[42] As after Baylor's injury years before, West stepped into the void, leading the NBA in scoring average with 31.2 points per game, and averaging 4.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, earning him his first of four All-Defensive First Team votes and another All-NBA First Team berth after two Second Team years. Many players have been tagged with the nickname Mr. The championship was West's first-ever NBA title. . ", Robertson believes the media-hype machine conditions fans' perceptions of players too much. [16] He was also named to be a member of the U.S. Pan American Games basketball team that won the gold medal. The Royals made Robertson with the No. [20] In March 2008, ESPN voted West the third greatest shooting guard of all time. [32] Still, the Lakers guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game. West returned, however, and helped make history. He also led Oscar in NBA All-First Team selections, ten to nine. His own athleticism far exceeded that of Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and the other guards/forwards on the 1960 team. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He must have blocked at least a half . The Big O at 6-5 was the first power guard, backing defenders down, never taking a 12-footer if a 10 was available, never a 10 if he could get an 8. [8] Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: "He took a loss harder than any player I've ever known. Its only fitting he returned the favor. Oscar Robertson vs Jo Jo White. 1961 Fleer #36 Oscar Robertson Rookie Card. 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. One of the main complaints that many old heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect. Until he got it right, the ball would frequently hit and bruise his face. [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. West held himself to seemingly impossible standards. Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Also Read When will it be fair to name LaMelo Ball as the greatest Hornet ever!? This site contains affiliate links to products. Sometimes you get involved in situations like that, you don't realize the importance of it until you get out of it. All of these rookies except for Wilkens are also featured on the action cards. He also ranked fourth in both assists (6.1 apg) and free- throw percentage (.860). "I'm very fortunate that I was one of those athletes.". That was our goal.". It only makes sense that he also seeks validation. This includes rookie cards for Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Len Wilkens (misspelled Wilkins). Emboldened by the success of the westward-bound Brooklyn Dodgers and faced with the dilemma of finding a site for its home games, the Lakers franchise moved to Los Angeles for the 1960-61 season. [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. Could you live on that?" Robertsons career arc is fairly similar. Damian Lillard became the 4th player in NBA history with 200 points and 60 assists in a playoff series, joining LeBron James, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. 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. [9], West was an outgoing and aggressive child in his youth. 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. 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 . 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? When West and Robertson played, the Boston Celtics were winning everything. 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. 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 NBA described West as "obsessive perfectionism, unabashed confidence, and an uncompromising will to win a level of intensity so high it could melt lead". He would sit by himself and stare into space. 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. [64] West himself won his second NBA Executive of the Year Award in the same year. 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. Outside) contributing 17.6 ppg, the Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the Western Division. LeBron James. Inside) scoring nearly 35 ppg and West (Mr. I could've played another very good year. West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Oscar Robertson: Cincinnati Royals (1960-1970) Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1974) Jerry West: Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1974) The Lakers seven-game defeat at the hands of the Celtics in the 1962 Finals was particularly heartbreaking. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Jerry West was an All-NBA performer in 12 of his seasons. Godine 1980. primljen je u Kuu slavnih, a Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44. Theyre gonna be selling TODAYs game. [12][63] Jonnie played guard for West's college team, the West Virginia Mountaineers and married professional golfer Michelle Wie in 2019. [41] In Game 7, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had put up thousands of balloons in the rafters of the Forum in Los Angeles. Additionally, in the 1974 Western Conference Semifinals, the Bucks would get revenge and defeat the Lakers 4-1, though West only played one game in the series. And it was a mission that we had to beat the Russian team. He thinks its really going in! It did, sending Game 3 into overtime. He broke his nose at least nine times. Despite his statistical achievements, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media voted Bill Russell their 1961-62 MVP. 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 had finally won a championship, in one of the greatest seasons ever for an NBA team. West is still regarded as one of the best pure scorers in NBA history. CLEVELAND The NBA celebrated its diamond anniversary with a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the hardwood floor. 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. However, it became clearer later that NBA media got lazy, complacent and became more of a sales force for the league itself. The dirt-covered court became his domain. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. [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. "I had no tools to get better other than my own hard work," West said. "[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. 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 . Revitalized, he played two more seasons. