Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "None. However, West had also injured his right hand and received several manual injections,[43] and Reed famously hobbled up court before Game 7: the Knicks center scored the first four points, and inspired his team to one of the most famous playoff upsets of all time. Every bit West's equal was Baylor. West was motivated by a relentless drive to succeed. Now, why is it that way? [39], In the 1969 NBA Playoffs, the 55-win Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks and the San Francisco Warriors, setting up the sixth finals series versus Boston in eight years. He made an NBA record 840 free throws, and earned yet another pair of All-Star Team and All-NBA First Team nominations. From there, he played his college ball at the University of Cincinnati, where in his three seasons with the Bearcats, he won the scoring title each year, was named a 3x All-American and 3x College Player of the Year (the Player of the Year award is now called the Oscar Robertson Trophy), made the Final Four twice, compiled 10 triple-doubles (a staple of his pro career), and set 14 NCAA and 19 school records. 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. [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. Magic, Wilt, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant are some of the Laker greats, but Kareem was the best. 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. Oscar Robertson. Teams. Oscar Robertson vs Coby White. RT @LakersLead: Blake Griffin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West are the only other rookies to have a 30/15/10 game . He was an All-Star every year of his career and led Los Angeles to the NBA Finals nine times. 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"). Robertsonwas on hand when the Rome Olympic champions were inducted at Springfield. In addition, Robertson broke Bob Cousys single-season assist record in one of six seasons leading the NBA in assists. Oscar Palmer Robertson (pron. [60], Those championship-winning Lakers were coached by Pat Riley, and featured superstar players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. From the perspective of advanced metrics, Robertson also holds the edge in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Wins-Shares. It averaged a whopping 101.9 points a contest. Advertisement. He was taken as the Number 1 overall (territorial) pick by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1960 NBA Draft where he played for 10 seasons (1960-1970) before being traded to . He played West as a guard, in contrast to West's college days as a forward. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. 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. While it has been nearly 50 years since either Oscar Robertson or Jerry West last set foot on an NBA basketball court and not too many of us actually got to see them play live, the duo remain two of the most iconic players in NBA history. Oscar Robertson. Required fields are marked *. /VCG. 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 . Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. 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. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. Amazon.com: Collision Course: The Basketball Lives of Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson and the Fall of the Cincinnati Royals: 9781620062104: Cook, . 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. [15] Among retired players, only Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain surpass his 27.0 points per game average. "We stayed in dorms. Rendimiento en Playoffs The 1960 USA Olympic team has been described as the best amateur side ever assembled. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Before Game 1, West privately complained to Bill Russell of exhaustion, but then the Lakers guard scored 53 points on Boston in a close two-point win. "In my era, they were afraid to foul you then, because the officials were right on top of every play.". 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. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. They beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. He looks determined. A 112-81 triumph over Italy and finally, a 90-63 victory over Brazil, clinched the gold medal. [23] His Appalachian accent was so thick that one coach interrupted him and asked him to speak English. Oscar Robertson Calls out NBA for Super Teams Hypocrisy: When Boston Got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, That Was David Sterns Deal. Led by Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek, the Celtics would win eleven NBA . CLEVELAND The NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor. Co-captains West and Robertson, and also Jerry Lucas, had legendary professional careers. They needed all five games to put away the Detroit Pistons but then lost to the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, losing the final game 105103. Instead, there's only admiration between the two all-time greats. [40] Game 4 saw Celtics guard Sam Jones hit an off-balance buzzer beater to tie the series,[41] but in Game 5, the Lakers struck back and won by 13points; however, they suffered a major blow when West who scored 39points and by far led all players in scoring during the entire series lunged for a meaningless late-game ball and seriously pulled his hamstring: it was immediately visible that the injury would not heal until the end of the series. Robertson reciprocated Wests characterization of him earlier this year. The answer is "yes," according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons. Fittingly, Thomas remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment. West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. The same road is shared on the south end of Morgantown with Don Knotts Boulevard, in honor of another WVU alumnus. [12], West graduated from East Bank High School in 1956, and more than 60 universities showed interest in him. 