Jerry West, former player for the Los Angeles Lakers and NBA Hall of Famer, has recently gone back on his previous negative comments about Oscar Robertson.
Jerry West’s reputation as the logo did not prevent him from giving Oscar Robertson the ultimate praise. In fact, he was one of the first to do so.
Jerry West is regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. There’s a reason the Los Angeles Lakers legend’s silhouette is used as the league’s emblem. Despite his illustrious history, West believes he was not the top individual talent of his day. Oscar Robertson, on the other hand, received the award.
Robertson’s all-around brilliance made him a triple-double machine on the court, and his 1970 class-action case, which resulted in the institution of free agency, forever changed the sport’s landscape. West dubbed his former adversary the finest player of their period because of his talent on and off the court.
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For nearly a decade, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson dominated the guard position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyz MuMZ6RY
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Jerry West and Oscar Robertson managed to distinguish out in a decade that was dominated by huge guys.
West is still considered as one of the NBA’s greatest pure scorers. For his career, he averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 rebounds, making the Lakers one of the league’s most prominent clubs.
Individual accomplishment, however, could not save West. He and the Lakers suffered heartache on a regular basis at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The Logo is still the only player in Finals history to earn MVP while a member of a losing team.
Robertson’s career path follows a similar pattern. Early in his career, he dominated with the Cincinnati Royals, averaging a triple-double for multiple seasons and ended with career averages of 29.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 8.5 rebounds across ten seasons. However, early in his career, Robertson and the Royals were eliminated from the playoffs, and near the conclusion of his Cincinnati stint, he failed to even enter the postseason.
Fortunately, both legends were given their due.
The Bucks won the 1971 title with the aid of Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who defeated West and the Celtics in the Conference Finals. The next season, West and company got their vengeance, with The Logo leading the NBA in assists and LA getting a famous game from Wilt Chamberlain on way to a championship.
Robertson was dubbed “the finest player of their generation” by West.
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Isiah Thomas, a former member of the Detroit Pistons, remembers the talk vividly.
On an older episode of NBA TV’s Open Court, Thomas stated that he had the honor of sharing a panel with Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. He said (via YouTube) that West’s praise for Robertson just added to the Big O’s brilliance.
“To hear Jerry West speak about Oscar Robertson and to watch Jerry West talk about Oscar Robertson… It’s something I’ll never forget. “I know I’m The Logo and all, but there was no greater basketball player in my age than Oscar Robertson,” he said as he progressed.
–Isiah Thomas, Open Court “Decades,” recounting what Jerry West said about Oscar Robertson.
According to Thomas, the Big O agreed with West’s judgment.
“Oscar was right there,” says the narrator. Oscar, you know, responded, ‘You right, Jerry.’”
–Thomas on Robertson’s retaliation against West
Robertson’s remark may come out as haughty. However, for a guard, his all-around skill was unrivaled. There’s a reason it took another player (Russell Westbrook) more than 50 years to average a triple-double over the course of a season.
The Big O, after all, has a lot of regard for The Logo. Actually, there’s a lot of admiration.
West is one of Robertson’s favorite players in NBA history.
Oscar Robertson #1 of the Milwaukee Bucks blocks Jerry West #44 of the Los Angeles Lakers as he tries a jump jumper | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
Robertson responded to West’s earlier this year depiction of him.
The Big O spoke about his favorite players in league history on the Knuckleheads podcast. West was one of Robertson’s top five picks. It’s only right that he repays the courtesy. They have a long history together.
Both players won gold medals in the 1959 Pan American Games and went on to lead Team USA to a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics, forming probably the greatest backcourt in basketball history. In the 1960 NBA Draft, the Royals selected Robertson with the first overall choice, followed by the Lakers with the second overall pick.
Robertson and West had a special relationship and regard from college to the professionals. It’s a situation that necessitates mutual respect, which still exists today.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
‘When Boston got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, it was David Stern’s deal,’ Oscar Robertson said of the NBA’s hypocrisy about Super Teams.
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Jerry West’s height is 6’3. His reputation as the logo did not prevent him from giving Oscar Robertson the ultimate praise. Reference: jerry west height.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jerry West known for?
A: Jerry West was one of the best and most beloved basketball players in NBA history. He had a career that spanned from his rookie year all the way to 1987, when he retired for good. His achievements include being an 11-time All Star selection, six-time MVP award recipient, and 16-year veteran who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to their first three championships under him as head coach.
What did Jerry West do for the NBA?
A: Jerry West was a basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and later, he led LA to win 10 NBA Championships.
What was Oscar Robertson known for?
A: Oscar Robertson was a professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1950-1974. He is called The Big O because of his very large height and weight, which reached 23 ft 11 inches and weighed 245 pounds respectively.
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