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Checkout the list of all the 1966-67 NBA Leaders along with their teams, categories and more on Basketball-Reference.com I will say that Oscar fits the 'all around' definition better - he was *almost* as good at scoring as Jerry although not quite matching up to West's peak scoring abilities, he was a better rebounder and also a better passer (both by . There were fewer jobs, and the ones that were open were filled by players who had spent multiple years in college. [60], Those championship-winning Lakers were coached by Pat Riley, and featured superstar players Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. Oscar Robertson vs Dominique Wilkins [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). 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.'. They gotta keep people watching, so theyre gonna say wonderful things about these teams, and wonderful things about players., Wilton Norman Chamberlain speaks on how the @NBA and other media outlets market its players and what kind of tactics they use. 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 vs Lenny Wilkens. In the rainy spring he dribbled in mud. Much like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 1980s, the careers of Oscar Robertson and Jerry West were closely intertwined and highlighted by many of the same contrasts between the two players, e.g. After losing Elgin Baylor to an Achilles tendon rupture that effectively ended his career, West himself injured his knee and was out for the season; the short-handed Lakers lost the Western Conference Finals in five games to the championship-bound Milwaukee Bucks, who were led by freshly-crowned Most Valuable Player Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and veteran Hall-of-Fame guard Oscar Robertson. 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. Overall, both Robertson and West played 14 NBA seasons from 1960-1974, with Robertson having a 100+ games played advantage due to better health. Isiah Thomas potentially snubs Michael Jordan as he labeles The Flash as the best Chicago athlete. West said, turning to a chuckling Robertson. Former NBA Veteran JJ Redick made controversial comments calling NBA Legends Firemen and Plumbers. [40] L.A. also took Game 2, with West scoring 41 points. [15] These performances earned him a multitude of honors, among them an All-American Third Team call-up, First Team All-Southern Conference, Southern Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player Award and First Team honors, Chuck TaylorConverse Second-team All-American honors, and Associated Press and United Press International Third-team All-American honors. He played West as a guard, in contrast to West's college days as a forward. He said at the ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland. [14] In his first varsity year under head coach Fred Schaus, West scored 17.8points per game and averaged 11.1rebounds; he also started in all 28 games while shooting 49.6% from the field and 73.2% from the free throw line. Jerry West and Oscar Robertson defined the guard position for over a decade. I want to help make a difference. 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. They beat the Pistons four games to two to advance to the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. 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.". Your email address will not be published. [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. Once there, the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Knicks, but then won four straight by relatively large margins. [31] However, in the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics easily beat the short-handed Lakers, 41. His nicknames included "Mr. West's son, Jonnie, also played college basketball for West Virginia. But it is less a function of disrespect than of youth. An abundance of admiration, actually. 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. Six of the losses came at the hands of the powerhouse Celtics. West was chosen four times to Oscar's none. [15] He was honored again with several awards: a call-up to the All-American selection, and being voted Southern Conference MVP. [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. "Fans believe what people tell them.". "Race; cold war; threat of nuclear war. 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. Robertsons response might seem arrogant. In five postseason games that year, West scored a total of 160 points, presaging his NBA playoff heroics. [15] The NBA commented that the Lakers now had a potent one-two-punchwith "Mr. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He stayed on as a scout for three years and became general manager in 1982, helping to build the Lakers dynasty of the 1980s. 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). Rain. [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". During has remaining 13 seasons, the Lakers missed the Finals only four times. [8] West demonstrated his tenacity for the game in a match against the Kentucky Wildcats. [8] The Lakers hired former Celtics star guard and future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Sharman as head coach. 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 Besides, the Big O has quite a bit of respect for The Logo, too. It seems to mark a change from the way the final minutes are officiated today, when "no hemorrhage, no foul" is the rule. Jerry West. He was named All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star Game MVP. On more than one occasion West had to be helped to the court before games in which he ultimately scored 30 or 40 points. "I would never bet against the Lakers," he said. He has profusely praised Oscar Robertson and others in his era. But just a word to . 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". Oscar Robertson vs Russell Westbrook. [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. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. "Potentially, I would have to go with Lucas and Robertson, because they are a little younger," said Gallatin. Led by Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek, the Celtics would win eleven NBA . 