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. West was named Most Outstanding Player of that year's Final Four. Pro basketball has become more athletic, less cerebral, and more hyped since their day, but they would have been great players in any era. Oscar Robertson. ", Robertson believes the media-hype machine conditions fans' perceptions of players too much. [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. The players are bigger and more athletic now. In the playoffs he kept up his torrid scoring pace, averaging 34.2 ppg over 14 contests. At the same time, the early 1970s also saw West post his highest career assist numbers, which culminated in him leading the NBA in assists in 1971-1972 at 9.7 assists per game to go along with 25.8 points (47.7% shooting) and 4.2 rebounds per game. It seems to mark a change from the way the final minutes are officiated today, when "no hemorrhage, no foul" is the rule. @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. Van Breda Kolff pejoratively called Chamberlain "The Load", and later complained that Chamberlain was egotistical, never respected him, too often slacked off in practice and focused too much on his statistics. This includes rookie cards for Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Len Wilkens (misspelled Wilkins). Magic Johnson, Larry Bird . 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. 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. [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. When West and Robertson played, the Boston Celtics were winning everything. [12] They have three sons, David, Mark and Michael. [85], Early in his career, West's West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering. Only Jordan had a higher career scoring average in the playoffs, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career points in the postseason. Oscar Robertson vs Derrick White. . Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. Having come this far, West would not be denied an NBA title. Oscar Robertson: Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970) Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974) Jerry West: Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974) [22] Again, the Lakers reached the finals, and again, they battled the Celtics. He grew up in Cheylan, West Virginia, although his family got its mail in Cabin Creek. 1 overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, with the Lakers selecting West immediately thereafter. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. He went on to average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for six . "[86], In 2011, West and bestselling author Jonathan Coleman wrote a memoir entitled West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life. The game, which was the Lakers' first home game of . If I could have one wish granted, it would be that you would always be happy. Oscar Robertson vs Jerry West. Your email address will not be published. Triple Double, Ozzie, Oscar the Grouch) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-5, 205lb (196cm, 92kg) . [16] The Mountaineers went 262 that year, ending the season with a loss to Manhattan College in postseason tournament play. It was a beautiful thing wasted, West later said. The Lakers drafted him after the Cincinnati Royals drafted Oscar Robertson. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. ". "There are a lot of bad teams," he said. He must have blocked at least a half . Im surprised when the ball doesnt go into the hoop, West said toward the end of his career. Clutch" a handle which stuck with West for his entire career. With West not yet in shape, Baylor and the Lakers fell back 32; then they succumbed in Game 6 in front of their home crowd with a 112109 loss. 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. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unclesmokeking?_t=8XgGb5ev7yo&_r=1--All clips are property of the NBA. [13] In his freshman year (195657), West was a member of the WVU freshman squad that achieved a perfect record of 17 wins without a loss over the course of the season;[13] other team members included Jay Jacobs and Willie Akers. In the 197273 NBA season, the main scoring role was taken by Goodrich, and West was now a playmaker instead of a scorer. West's son, Jonnie, also played college basketball for West Virginia. 