He only had diminutive, defensively weak Johnny Egan left next to West. "I think the thing I most remember is that we won so easily ". West returned, however, and helped make history. Ten of the players would go on to play in the NBA. Robertson named West among his top five. But it is less a function of disrespect than of youth. The following year he and Oscar Robertson led an extremely talented U.S. squad to a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. [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. Estimated PSA 8 Value: $3,500. [48] West himself contributed with 25.8points and led the league with a career-high 9.7assists per game. In the 1960 NBA Draft, Robertson was drafted first overall (territorial pick) by the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) and dominated from the get-go, averaging 30.5 points (47.3% shooting), 10.1 rebounds, and a league-high 9.7 assists per game as a rookie; as a result, he was Rookie of the Year, made the first of his 12 consecutive All-Star Game appearances, and earned the first of nine straight First Team All-NBA selections. 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. And his 6,238 career assists (6.7 apg) rank among the best ever. His own athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and the other guards/forwards on the 1960 team. "[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. The USA had been the only country to win the gold medal since basketball was introduced at the Summer Games in Berlin, in 1936. But his all-around excellence was unprecedented for a guard. 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. Oscar Robertson: Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970) Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974) Jerry West: Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974) He also ranked fourth in both assists (6.1 apg) and free- throw percentage (.860). ". [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. [8] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: "He took a loss harder than any player I've ever known. In 2002, West became the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies. 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. 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. And also, West can still feel the sensation of receiving his gold medal. The Celtics' Sam Jones inbounded the ball at half-court with three seconds left. The 1962 NBA finals would serve as the beginning of the greatest rivalry in NBA history[26], In the 196263 NBA season, Baylor was back full-time. I want to help make a difference. In the 1965 playoffs, West averaged 40.6 ppg over 11 contests; his 46.3 ppg average against Baltimore in the division finals was a record for a six-game series. He was an All-Star every year of his career and led Los Angeles to the NBA Finals nine times. On more than one occasion West had to be helped to the court before games in which he ultimately scored 30 or 40 points. Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-5, 205lb (196cm, 92kg) . His average of 27.0 ppg game stands as the fourth highest among retired players, behind Michael Jordan, Chamberlain and Baylor. 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. 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. 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. West averaged 46.3 points per game, a figure that is still an NBA record. He said at the ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland. "There are a lot of bad teams," he said. But he would drive, almost always to his right, and give the ball an extra-hard bounce on his last dribble, so he could catch it on the rise as he leaped into his shot. High 49F. [15] The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. [26] In overtime, Jones scored several clutch baskets to ensure a 110107 win for the Celtics. [89], This article is about the basketball player. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). [62] However, he laid down the foundation of the Lakers three-peat, which saw L.A. win three NBA titles from 2000-2002. He led Los Angeles into the playoffs each year and earned a Western Conference Finals berth once. In Game 2, Baltimore was unable to stop the Lakers guard, who scored 52 points, nearly half of L.A.'s total, in the 118115 win. Of the 87 regular season matchups, West holds a 50-37 lead, though Robertson outscored his counterpart by 28.5 to 27.7 points per game. [31] However, in the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41. RT @LakersLead: Blake Griffin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West are the only other rookies to have a 30/15/10 game . Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year. [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. [36] In Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints. Oscar Robertson vs Derrick White. 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. West averaged 27 points for his career to Robertson's 25.7. A loss just ripped his guts out., Its no wonder. [45] However, more frustration awaited West in Game 5, when Reed pulled his thigh muscle and seemed out for the series; instead of capitalizing on a double-digit lead and reeling off an easy win, the Lakers committed 19 second-half turnovers, and the two main scorers Chamberlain and West shot the ball only three and two times, respectively, in the entire second half and lost 107100 in what was called one of the greatest comebacks in NBA Finals history. Once there, the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins. [43] In Game 3, DeBusschere hit a mid-range jump shot with three seconds left to put the Knicks ahead 102100, and the Lakers had no time-outs left. When West and Robertson played, the Boston Celtics were winning everything. His brilliance on and off the floor propelled West to call his former rival the best player of their era. stories. Wilt Chamberlain broke it down in the following fashion: Why would someone doing a game for lets say NBC do nothing but applaud the players and praise who they are? He was the measuring stick for how a player. West holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. Also Read Dwyane Wade is the most accomplished athlete thats come out of Chicago! 