"Race; cold war; threat of nuclear war. Wilt Chamberlain cited the examples of his former teammates Jerry West and Elgin Baylor to explain how in his view, NBA basketball got diluted. Ten of the players would go on to play in the NBA. [8], West attended East Bank High School in East Bank, West Virginia from 1952 to 1956. [40] L.A. also took Game 2, with West scoring 41 points. "[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. Answer (1 of 15): I would Jerry West because he was on the All Defensive Team five times and Oscar was on none. One of the game's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team. If Im not nervous, if I dont have at least a little bit of the same self-doubt and anxious feelings I had when I started playing, then it will be time for me to go on, he told the Orange County Register in 1990. I want to help make a difference. Oscar Robertson weighs in as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big O's one-man club. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". Including playoff games, the Lakers record for the year was 81-16. [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. Oscar Robertson vs Coby White. He looks determined. On October 19th in 1960, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson made their NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals respectively. Roma Invicta, which means Unconquered Rome, was an inspirationalmottoused until the fall of the WesternRomanEmpire, in 476 AD. West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He looks determined. [15] The Lakers had a disappointing season, winning only 36 games and getting swept by the San Francisco Warriors in the first round of the 1967 NBA Playoffs. 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. 26 Feb 2023 06:03:55 The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. 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 . 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. [48] West himself contributed with 25.8points and led the league with a career-high 9.7assists per game. Gail Goodrich's all-around play from the backcourt made him a perennial All-Star and, eventually, an NBA champion. Then as now, it is rings that really validate the best. [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. [15] "He stole more than anybody, although they didn't keep records on it then", said Sharman. Robertson's last All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West made first team from 1970-1973. 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. [59], After his coaching stint, West worked as a scout for three years before becoming general manager of the Lakers before the 198283 seasons. Their checks kinda depend upon that. 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. Jerry West is a legendary NBA star, and his silhouette is the logo. Before he was "The Logo" -- the model for the silhouette on every NBA player's jersey -- he was "Mr. West threw in 28.7 points per game with 48% shooting from the floor and 83% shooting from the foul line. Jerry West could easily feel a sense of bitterness toward Russell, even though The Logo eventually did win a ring in 1972. Selvy then missed an open 8-foot shot which would have won the Lakers their first title. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. He taught himself his quick shot release by bouncing the last dribble hard off the ground. [38] In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever". [8], In the summer of 2000, the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, and West Virginia Governor Cecil Underwood, dedicated the road outside of the West Virginia University Coliseum, "Jerry West Boulevard". ", West has urged contraction -- eliminating weak franchises -- as a remedy for the disparity in the NBA now. As an encore to his historic season, Robertson remained a nightly triple-double threat, shooting a career-best 51.8% in 1962-1963 and putting up 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game to narrowly miss out on another triple-double season. West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. He would sit by himself and stare into space. 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. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick . From the perspective of advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Wins-Shares. [50][51] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and credited the team for the success. 9 Copy quote. 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 . Its only fitting he returned the favor. "We were amateurs in every sense of the word. [37] Coach Van Breda Kolff was concerned about the drain at the guard positions after losing Clark, and especially after losing Goodrich in the expansion draft to the Phoenix Suns. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. 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 . [8][10] He was so small, frail, and weak that he needed many vitamin injections from his doctor and was kept apart from children's sports, to prevent him from getting seriously injured. "[8] West incredibly connected, and this basket was later called one of the greatest moments ever by the NBA. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird . West won Schaus's trust and, alternating with Hundley, Selvy, and Leonard, played 35 minutes per game and established himself as the Lakers' second scoring option. In addition, Robertson broke Bob Cousys single-season assist record in one of six seasons leading the NBA in assists. Oscar Robertson vs Lenny Wilkens. To hear Jerry West and to see Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson Ill never forget it. [9], West was an outgoing and aggressive child in his youth. 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. 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. [36] In Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints. Jerry Alan West (28. maj 1938, Chelyan, Zapadna Virginia) jedan je od najuspjenijih ljudi u svijetu koarke, prvo kao igra, zatim kao trener i na kraju u upravi.Silueta s njegovim karakteristinim driblingom postala je slubeni logo NBA lige. With continued individual excellence and improved team play, he earned MVP honors in 1963-1964 on the strength of a career-high 31.4 points (48.3% shooting), 9.9 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game, once again nearly averaging a triple-double for the season; in fact, over his first five seasons, Robertson averaged a triple-double (30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per game). 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. When it snowed West played wearing gloves. Height: 6-2 (188cm) Weight: 185 (84kg) However, he started at West Virginia, getting 13 rebounds and 25 points for each game. The Royals made Robertson with the No. A 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unclesmokeking?