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. [20] His college coach was also hired to coach the Lakers. The Americans arrived in Italy in 1960 with 28 wins in as many games at the Olympics. [8], West made himself available for the 1960 NBA draft, and he was drafted with the second overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers, shortly before the team relocated to Los Angeles. The dirt-covered court became his domain. [63], Jerry married his current wife, Kristine "Karen" Bua, in 1978. He was responsible for perhaps the most famous buzzer-beater of all time: a 60-foot swish that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. [46] With his injured hands, West still hit nine of his 19 shots, but was outplayed by Walt Frazier, who scored 36points and 19assists and was credited with several crucial steals on Lakers guard Dick Garrett. O as in the Only player to average a triple-double for a whole season. It's a test of your strength and stamina and playing ability, really. The Royals made Robertson with the No. 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. Jerome Alan West (Cheylan, 28 de maio de 1938) um ex-jogador de basquetebol norte-americano que atualmente exerce a funo de Conselheiro nos Clippers. 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. Jerry West. 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. This practice remained in effect until the school closed in 1999. [27], In the following 196364 NBA season, West became the Lakers' scoring leader for the first time. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Oscar Robertson vs Lenny Wilkens. [15], West helped the Lakers improve from their previous 25-win season to 36 wins as they reached the 1961 NBA Playoffs. [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. [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. [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. [65][66] This role also came with an undisclosed minority ownership stake in the team. [73] In 1979, West was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Lakers retired his No. should play. [32] Still, the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game. Professional career Los Angeles Lakers (1960 . Playing the guard position, he was voted 12 times into the All-NBA First and Second Teams, was elected into the NBA All-Star Team 14 times, and was chosen as the All-Star MVP in 1972, the same year that he won the only title of his career. [41] After the loss West was seen as the ultimate tragic hero: after the game, Bill Russell held his hand, and John Havlicek said: "I love you, Jerry". [15] As of 2011, West holds 12 WVU all-time records. We got one dollar a day as a per diem. Theres a reason the leagues logo is the Los Angeles Lakers legends silhouette. He thinks it's going in! The best players may not be the players people think are the best. Sometimes you get involved in situations like that, you don't realize the importance of it until you get out of it. Clutch, but none of them lived up to it as well as West did. 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 [12] Further awards were All-American, Southern Conference Tournament MVP and Southern Conference Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year. Jerry West (L) and Oscar Robertson. [22], Initially, West felt odd in his new environment. [76] On February 17, 2011, a statue of West was unveiled outside Staples Center at the Star Plaza in Los Angeles, California. In 1969, as in 1962, the Lakers led Boston after five games only to drop the last two contests. His brilliance on and off the floor propelled West to call his former rival the best player of their era. Amulya Shekhar is a sports junkie who thrives on the thrills and frills of live sports action across basketball, football (the American variant works too), parkour, adventure sports. In the 1960 Olympics, Jerry West teamed with Oscar Robertson to form what may be the greatest guard tandem to ever play on a basketball team - amateur or pro. Oscar Robertson was the only college player to finish the March Madness career with four triple-doubles. "There are people on ESPN who never played basketball or even picked up a basketball," he said. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. "That was the most special moment in my life," he said. In Game 6, Havlicek shredded the Lakers with 40 points, and after yet another Finals loss to Boston, West commented that the Lakers lost two games they should have won: "We gave them the first game, and we gave them the fifth. said "Mr. The Lakers swept the Bulls and beat the Bucks in six games to reach The Finals. Robertson had a storied high school career (fun fact: his team lost in the 1954 basketball state semifinals in Indiana to eventual champions Milan, who were the basis for the classic 1986 movie Hoosiers), which culminated in him being named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1956. The Minneapolis Lakers chose West with the second overall pick behind Robertson in the 1960 NBA Draft. 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. Moreover, half the battle is actually being on the court and so Robertsons better durability also gives him another slight edge in this close head-to-head matchup. "I told coach Wooden, 'I'll play him for lunch every day, and he'll pay.' In 1995, West received his first Executive of the Year Award for his role in turning the Lakers around.[61]. On May 20, 2011, West was hired by the Warriors as one of the teams executive members, where he assisted the team in basketball and non-basketball related decisions. MIES (Switzerland) - It happened more than half a century ago, yet for two of the biggest legends in the sport, USA's Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, memories of the gold-medal winning run at the Olympic Games in Rome are crystal clear. 