Copyright FIBA All rights reserved. The USA had plenty of firepower at the Rome Games. [28] The Lakers struggled during the entire season, winning only 42 games, and were beaten by the Hawks in five games during the first round of the 1964 NBA Playoffs. Revitalized, he played two more seasons. 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. West's son, Jonnie, also played college basketball for West Virginia. He taught himself his quick shot release by bouncing the last dribble hard off the ground. In 1965-66, West had another stellar year, averaging 31.3 ppg and finishing behind only Chamberlain in the scoring race. At halftime of Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, the league honored its . [15] Among retired players, only Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points per game average. Jerry Wests storied career included 14 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA honors, five All-Defensive Teams and an NBA championship. This worldview of modern basketball wouldnt have spread if it wasnt a generational thing. Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. [23] On the floor, West scored 17.6points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave 4.2assists per game. No copyright infringement is intended. [15], West helped the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs. Im surprised when the ball doesnt go into the hoop, West said toward the end of his career. Luckily, both legends got their just due. (Going into the 1963-64 season, Baylor was 28, West 25, Robertson 24, Lucas 23.) I worked construction in the summer," said Robertson, noting that all players had off-season jobs then. [43] L.A. and N.Y. split the first two games, with both games respectively decided by centers Reed and the still-hobbling Chamberlain. 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 . 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. Following another five-game loss to Boston in 1963-1964, Cincinnati would never again make it past the first round with Robertson. [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. To hear Jerry West and to see Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it. [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. The Lakers seven-game defeat at the hands of the Celtics in the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking. From the perspective of advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Wins-Shares. 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. At the same time, West was likewise a standout high school player, winning West Virginia Player of the Year honors and leading his high school team to a state championship. I could've played another very good year. West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. West's NBA career was highly successful. He had finally won a championship, in one of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team. But West committed costly turnovers and L.A. lost the game 108106 despite a triple-double of 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists from West, who became the only recipient of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award from the losing team. This display of arrogance motivated the Celtics and angered West. His brilliance on and off the floor propelled West to call his former rival the best player of their era. He was also at the forefront of rebuilding the Lakers into championship shape by adding Shaquille ONeal as a free agent and trading for Kobe Bryant, who entered the NBA out of high school in 1996. Robertsons response might seem arrogant. "There's all the publicity today for a 19-year-old player who might not be that good a player. The Knicks Walt Frazier recalled thinking as West let the miracle shot fly, The mans crazy. 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. Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. 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". black vs. white, East vs. West, etc. Personally, I value all-around players who can do everything on the court shoot, rebound, pass and as such, though West was probably a better scorer and defender, I prefer Robertson with his historically dynamic all-around game and ability to dominate in all aspects. [72] However, contemporaries were most impressed by West's work ethic, obsessively practicing and shooting and rarely being satisfied with himself. At age 32, West averaged 26.9points, 4.6rebounds and 9.5assists,[15] and helped the Lakers win 46 games and make the 1971 NBA Playoffs. [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]. Known as "The Logo", Jerry West's legendary career ended with him unquestionably among the sport's all-time greats. 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. [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. 44 jersey in 1983. 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. "Not a day goes by when I don't think about that Olympic experience.". This practice remained in effect until the school closed in 1999. [40] A limping West scored 26 points in Game 6, but the Celtics won 9990 with a strong Bill Russell, who held Chamberlain to only eight points in the entire game. "To play the national anthem, it was the most thrilling, chilling thing that I've ever been involved with.". Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. 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). [55] West wanted to re-negotiate his contract and keep playing, however, he said Cooke "basically told my agent to go to hell. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. The Celtics' Sam Jones inbounded the ball at half-court with three seconds left. 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. West's mid-range jump shot became his trademark and he often used it to score while under pressure from opposing defenses. Theres a reason the leagues logo is the Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette. With an all-around game that rivaled Oscar Robertson's, West added six assists and six rebounds per game and excellent defense in the backcourt that produced a number of steals each game. This also marked the first of three straight seasons leading the NBA in assists, with Robertson putting up at least 11.0 assists per game each year, including a career-high 11.5 in 1964-1965. Particularly thrilling are the high odds of discovering the rookie cards of iconic names like Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. [32] Still, the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game. Rendimiento en Playoffs 1971 Topps NBA Assist Leaders #143 PSA 6 Jerry West/Oscar Robertson/N. 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. ", Robertson believes the media-hype machine conditions fans' perceptions of players too much. I think West is the smoother player and the stronger defensively. 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. On the international stage, before jumping to the NBA, Robertson and West were co-captains of the US Basketball Team at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome (professionals would not be allowed to play until the Dream Team in 1992); considered by many pundits to be the best collection of amateur basketball talent in history (in addition to Robertson and West, Jerry Lucas and Walt Bellamy would also become Hall of Famers), the team easily won the gold medal at the Games and was collectively elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He and the Lakers routinely experienced heartbreak at the hands of the Boston Celtics. Clippers coach, Doc Rivers, floated the idea of West joining the organization during the 2016 season. [31] However, in the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41. CLEVELAND The NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor. Robertson named West among his top five. Regarding his shyness, WVU roommate Jody Gardner testified that West never dated in his entire freshman year, and Lakers coach Fred Schaus once recalled two weeks when his guard never said a word. Although injured captain Elgin Baylor ended his career, the Lakers had a season for the ages. Clutch." Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. "Who else would you want to take it but Kobe?" It was a beautiful thing wasted, West later said. "Race; cold war; threat of nuclear war. The team reached the NCAA championship game in 1959 but lost to the University of California. For Hall of Fame caliber players across sports, I like to look at a concept I call a decade of dominance. The thinking behind this is that for most Hall of Fame type careers, there are roughly 10 great seasons that define an athlete (this idea is embodied in a sense by the NFLs All-Decade teams), though due to injury or other factors, they might not be 10 consecutive years. If I could have one wish granted, it would be that you would always be happy. Jerry West was a 12-time All-NBA performer who knew how to elevate his game when the lights shined the brightest. First up is Oscar Robertson's 1961 Fleer rookie card which is one of the keys to the iconic set and one of the most valuable basketball cards in general.. In 1969, he became the only player to win Finals MVP on the losing team. ". During has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers missed the Finals only four times. [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. RELATED: Kobe's Final Game Was The Perfect Farewell. Countdown 4: Top 10 Five-Tool Players in MLB History, Countdown 153: Top 10 Minnesota Twins of All Time, Countdown 152: Top 10 Dallas Mavericks of All Time, Countdown 151: Top 10 Tampa Bay Lightning of All Time, Countdown 150: Top 10 Kickers in NFL History, Countdown 149: Top 10 Left-Handed Pitchers in MLB History. 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. But despite his remarkable legacy, West does not feel he was the best individual talent of his era. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He explained (h/t YouTube) that Wests appraisals of Robertson solidified the Big Os greatness that much more. [12] They have three sons, David, Mark and Michael. [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. 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 . 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. [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. [24], In West's second NBA season, the Lakers could only make limited use of Baylor, who was called up by the U.S. Army Reserves and could play only 48 games. The USA had a team to envy. FTA complete back to 1948-49. He was a loner. Your email address will not be published. This includes rookie cards for Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Len Wilkens (misspelled Wilkins). He was the measuring stick for how a player. However, he started at West Virginia, getting 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game. But the experience itself was the most gratifying of all," he recalled. "I would never bet against the Lakers," he said. West averaged 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists and was again NBA All-Star and All-NBA First-Team;[15] however, he played in only 55 regular-season games, missing the last seven weeks due to a hamstring injury. 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). He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the Lakers one of the most relevant franchises in the league. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. Height: 6-2 (188cm) Weight: 185 (84kg) FGA, TRB, AST, PF, GS over 99% complete back to 1975-76. Like many NBA stars, West came from humble beginnings. During his 14-year playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, West became synonymous with brilliant basketball. 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. [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. Tackling the Biggest Head-to-Head Sports Debates. [17], During his junior year (195859), West scored 26.6 points per game and grabbed 12.3 rebounds per game. Neither Chamberlain's 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscar's triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. 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? [28] West spectacularly took over Baylor's leading role, as he scored 49 points and willed the shocked Lakers to the win. 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. [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. He looks determined. One of the main complaints that many old heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect. 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. [11] West soon became the captain of the freshman team, and during the summer of 1953 he grew to 6ft 0in (1.83m). 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. "How much weightlifting did you do?" He took a loss harder than any player Ive ever known, said longtime Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn in the National Sports Daily. But West, who had scored 38 points in a Game 4 win, had sprained his ankle and did not play at full strength the rest of the series. Oscar Robertson vs Coby White. Clutch" didn't taunt, at least by the strict interpretation of the term. [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. He scored 19 points in the second half, leading WVU to an upset victory. SG. It only makes sense that he also seeks validation. "In my era, they were afraid to foul you then, because the officials were right on top of every play.". And it was a mission that we had to beat the Russian team. A smallish youth, West didnt make his junior high football, baseball or track teams. On May 19, 2011, West joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive board member, reporting directly to new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. Robertson was a broadcaster for CBS for the 1974-75 season. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Clutch," passing up the shot himself because he is, after all, 71 years old. the Lakers held a "Jerry West Night", and eleven-time NBA champion and perennial rival Bill Russell appeared and said: "Jerry, you are, in every sense of the word, truly a . 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. 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. 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). The best players may not be the players people think are the best. The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. 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. 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 was named All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star Game MVP. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. The Lakers drafted him after the Cincinnati Royals drafted Oscar Robertson. Oscar Robertson weighs in as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big O's one-man club. He made an NBA record 840 free throws, and earned yet another pair of All-Star Team and All-NBA First Team nominations. [76] On February 17, 2011, a statue of West was unveiled outside Staples Center at the Star Plaza in Los Angeles, California. [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. "When I was able to play for the Olympic team, it was great for me. He was the third player in league history to reach 25,000 points (after Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson). "[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. Inside) scoring nearly 35 ppg and West (Mr. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. Every bit West's equal was Baylor. His first nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek, was actually based on faulty information. [15] The Lakers won 46 games, and in the 1970 NBA Playoffs, they narrowly beat the Phoenix Suns in seven games and swept the Hawks in four, setting up the first NBA Finals between the Lakers and the rugged New York Knicks, led by Hall-of-Famers, such as Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Walt Frazier. Equally legendary was Wests tolerance for pain. 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. [12] In Game 4, the guard scored 37 points and 18 assists, and the Lakers won. [74] As a coach, West led the Lakers into three consecutive playoff campaigns, and then went on to win seven NBA championships as a general manager, building the 1980s Lakers dynasty under coach Pat Riley and players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy and the 2000s under coach Phil Jackson and players Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. [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. All videos are . His 31.2 ppg in 1969-70 (at age 31) is the highest average ever for a player over 30. Jerry West talks about how losing to the Celtics multiple times in The Finals affected his mindset and demeanor during his career. 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. [8] These performances soon earned West his first of fourteen NBA All-Star Game call-ups. 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. Besides, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for The Logo, too. [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. [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. With Wests hot hand leading the way, East Bank won the 1956 state title. "John Wooden once told me Larry Bird was better than me," said Robertson. When it snowed West played wearing gloves. Head to Head: Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West. He remained a . West said to Robertson. Then as now, it is rings that really validate the best. [33] In Game 7, West and Baylor shot a combined three of 18 in the first half, and the Lakers fell far behind; L.A. willed themselves back to a close 9593 with four seconds left, but the Celtics ran the clock out and the Lakers were denied yet again. On October 19th in 1960, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson made their NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals respectively. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. Pro basketball has become more athletic, less cerebral, and more hyped since their day, but they would have been great players in any era. [84] His first wife Martha Kane recalled that her husband often had difficulties opening up to her. He went on to average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for six . Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Over time, Robertson became more of a complementary player to Abdul-Jabbar, though was still effective in his own right, and made his last All-Star Game in 1971-1972 before retiring after the 1973-1974 season at age 35. @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. Oscar Palmer Robertson (Big O, Mr. During their overlapping careers, Robertson and West faced off head-to-head on 94 occasions. 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). The answer is "yes," according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. [40], In the 196970 NBA season under new coach Joe Mullaney, the Lakers' season began with a shock when Wilt Chamberlain seriously injured his knee and missed practically the whole regular season. Ventaja : Jerry West. . Oscar Robertson (1960-1974) Robertson, also known as the "Big O," is the only . Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. 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. Winning bid: US $23.50 [ 10 bids] Shipping: $3.99 Standard . During an interview on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, West revealed that as a child he was the victim of physical abuse from his father and has suffered from depression ever since. In three years, he led the Lakers and star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to a 145101 record, making the playoffs all three seasons and reaching the Western Conference Finals in 1977. He died aged 67. In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks. Robertsons career arc is fairly similar. Before that, the Oscar Robertson Rule was established in 1976, and the ABA-NBA merger allowed the NBA to expand for the 1976-77 season. [47], Before the 197172 NBA season, West was smarting from his frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement. He was an All-Star every year of his career and led Los Angeles to the NBA Finals nine times. [50][51] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and credited the team for the success. 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. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. Basketball, Team, School. [15] Without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career, the Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. He thinks it's going in! Oscar Robertson vs Hassan Whiteside. Indeed, Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson and saw what he thought was the best player in the game. They're all that way on the Celtics, and you can't teach it. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. Asked who he likes to win it all this year, West remained loyal to the Lakers dynasty he built as a general manager. Despite the Lakers failure to win more titles, most of Wests legendary exploits came during the postseason. He averaged 24.8points per game and 13.3rebounds. Godine 1980. primljen je u Kuu slavnih, a Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44. Theyre like salesmen I mean, and theyre selling the 97 game., Theyre not going to be selling the 56 All-Star game, or the 57 All-Star 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 grew up in Cheylan, West Virginia, although his family got its mail in Cabin Creek. West was named Most Outstanding Player of that year's Final Four. When the chips were down, West, with his lightning-quick release, was the guy the Lakers turned to for the big basket. [89], This article is about the basketball player. He also led Oscar in NBA All-First Team selections, ten to nine. 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. [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. Respectively decided by centers Reed and the still-hobbling Chamberlain and earned yet pair. ], during his 14-year playing career with four triple-doubles although his family got mail..., leading WVU to an upset victory drafted him after the Cincinnati Royals drafted Oscar Robertson ball doesnt go the... Lakers turned to for the 1974-75 season Ringer & # x27 ; Bill! Believes the media-hype machine conditions fans ' perceptions of players too much be happy worldview of modern basketball wouldnt spread... Their glory days at a concept I call a decade of dominance likes! Miracle shot fly, the Lakers seven-game defeat at the Rome games throws, and the defensively., etc MVP on the Celtics multiple times in the 1965 NBA Finals, Lakers! 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