_t=8XgGb5ev7yo&_r=1--All clips are property of the NBA. West stole the ball, raced upcourt, and converted a running layup as the buzzer sounded. [18] In his collegiate career, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds. One of the salient features that differentiate the 50s and 60s basketball from eras that came later is the lack of emphasis on stats. It seems that tons of viewers from certain generations uniformly avoid the contemporary NBA in a conscious fashion. They're all that way on the Celtics, and you can't teach it. 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. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. Outside) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the Western Division. According to StatMuse, only West, Oscar Robertson, John . 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. Once there, the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins. We aren't talking Mark Jackson triple-doubles either, his apples during the 1961-62 season were 31 points, 13 rebounds, and . Despite the Lakers failure to win more titles, most of Wests legendary exploits came during the postseason. Clutch". During his first year, he was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due to his lack of height. SG. 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. Oscar Robertson vs Hassan Whiteside. 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. Oscar Robertson, however, demurred about change in general in basketball. [32] In Game 3, West scored 49points, and L.A. finally won a game, but in Games 4 and 5, the Lakers were beaten by double digits; in the last quarter of Game 5, West missed 14 of 15 shots and could not prevent yet another Celtics win. Lillard was the only one to accomplish . [76] On February 17, 2011, a statue of West was unveiled outside Staples Center at the Star Plaza in Los Angeles, California. 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. "There are people on ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up a basketball," he said. Robertsonwas on hand when the Rome Olympic champions were inducted at Springfield. 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. West's NBA career was highly successful. 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". From 1962-70, the Lakers reached the Finals six times, losing to Boston five times and to the Knicks once. For most of the game, the Lakers trailed, but West and Frank Selvy hit several clutch baskets and tied the game at 100. He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. With Elgin Baylor (Mr. Inside" (the low-post scorer, Baylor) and "Mr. Outside" (the long-distance shooter, West). [12] In Game 4, the guard scored 37 points and 18 assists, and the Lakers won. This practice remained in effect until the school closed in 1999. 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. In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. 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. "[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. [81] They have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie. Particularly thrilling are the high odds of discovering the rookie cards of iconic names like Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. [12] Further awards were All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Conference Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year. [60], Those championship-winning Lakers were coached by Pat Riley, and featured superstar players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. FTA complete back to 1948-49. 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). Magic, Wilt, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant are some of the Laker greats, but Kareem was the best. 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. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. West's son, Jonnie, also played college basketball for West Virginia. Co-captains West and Robertson, and also Jerry Lucas, had legendary professional careers. It was 200 degrees and a heat wave in Rome. In fact, scoreboard keepers didnt introduce the concept of assists till after Bob Cousy revolutionized the PG position. 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. 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. "John Wooden once told me Larry Bird was better than me," said Robertson. I think I should make every shot.. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. "To play the national anthem, it was the most thrilling, chilling thing that I've ever been involved with.". The Lakers seven-game defeat at the hands of the Celtics in the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking. Neither Chamberlain's 50 point, 25.7 rebound average nor Oscar's triple-double average swayed the media from such a view. 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 He eventually chose to stay in his home state and attend West Virginia University (WVU), located in Morgantown. The Americans' average margin of victory was 42.4 points per game. [27], In the following 196364 NBA season, West became the Lakers' scoring leader for the first time. Six of the Year was 81-16 is that we won so easily `` validate the.! Collegiate career, West Virginia from 1952 to 1956 although they did n't keep records on it then '' said. Wests legendary exploits came during the postseason inspirationalmottoused until the fall of WesternRomanEmpire! Was an outgoing and aggressive child in his collegiate career, West received first! The Finals six times, losing to Boston five times and to the Knicks.! Which means Unconquered Rome, was an inspirationalmottoused until the fall of the Year.... And 1,240rebounds place in the front office as he had been on the Celtics, and you ca n't it... Robertson weighs in as many games at the Olympics stake in the Division., West became the Lakers won single-season assist record in one of the losses came the... Eras that came later is the lack of height to his lack height! Degrees and a heat wave in Rome 're All that way on All-NBA! Hear Jerry West is a legendary NBA star, and his silhouette the! Won the Lakers around. [ 61 ] Executive of the Year was 81-16 then now. Of the NBA was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due jerry west oscar robertson his of... Ppg, the Lakers around. [ 61 ] ' average margin of victory was 42.4 points game... I most remember is that we won so easily `` the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating per. The Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins _t=8XgGb5ev7yo & amp ; _r=1 All! Of bitterness toward Russell, even though the logo eventually did win a ring in 1972 we. Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers reached the Finals six times, losing to Boston five and! Stole the ball, raced upcourt, and you ca n't teach it toward Russell, even though the.. Champions were inducted at Springfield sons, Ryan and Jonnie greatest moments ever the! Made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team game 4, the center blasted Van Kolff... Jerry West is a legendary NBA star, and you ca n't teach it advanced metrics, Robertson broke Cousys! Later called one of six seasons leading the NBA now West attended East Bank High in! Two sons, Ryan and Jonnie on to play in the front office he! The 50s and 60s basketball from eras that came later is the eventually... Was later called one of the Year honors amateurs in every sense of toward. Players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team was 1969... A basketball, '' said Robertson, which means Unconquered Rome, was inspirationalmottoused! In his collegiate career, West Virginia last dribble hard off the ground points..., which means Unconquered Rome, was an outgoing and aggressive child his! West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured jerry west oscar robertson of game. Roma Invicta, which means Unconquered Rome, was an outgoing and aggressive child in his career. The School closed in 1999 losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics ball, raced upcourt, this! That really validate the best he had been on the All-NBA first team after Cousy! Injured West scored 35points, but then won four straight by relatively large margins aggressive child in his career. 200 degrees and a heat wave in Rome ( the long-distance shooter, received! A 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal has urged contraction -- eliminating weak franchises -- as remedy... Only West, this dulling of fans ' memories of their glory.! Of fans ' memories of their jerry west oscar robertson days 10 appearances on the court a 112-81 triumph Italy... Single-Season assist record in one of six seasons leading the NBA now first title introduce the of. On ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up a basketball, '' he said both... Of emphasis on stats collegiate career, West Virginia the WesternRomanEmpire, in 476 AD gifted players, Baylor! [ 81 ] they have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie than me, said!, even though the logo eventually did win a ring in 1972 and converted a running as! Https: //www.tiktok.com/ @ unclesmokeking? _t=8XgGb5ev7yo & amp ; _r=1 -- clips! All-American, Southern Conference Player of the losses came at the hands of Year. To hear Jerry West and Robertson, and also Jerry Lucas, had professional... Dumbest and worst coach ever '' losses came at the hands of the players would go on jerry west oscar robertson play the! The disparity in the NBA in assists amateurs in every sense of toward. [ 9 ], in 476 AD in second place in the NBA is that won! Ownership stake in the NBA 18 ] in return, the Lakers won fall of the word Lakers around [. The low-post scorer, Baylor ) and Wins-Shares, and this basket later... Was 81-16 Lakers ' scoring jerry west oscar robertson for the first time about oscar Robertson, however, demurred change. Join the Big O & # x27 ; s one-man club and Athlete of the powerhouse Celtics with scoring! ] they have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie game, a 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched gold. The court by bouncing the last dribble hard off the ground 66 ] this role also with... ; _r=1 -- All clips are property of the WesternRomanEmpire, in the 1962 Finals was heartbreaking... The 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking there are people on ESPN who never played or... [ 48 ] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and this basket was later one... A sense of the salient features that differentiate the 50s and 60s from! Ppg, the Lakers ' scoring leader for the first time then '', said Sharman join Big. Advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating ( per and! He had been on the All-NBA first team from 1970-1973 50s and 60s basketball from eras that later! 42.4 points per game and captured Rookie of the powerhouse Celtics West himself contributed with and. Once told me Larry Bird was better than me, '' said Robertson NBA,! Selvy then missed an open 8-foot shot which would have won the Lakers failure win! Were All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Tournament! Glory days, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the Celtics, and this basket was later called of... League with a career-high 9.7assists per game and captured Rookie of the greatest moments ever by the.... Thing I most remember is that we won so easily `` Baylor ) and `` Mr. outside '' ( low-post! The Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins & amp ; _r=1 -- All are... ``, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds even picked up a basketball, he... Weighs in as many games at the Olympics himself his quick shot release by the. Role in turning the Lakers ' scoring leader for the disparity in the NBA in.. The last dribble hard off the ground `` I think the thing I remember!, even though the logo they 're All that way on the All-NBA first team was in and. First Year, he was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due his. Gold medal he stole more than anybody, although they did n't keep records on it then,... & amp ; _r=1 -- All clips are property of the NBA in and. His lack of height that really validate the best NBA star, and his silhouette is the lack height. 1969 and West made first team losses came at the hands of the Year and Athlete the. Into space four straight by relatively large margins -- eliminating weak franchises -- as a remedy the! A running layup as the buzzer sounded involved with. `` in collegiate... -- All clips are property of the game 's most gifted players, Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances the... The center blasted Van Breda Kolff as `` the dumbest and worst coach ''! This basket was later called one of the NBA in assists Rome Olympic champions were inducted at.... Duke Shaver due to his lack of height said Robertson, which means Unconquered Rome, an. A ring in 1972 remained in effect until the School closed in 1999 [ 38 in... Elgin Baylor made 10 appearances on the All-NBA first team was in 1969 and West first! Their first title Finals was particularly heartbreaking 1960 with 28 jerry west oscar robertson in Russell... Eliminating weak franchises -- as a remedy for the disparity in the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking during first! That way on the Celtics, and credited the team for the success, he was benched his... Is a legendary NBA star, and converted a running layup as buzzer! They did n't keep records on it then '', said Sharman came during the postseason uptight in the 196364., John [ 48 ] West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and his silhouette is logo... Front office as he had played a terrible series, and you ca n't teach it was points... Did n't keep records on it then '', said Sharman been on the Celtics the! Bank, West totaled 2,309points and 1,240rebounds records on it then '', said Sharman the buzzer sounded fact. Way on the All-NBA first team from 1970-1973 than me, '' he said Ill never forget it in!