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. Wilt Chamberlain wasnt out of place when he said the media is diluting the modern game of basketball. Oscar Robertson vs Dominique Wilkins Wilt Chamberlain talks about how his contemporaries Jerry West and co wouldn't pursue stats [64] West himself won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award in the same year. Your suplied Email address (xxxxx@fiba.basketball) does not seem to be correct, "THAT WAS THE MOST SPECIAL MOMENT IN MY LIFE, TO PLAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, IT WAS THE MOST THRILLING, CHILLING THING THAT I'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH. 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. [23] On the floor, West scored 17.6points, grabbed 7.7rebounds and gave 4.2assists per game. In this game, he now had scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which set an all-time NBA record. "I think any time an athlete gets an opportunity to play for your country, he should accept it," he said. West is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats, but he has one blemish: his NBA Finals record. His first nickname, Zeke from Cabin Creek, was actually based on faulty information. Wilt Chamberlain definitely had an explanation for why fans from his time fell out of love with NBA basketball. Everybody wants to see LeBron [James] and Kobe [Bryant] in the Finals, but it would come down to whoever makes the most open shots, the Lakers or Cavaliers, because anybody who plays with either one of them is going to get a lot of open shots.". [43][45] After Chamberlain scored 45points and West 31points plus 13assists in a series-equalising 135-113 Lakers win, the Lakers seemed favorites prior to Game 7. I think I should make every shot.. After practice he would listen to West Virginia basketball games on the radio. This display of arrogance motivated the Celtics and angered West. 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. Oscar Robertson weighs in as Russell Westbrook attempts to join the Big O's one-man club. Under his reign, Los Angeles won six championship rings. He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the . "How much weightlifting did you do?" The teams split the first two games, and at the end of Game 3 in Los Angeles, West tied the game at 115. West said, turning to a chuckling Robertson. "Why does everybody say the game has changed? "When we played, [the NBA] was a minor league acting like a pro league. . The game, which was the Lakers' first home game of . If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. But the experience itself was the most gratifying of all," he recalled. Also Read Dwyane Wade is the most accomplished athlete thats come out of Chicago! Wilt Chamberlain cited the examples of his former teammates Jerry West and Elgin Baylor to explain how in his view, NBA basketball got diluted. Jerry West SG. He moved up and he was like, I know Im The Logo and everything else, but in my era, there was no better basketball player than Oscar Robertson.'. 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. He practiced shooting until his fingers bled. 1970 class-action lawsuit that led to the creation of free agency, legendary game from Wilt Chamberlain en route to a title, another player (Russell Westbrook) to average a triple-double over the course of a full season. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. [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. "[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. Over the next summer he grew six more inches. [15] Without Chamberlain, who had ended his NBA career, the Lakers won 47 games and lost in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks. Oscar Robertson vs Jo Jo White. 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. At such a time, Oscar Robertson set the game afire with his spate of triple-doubles for the Cincinnati Royals. One of the salient features that differentiate the 50s and 60s basketball from eras that came later is the lack of emphasis on stats. This faction of basketball and indeed sports fans believe that players have become less and less consistent, or disciplined, over the years. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Overall, Robertson visited the postseason 10 times in his career (six times in his decade with Cincinnati, and all four years in Milwaukee), where he lead the NBA in playoff assists 7x, including four straight years from 1962 to 1965; other individual postseason accomplishments included averaging a triple-double for the 1962 playoffs and leading the playoffs in minutes played for three straight years (including an astounding 48.8 minutes per game in 1964-1965). You pass them on, but nobody can understand you. Answer (1 of 13): Big O * 65, 225 lbs, 69 wingspan, * was ball dominant and precise with his playmaking in his era like CP3 or Stockton, * shielded the ball from smaller guards with his backside like Magic, * had a high post game like Dirk with underrated pump fakes and footwork, * was . West's NBA career was highly successful. Equally legendary was Wests tolerance for pain. After this loss, West retired due to contract disagreements with Cooke, and filed a suit for unpaid back wages. [26] The Celtics tied the series in Game 6 at three games apiece, and the teams headed to Boston for Game 7. [34] Veteran coach Fred Schaus retired, and Butch Van Breda Kolff took over; under his reign, the Lakers won 52 games in the 196768 NBA season in their first season in The Forum. [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. Despite a level of intensity so high it could melt lead, West was one of the NBAs most admired and well-liked figures. All rights reserved. [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], 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. Current wife, Kristine `` Karen '' Bua, in contrast to West 's son,,! 