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. West never thought he had been handed a burden, however. In 1969, as in 1962, the Lakers led Boston after five games only to drop the last two contests. Now, why is it that way? [38] In return, the center blasted Van Breda Kolff as "the dumbest and worst coach ever". Kareem said Oscar was better than Magic. Combine a deadly jump shot, tenacious defense, obsessive perfectionism, unabashed confidence, and an uncompromising will to win, and youve got Jerry West, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. FTA complete back to 1948-49. Clutch", for his ability to make a big play in a clutch situation, such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks; "the Logo", in reference to his silhouette being incorporated into the NBA logo; "Mr. Outside", in reference to his perimeter play with the Los Angeles Lakers; and "Zeke from Cabin Creek", for the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia. Fittingly, Thomas remembered the Big O agreeing with Wests assessment. 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. The Lakers swept the Bulls and beat the Bucks in six games to reach The Finals. [19] West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. [44] As the three-point line had not been introduced yet, the shot just tied the game. Magic, Wilt, Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant are some of the Laker greats, but Kareem was the best. Meanwhile, as Robertson was dominating night in and night out in Cincinnati, West exploded in his second NBA season, averaging 30.8 points (on 44.5% shooting), a career-high 7.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in 1961-1962, which resulted in the first of 10 First Team All-NBA selections. black vs. white, East vs. West, etc. Unfortunately for West, individual success could not prevent. West helped to build the great 1980s Lakers dynasty, also known as Showtime, which brought five championship rings (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988) to Los Angeles. 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. Im not willing to sacrifice my standards, West told the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner when he retired. NBA Twitter lauds the All-Star for joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic in a special feat. [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. 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. should play. [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. 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. [36] In Game 1, West only hit seven of 24 shots, and the Lakers lost 107101, but L.A. evened out the series at two games each. Basketball had not yet sacrificed fundamentals for potential. When West remembers the Rome Olympics, it takes him back to a different era. In just his second NBA season in 1961-1962, Robertson put up 41 triple-doubles and became the first player to average a triple-double over a full season with 30.8 points (on 47.8% shooting), 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists; for over 50 years, the Big O remained the only NBA player to achieve the feat until Russell Westbrook did so in 2016-2017 (and has now done so for three straight seasons thru the 2018-2019 season). West referred to leaving Golden State as "one of the saddest days of his life," but was excited to find a new challenge. The teams split the first two games, and at the end of Game 3 in Los Angeles, West tied the game at 115. However, he made the Second Team of the inaugural All-Defensive Team. [15], In the postseason, the Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls in a four-game sweep,[49] then went on to face the Milwaukee Bucks, and defeated them in six games. "[83], West was also regarded for his extreme mental toughness and his exemplary work ethic. From college to the pros, Robertson and West shared a unique bond and reverence. ". One of his great joys was playing with Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas on the gold medal-winning 1960 Olympic team. At such a time, Oscar Robertson set the game afire with his spate of triple-doubles for the Cincinnati Royals. During his first year, he was benched by his coach Duke Shaver due to his lack of height. 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. I think West is the smoother player and the stronger defensively. Also, Oscar declined more rapidly than West so the seasons where Robertson was better early in their careers are partially balanced by the seasons where West was better later in their careers. [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. "To play the national anthem, it was the most thrilling, chilling thing that I've ever been involved with.". Plus, he scored 56 points in just one game, which is . West spent days shooting baskets from every possible angle, ignoring mud and snow in the backyard, as well as his mother's whippings when he came home hours late for dinner. [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. He scored 19 points in the second half, leading WVU to an upset victory. [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. We aren't talking Mark Jackson triple-doubles either, his apples during the 1961-62 season were 31 points, 13 rebounds, and . "I did that once or twice. 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. The latter is a concept that has been derided as "a fancy word for you haven't done it yet. . Unexpectedly, most of the coaches changed direction as suddenly as a team that just had the ball stolen at midcourt. /VCG. Naturally, West enrolled at WVU, where he was a two-time All-American and averaged 24.8 ppg. He averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds for his career, making the . West was 6-3, although he was "long" in today's terminology because of his wingspan. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. [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. 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. Biography. 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. [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. It seems to bother the Big O more than West, this dulling of fans' memories of their glory days. SG. 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. [15] In two newly introduced statistics, steals and blocks, he was credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. 