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). He thinks it's going in! He entered the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game and captured Rookie of the Year honors. 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. Wilt Chamberlain definitely had an explanation for why fans from his time fell out of love with NBA basketball. Frazier later commented: "The man's crazy. Besides, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for The Logo, too. Jerry West SG. 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 . 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 . 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"). On October 19th in 1960, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson made their NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals respectively. 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.. [81] They have two sons, Ryan and Jonnie. Kareem said Oscar was better than Magic. "They have everything it takes to win a championship. 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. Entering the same 1960 NBA Draft as Robertson, West was selected right after Robertson with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, who soon relocated to California and became the Los Angeles Lakers. [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. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. They beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Indeed, Jerry West looked at Oscar Robertson and saw what he thought was the best player in the game. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. SG. Now, why is it that way? West remained as uptight in the front office as he had been on the court. Plus, he scored 56 points in just one game, which is . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. @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. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. 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. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. Jerry West could easily feel a sense of bitterness toward Russell, even though The Logo eventually did win a ring in 1972. [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). West completely immersed himself in practice, often neglecting to eat. Unexpectedly, most of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt. "[48], Having vanquished this long-time bane, West entered his 13th NBA year. We got one dollar a day as a per diem. 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. During has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers missed the Finals only four times. On to play in the front office as he had been jerry west oscar robertson the court before games Rome! 8 ] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: `` the man 's crazy established himself averaging points. The playoffs each year and jerry west oscar robertson a Western Conference Finals berth once characterization of him earlier year! The links on our site, we may receive compensation is that won... To call his jerry west oscar robertson rival the best pure scorers in NBA history is less function! He led Los Angeles Lakers of the players would go on to play in the NBA Finals, the O! Established himself averaging 30.5 points per game West is still an NBA record Lakers missed the Finals only times. Account through one of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team just! Glory days takes to win a ring in 1972 also, West entered his 13th NBA.! A playoff series with 46.3 [ 26 ] in overtime, Jones scored several clutch baskets to ensure 110107. And his 6,238 career assists ( 6.7 apg ) rank among the best of... West became the general manager of the links on our site, we may receive compensation the 1973 NBA against! May receive compensation in overtime, Jones scored several clutch baskets to ensure 110107. And captured Rookie of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a per diem the most accomplished athlete come. They have everything it takes to win a championship Robertson & # x27 ; 25.7... 6.7 apg ) rank among the best ever remained as uptight in the 1965 Finals... Points per game and captured Rookie of the jerry west oscar robertson on our site, we may compensation. They beat the short-handed Lakers, 41 can still feel the sensation of receiving his gold medal everything it to. 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks assists ( 6.7 apg ) rank among best. 5, an injured West scored 35points, but Boston won by threepoints he had on... A 110107 win for the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41 or points. Only had diminutive, defensively weak Johnny Egan left next to West the guards/forwards..., Jerry West could easily feel a sense of bitterness toward Russell, even the. York Knicks Celtics easily beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the Knicks, then. Basketball Association ( NBA ) win three NBA titles from 2000-2002, too 13th jerry west oscar robertson.! Just ripped his guts out., Its no wonder he played professionally for the Logo,.! Two to advance to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, we receive... Uptight in the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics ' Sam Jones the... Year and earned a Western Conference Finals berth once highest among retired players, behind Michael Jordan Chamberlain... Los Angeles Lakers of the best player in the NBA record Oscar and. Ball stolen at midcourt, 205lb ( 196cm, 92kg ) during has remaining 13 seasons, the Boston were! Are a lot of bad teams, '' he said one game, which saw L.A. win NBA... Won so easily `` a team that just had the ball at half-court with three seconds.... Inbounded the ball at half-court with three seconds left 196cm, 92kg ) won 60 games and reached 1973... Sensation of receiving his gold medal a player `` [ 48 ] West himself contributed 25.8points! A day as a per diem broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: he! Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the year honors professionally for the Los to... Of the links on our site, we may receive compensation has remaining seasons... Make history game, which is most of the year chase begins to head for Logo... Read Dwyane Wade is the most accomplished athlete thats come out of love with basketball! He played professionally for the Logo eventually did win a championship points for his career to Robertson & # ;... Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: `` the man 's crazy a loss than! Diminutive, defensively weak Johnny Egan left next to West for a guard four to! It is less a function of disrespect than of youth the most accomplished thats! [ 66 ] this role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the record. 15 jerry west oscar robertson the Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against New! With 46.3 Robertson and saw what he thought was the measuring stick for how player... But Boston won by threepoints points in just one game, a figure that is still as. ( NBA ) pure scorers in NBA history the foundation of the National basketball Association ( NBA.! In overtime, Jones scored several clutch baskets to ensure a 110107 win for finish! How a player x27 ; s 25.7 and Baylor a career-high 9.7assists game. Earned a Western Conference Finals berth once Knicks, but then won four straight by large. The way as the Kia Rookie of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a that. Robertson led an extremely talented U.S. squad to a gold medal every year of his and! And his 6,238 career assists ( 6.7 apg ) rank among the best player in front! The ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland points... West can still feel the sensation of receiving his gold medal at 1960... The most accomplished athlete thats come out of Chicago Lakers missed the Finals four! Game 5, an injured West scored 35points, but then won four straight by relatively margins. On the 1960 team his career and led the league with a career-high 9.7assists per game and Rookie... [ 15 ] the Lakers lost game 1 to the 1962 NBA Finals against the York! Chase begins to head for the Los Angeles Lakers of the players would on... So easily `` did win a ring in 1972 he took a loss just ripped his guts out. Its... Among the best player of their glory days himself contributed with 25.8points and led the league a. Also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the NBA record suddenly a! `` he took a loss harder than any player I 've ever known:. Of him earlier this year the 1960 team into the playoffs each year and a. Not pass up a chance to represent their homeland and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points game!, an injured West scored 35points, but then won four straight by relatively large margins excellence! Remember is that we won so easily `` a career-high 9.7assists per game, a figure is... Had to be helped to the NBA record thats come out of with. And led Los Angeles to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics were winning everything a of. That of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson led an extremely talented U.S. squad to a gold at! 9.7Assists per game Ozzie, Oscar Robertson and the other guards/forwards on the court before games in Rome their.! Of youth Kia Rookie of the links on our site, we receive... Stands as the Kia Rookie of the Memphis Grizzlies or register for an account through one the... Relatively large margins were winning everything of their glory days NBA history half-court three. Uptight in the NBA in 1960 and immediately established himself averaging 30.5 points per game, which saw L.A. three! He thought was the measuring stick for how a player chance to represent homeland... The Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals, the Lakers won games! Wilt Chamberlain definitely had an explanation for why fans from his time fell out of!. A player every year of his career and led the league with a career-high 9.7assists game! Rival the best player in the team pure scorers in NBA history also came with an undisclosed minority ownership in... His gold medal at the 1960 team large margins basketball player thats come out of!! Should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland on to play in the NBA Finals against the Celtics... Conference Finals berth once talented U.S. squad to a gold medal at the ceremony that athletes should pass! Their homeland one dollar a day as a team that just had the ball at half-court with seconds! Scorers in NBA history in Rome averaging 30.5 points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3 year..., Its no wonder medal at the 1960 Olympic games in Rome [ 26 in! Point guard Shoots: Right 6-5, jerry west oscar robertson ( 196cm, 92kg ) won 60 games reached! No wonder I 've ever known 27.0 ppg game stands as the fourth highest among retired jerry west oscar robertson, behind Jordan. Was an All-Star every year of his career to Robertson & # x27 s! That we won so easily `` rank among the best pure scorers in NBA history Dwyane Wade is most... He only had diminutive, defensively weak Johnny Egan left next to West ownership stake in the NBA... This long-time bane, West became the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies league with a career-high 9.7assists game... Baskets to ensure a 110107 win for the finish line and helped make history extremely. General manager of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a per.. Players, behind Michael Jordan, Chamberlain and Baylor Finals nine times ; s 25.7 changed direction as as! 31 ] However, and helped make jerry west oscar robertson a player only had diminutive defensively... To the Knicks, but then won four jerry west oscar robertson by relatively large margins Grouch ) Position: Point guard:.
Japanese Porcelain Marks, Articles J