an NBA record 840 free throws, and earned yet another pair of All-Star Team and All-NBA First Team nominations. Oscar Robertson. Every bit West's equal was Baylor. This worldview of modern basketball wouldnt have spread if it wasnt a generational thing. [15] As of 2011, West holds 12 WVU all-time records. West lost the first eight times he played in the Finals, twice by a single basket against the Boston Celtics in Game 7s. David Astramskas 32,332 November 24, 2015 No Comments oscar robertson. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. /VCG. Ventaja : Jerry West. [23], West's all-round game and attitude is maybe best expressed in his statistically most spectacular game: he once was credited with 44 points (16 of 17 shots from the field, 12 of 12 free throw attempts) with 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and (unofficially counted) 10 blocked shots, thus scoring a non-official ultra-rare quadruple double. [15] The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. Their checks kinda depend upon that. Godine 1980. primljen je u Kuu slavnih, a Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44. [20] In March 2008, ESPN voted West the third greatest shooting guard of all time. I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. Head to Head: Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West. On April 19, 2022, West demanded a retraction from the network within two weeks for the "cruel" and "deliberately false" depiction, as played by actor Jason Clarke. Both scored a ton. Fans' memories have dimmed of Oscar Robertson and Jerry West. Robertsonwas on hand when the Rome Olympic champions were inducted at Springfield. Then as now, it is rings that really validate the best. "There are people on ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up a basketball," he said. In 1965-66, West had another stellar year, averaging 31.3 ppg and finishing behind only Chamberlain in the scoring race. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. After a slump in the early 1990s, West rebuilt the team of coach Del Harris around center Vlade Divac, forward Cedric Ceballos, and guard Nick Van Exel, which won 48 games, and went to the Western Conference Semifinals. Compare them if you want, factoring in that everybody is much more skilled today in every sport. I think I should make every shot.. His average of 27.0 ppg game stands as the fourth highest among retired players, behind Michael Jordan, Chamberlain and Baylor. He also ranked fourth in both assists (6.1 apg) and free- throw percentage (.860). Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas and Dave Cowens honored at halftime of NBA All-Star Game. [8] The Lakers were captained by Hall-of-Fame forward Elgin Baylor, who was complemented by centers Jim Krebs and Ray Felix; forwards Rudy LaRusso and Tom Hawkins; and guards Rod Hundley (from West Virginia, like West), Frank Selvy, and Bobby Leonard. "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. West said to Robertson. 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. Oscar Robertson weighs in as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big O's one-man club. He died aged 67. SG. Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. 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. To get the center, the Lakers traded West's backcourt partner Archie Clark, starting center Darrall Imhoff and backup forward Jerry Chambers to Philadelphia. Emboldened by the success of the westward-bound Brooklyn Dodgers and faced with the dilemma of finding a site for its home games, the Lakers franchise moved to Los Angeles for the 1960-61 season. "Potentially, I would have to go with Lucas and Robertson, because they are a little younger," said Gallatin. Both entered the league via the 1960 NBA Draft - Robertson was the No. pic.twitter.com/VAlcLcmqXX, Hoop History (@H00PHISTORY) March 10, 2022. "I'm very fortunate that I was one of those athletes.". [8] West eventually became the team's starting small forward, and he quickly established himself as one of the finest West Virginia high school players of his generation. Every athlete says that. This faction of basketball and indeed sports fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, over the years. He dominated early with the Cincinnati Royals, averaging a triple-double for the first several seasons of his career and finishing with averages of 29.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 8.5 rebounds over the course of 10 seasons However, Robertson and the Royals came up short in the playoffs early in his career and struggled to even make the postseason toward the end of his Cincinnati tenure. [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. He spent five years at that post, helping build Memphis into a playoff team in 2004, 05 and 06 before stepping down in 2007. When you think about iconic NBA players of the 1960s and 1970s, a few players come to mind the great Russell vs. Chamberlain rivalry (and the great Celtics teams and players in general), Oscar Robertson and his triple-double season, Jerry West gracing the NBA logo with his silhouette, just to name a few. In overtime, West, however, sprained his left hand and missed all five of his shots, and the Knicks won 111108. Although West enjoyed great individual success during his prime, the teams record is a study in frustration unbelievable frustration is how West described it to the Los Angeles Times Magazine. In Game 1, which Boston easily won, defensive Celtics guard K. C. Jones kept West to the only 26 points, and in Game 2, West scored 45 points, but Boston still won 129123. [22], Initially, West felt odd in his new environment. Fittingly, Thomas remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment. They edged the Detroit Pistons in the division semifinals but then lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the division finals. Simple mathematics tells us that there are 144 cards contained within the twenty-four packs of six, resulting in the probability of two examples of each member of the set's full roster. Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com 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. "They have everything it takes to win a championship. Jerry West and the Lakers won Game 3 of the 1962 NBA Finals at the buzzer. He earned his eighth in the 201617 season. No copyright infringement is intended. Clutch" a handle which stuck with West for his entire career. 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. Oscar Robertson vs Andrew Wiggins. 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). RT @LakersLead: Blake Griffin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West are the only other rookies to have a 30/15/10 game . NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, NBA Legends: Profiling the league's greats, 5 takeaways from Durant's debut with Suns, Durant expected to make Suns debut tonight, David Benner, Pacers longtime PR director, dies, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays & strategy for March 1, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1. He thinks it's going in! He was the measuring stick for how a player. 1961 Fleer #36 Oscar Robertson Rookie Card. [12], West graduated from East Bank High School in 1956, and more than 60 universities showed interest in him. [8] West demonstrated his tenacity for the game in a match against the Kentucky Wildcats. He would sit by himself and stare into space. Three of the Finals went seven games, with the Lakers losing two of those Game 7s to the Celtics by a single basket. 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