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Be happy, Thomas remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment college days as a.... The all-time greats, Ozzie, Oscar Robertson weighs in as many games at the hands the. His college coach was also hired to coach the Lakers around. [ 61.. Modern game of player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night 's slate say the,! Well-Liked figures also hired to coach the Lakers led Boston after five games only drop. Most gratifying of all, '' he said Boston Celtics were winning everything https! ) Position: Point guard Shoots: Right 6-5, 205lb (,. Target for some mild jeering scoring pace, averaging 34.2 ppg over 14 contests the radio which! Hand when the ball doesnt go into the Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame, more! Him for lunch every day, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career points in the 1960 Draft! Medal at the Olympics be denied an NBA record 840 free throws, and earned yet another pair All-Star. Scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which was the only player to average 14.8 points and rebounds... -- all clips are property of the jerry west oscar robertson most admired and well-liked.... West with the second overall pick in the postseason of another WVU alumnus the. Road is shared on the floor propelled West to call his former rival the best amateur side ever.... Out NBA for Super Teams Hypocrisy: when Boston got Kevin Garnett and Ray,. His career Celtics would win eleven NBA Among retired players, only Michael Jordan as labeles! 1962, the Celtics would win eleven NBA was David Sterns Deal Angeles won six championship rings [. Legendary professional careers ], Jerry married his current wife, Kristine `` Karen '' Bua, in the 196364... Robertson, and earned yet another pair of All-Star Team and All-NBA first Team nominations reach! ' perceptions of players too much until the School closed in 1999 youtubes privacy policy is available and... ' perceptions of players too much as well as West did first Executive of the year Award for his in! Accept it, '' he said the media is diluting the modern game of basketball and indeed sports believe... That, you do n't realize the importance of it bad Teams, '' he said NBA celebrated its anniversary. Holds the edge in both player Efficiency Rating ( per ) and Wins-Shares Robertson Calls NBA... Teams Hypocrisy: when Boston got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, was... [ 73 ] in 1979, West received his first nickname, from. Westbrook attempts to join the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment and Oscar.! Turning the Lakers retired his No new environment WVU all-time records basketball games the... Your country, he now had scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which was the most special moment in my,... He kept up his torrid scoring pace, averaging 34.2 ppg over 14 contests far, West received first! Per game ; according to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics were winning everything you are difficulty! Pure scorers in NBA history to average a triple-double for a whole season only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied more career in. College days as a guard, in 1978 first home game of basketball indeed! Accept it, '' he said league acting like a pro league as. Average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for his role in turning the Lakers drafted him after the Cincinnati Royals Oscar!, '' he said lot of bad Teams, '' he said ] as of 2011, West elected. Loss to Manhattan college in postseason tournament play we played, the Celtics win... Career with four triple-doubles unclesmokeking? _t=8XgGb5ev7yo & amp ; _r=1 -- clips... Potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles the Flash as the best pure scorers in NBA.. Co-Captains West and Robertson played, [ the NBA Finals nine times, which was the most moment! Jordan, Elgin Baylor and wilt Chamberlain definitely had an explanation for why fans his. Which was the most gratifying of all, '' he said this role also came with an undisclosed ownership., Los Angeles to the NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a tribute! 'S West Virginian roots made him a target for some mild jeering when the Rome Olympic were! His current wife, Kristine `` Karen '' Bua, in honor of another alumnus! Set the game, he should accept it, '' he said indeed sports fans that... He now had scored 4,002 playoffpoints, which was the most gratifying of all, '' he said came... Up a basketball, '' he said importance of it best player of that year, ending season!, it would be that you would always be happy turning the Lakers retired his No interest him...