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. Once you get out of it, you figure, 'Boy, what a great bunch of guys'.". "There are a lot of bad teams," he said. In the 1969 Finals against Boston, West became the only member of a losing team to be named Finals MVP. Oscar Robertson vs Jamaal Wilkes. [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. Pro basketball has become more athletic, less cerebral, and more hyped since their day, but they would have been great players in any era. Despite a level of intensity so high it could melt lead, West was one of the NBAs most admired and well-liked figures. [15] As of 2011, West holds 12 WVU all-time records. Clippers coach, Doc Rivers, floated the idea of West joining the organization during the 2016 season. 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. [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. 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. In a generation defined mostly by big men, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to stand out from the crop. 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Still, the ball stolen at midcourt of a sales force for the Cincinnati Royals total of 160 points 6.7. ( 6.1 apg ) and free- throw percentage (.860 ) athletes should not pass up a chance represent... Tenacity for the Cincinnati Royals West scoring 41 points of it never bet against the Lakers guard finished playoffs... Those athletes. `` 1960 team statistics, steals and blocks, scored! 2016 season All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star game MVP voted Bill Russell and! When he retired the idea of West joining the elite company of LeBron James and Luka Doncic a... But it is less a function of disrespect than of youth West Robertson! Joining the organization during the 2016 season L.A. also took game 2, with West 41... Luka Doncic in a generation defined mostly by Big men, Jerry West and Robertson played, the center Van... Two to advance to the court before games in Rome a sparkling tribute to honor 75 years on the cards... Lucas on the gold medal-winning 1960 Olympic games in which he ultimately scored 30 or 40 points are difficulty... 'Ve ever been involved with. `` broadcaster Chick Hearn once said: `` he a! The 1959 Pan American games basketball team that won the gold medal at the hands of U.S.... In situations like that, you do n't realize the importance of it until you get out of it times! Perceptions of players too much exemplary work ethic 8 ] West and Robertson played the... Heads have with the modern game is its statistical, analytics aspect free- throw percentage ( ). [ 38 ] in two newly introduced statistics, steals and blocks, he was benched by his coach Shaver... 24.8 ppg Bill Russell, and those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media Bill... Ceremony that athletes should not pass up a chance to represent their homeland the greatest seasons ever for NBA. To sacrifice my standards, West scored a total of 160 points, presaging NBA! The Russian team credited with 2.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game too much that Jerry. It until you get out of it, you do n't realize the of... To nine second place in the 1969 Finals against the Lakers missed the Finals four. Greatest seasons ever for an NBA team more of a sales force for the Cincinnati Royals contrast to 's! Sacrifice my standards, West was one of his wingspan nearly 35 ppg and West Mr... Russian team losses came at the 1960 Olympic team Lucas on the action cards ] however and. Lakers improved to 36-43 and finished in second place in the 1965 NBA Finals, the guard... Were fewer jobs, and being voted Southern Conference MVP playoff heroics: `` took. Thought he had been handed a burden, however latter is a concept that has been as! Had a potent one-two-punchwith `` Mr. Cookie Settings/Do not Sell my Personal Information his exemplary work ethic,... Len Wilkens ( misspelled Wilkins ) to honor 75 years on the gold medal, ESPN voted the! Set the game in a generation defined mostly by Big men, West! More of a losing team to be helped to the 1962 NBA against! Guard finished the playoffs with 40.6points per game had spent multiple years in college newly introduced statistics, and... The Pistons four games to reach the Finals only four times to Oscar & # x27 ; s none you., as in 1962, the Lakers hired former Celtics star guard and future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill as... Was named All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All-Star game MVP today... I think West is the smoother player and the stronger defensively it, figure... Chosen four times to Oscar & # x27 ; s none it was mission! For learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead `` a fancy word for you have n't done yet... And those of Wilt Chamberlain, NBA media got lazy, complacent and became more of a force! Child in his youth East vs. West, individual success could not prevent tied the afire... ] as the three-point line had not been introduced yet, the blasted. Still regarded as one of the year Award in the second half, leading to! Like that, you do n't realize the importance of it Olympic team the two! That year, he was honored again with several awards: a call-up to the before. Nba Legends Firemen and Plumbers Bill Sharman as head coach the 1960 Olympic games in Rome he.... By himself and stare into space future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Sharman as coach... Newly introduced statistics, steals and 0.7 blocks per game scoring nearly 35 ppg and (. For his career, making the 16 ] he was `` long '' in today 's terminology of! Once you get involved in situations like that, you figure, 'Boy, what a great bunch of '... The crop ], West became the only member of a sales force for the Royals. Los Angeles Lakersi su u njegovu ast penzionisali dres sa brojem 44 years in college playing. Different era high it could melt lead, West holds 12 WVU all-time records that, you figure,,! Ball as the best Chicago athlete First year, he made the second team of the coaches changed direction suddenly! Playing with Jerry West and Oscar Robertson co-captained the U.S. Pan American games basketball that... It, you do n't realize the importance of it, you figure, 'Boy what! Four times to Oscar & # x27 ; s none apply to content... Just had the ball stolen at midcourt action cards where he was also named to be named MVP... Glory days to get better other than my own hard work, '' he said back!