My favorite memory of Mr. West is when he was being interviewed by a local LA radio guy named John Ireland. John asks him: "Zeke from Cabin Creek, The Logo, Mr. Clutch. . .which one is your favorite? Mr. West doesn't skip a beat and just says "I've always been partial to Jerry West" Pure class!
me too, i scalped tickets in high school. a lot of free games, great seats, all the food i can eat and seeing all the greats back then. that's why i laugh when people like jj reddick calls these guys plumbers. they will never see what we saw.they will never know how great west, wilt and the host of other greats.even Jordan is aware of it which is a contribution to his greatness.they have no clue how great those guys were back then
@@thomasscott1570 it is commenters like us that say 1950's , 1960's , and 1970's players "plumbers" far more than ex pros like JJ Reddick. I get sick of having to correct the young en's that the NBA was always a pro level league - even when near All Star players had to work "second jobs" to make ends meat. Jerry West played with and against some serious players, like ; Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry Sloan (a personal favorite for his defense and he was a Bull), Bob Petit, and all those great Celtics teams lead by Bill Russell the championship GOAT. Fun Fact : just seeing the color green would bother Jerry West for a couple of decades after he retired, because the Celtics beat him out of so many championships. r. i. p. Jerry West, "Mr Clutch", aka "the Logo" (you know a player is really special when they have multiple nicknames, like Wilt, MJ, Shaq, and Mr West).
Go look and see where he is on the All Time Free Throws Made. He hasn't played 1 minute since the Vietnam War Era and he's still in the Top10. Jordan has more than twice as many as Steph Curry 😐
Jerry West and Oscar Robertson played 14 seasons an both have over 25,000 Points with no 3 Point line 😒 both are well over 4,000 Points ahead of Curry. I have both as 2 an 3 on my top PG list, both top 11 All-time Players. Easily to defend these 2 ranking. If Jerry West was able to get past Bill Russell atleast 3 times, just 3 he'd be viewed with more respect on top 10 list.
If you bare in mind there was no 3 point line back then and do the math on his playoff average, the number becomes truly unattainable. I saw that some college kid is 'close' to breaking Pete Marivich's season average...only he has a 3 point line and twice as many games to do it in. That is how good the legends were.
You have to remember that when West played you could only dribble with your hand on top of the ball. No leaning in to your opponent because that was called an offensive foul, even if he was moving with you
@@jedsteelwell2354 That started in the late '80s. The reason scoring declined through the early '90s was because referee bias in favor of stars was so overwhelming and scouting changed accordingly. They wanted to protect Michael Jordan and all the rest of their big marketing draw players. So all the star players started getting increasingly bias treatment (esp MJ) from the refs - on both sides of the ball. This led to the Isolation Era of the late 90s-early 2000s, in which teams would just let their star player work with the ball while everyone else basically stood around. The star player would chew up the shot clock then go for the score and toss a bailout pass if they couldn't get a decent shot in the last 5 seconds. The favoritism of the refs included ignoring traveling violations and offensive and defensive fouls while frequently calling fouls on those defending against stars, increasingly so the less well known/liked the defender was. Since anyone decent could play the role of a "star" with the refs having their back, scouting in the 90s began simply seeking out the most athletic players who would draw the most attention with dramatic dunks and plays. The NBA from the late 80s to present day has been increasingly about spectacle and less about the integrity of the game. And part of that has been protecting star players from injury. The slower paced game, along with the zone defenses that came in the 2000s, meant star players had less wear and tear on them. Defenses could do less and less to stop them so star players were hit increasingly less when shooting. The problem was, their scouting and the way the game adjusted to the way things were called was getting noticed. Why did Free Throw percentage decline steadily through the 90s into the early 2000s? FG% declined. Scoring declined. Fewer shots were being taken. The standing around got even worse and on both ends of the floor once they made zone defenses acceptable. The caliber of play was undeniably falling off. The stars didn't really have to improve themselves anymore. They just had to be willing to jack up the shots and not complain about the hierarchy of favoritism too much. And the NBA officiating took an increasingly greater role in deciding outcomes to create results league executives wanted (deciding on what was best according to marketing tests). This also got noticed a bit too much. So, the league decided to change the rules and officiating even more to offset the effects of star treatment. Stars still got preferential treatment, but now everyone would get even greater latitude with traveling and protection from defenders when on offense. Offensive players became virtually untouchable and unstoppable. Defenses just backed off, became static zones, and the jump shots and dunks began to flow. Scores soared. And now we have our clown show NBA of today. It's a shadow of what the NBA of yesterday was. A lower bar, lower skill, and cringeworthy defense. Free throw percentages have improved though, so I guess there's that.
Mr. Jerry West is the one of the pride of West Virginia. The Man is great!!! Humble and for real..... I think he played center at WVU. Jerry is a special human being. SPECIAL...... Thanks man.
I was blest to live in L.A. during the Jerry West years. What stood out to me was his fluidity and grace in his movements and shot taking. The intangibles only serve to augment his deadly accuracy.
under appreciated, as a competitor. he had a lot of finesse but make no mistake, he always competed hard and at times single handedly kept his team afloat against the greatest dynasty ever.
As a Celtics fan, and watching those games on TV, I HATED it when Jerry West got the ball. Because you knew you were in trouble, and he'd always make the shot. Ultimate respect to the man.
Watching Walt Frazier and Jerry West go at it was WONDERFUL. I did not realize how solid Jerry was until I ran into him in the elevator at the Warriors game when they were in Oakland. He is a big strong corn-fed looking dude. And I mean that in a good way.
They were what got me into basketball as a 5th grader. Two of the greatest ever, Clyde doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. West is an iconic figure for his playing career and for his career in the game since his retirement. First class dude worthy of being “The Logo”.
@@cycleoflife565 I agree, Clyde and West were built from the same cloth. Saw him at the NBA rookie summer league in Vegas one year. He is built like a small tank also. They both were great players along with Gail Goodrich. That was a good basketball era. They actually played defense during their Allstars games. LOL
Jerry was my favorite player growing up in LA. My friends too. Everybody wanted to be like him. Great jump shot. And you could depend on him taking those crucial shots. Mr. Clutch for sure.
I remember seeing an interview clip with Pat Riley years ago, and his exact words were "Michael may have played the game more athletically, but nobody has played the game of basketball better than Jerry West". That's how good he was.
Jerry West and Walt Frazier were two of my favorite guards. They played defense and offense and never bitched to the refs like today's players. And they both had class.
@@philb.1502 How old are you JR ? Check it out. Look up the TOP 100 ALL TIME NBA, and 50 of them played with west, so you dont have any idea what your talking about.
Because people are stupid ans are sold narrative that only the last 5 seasons count, and that any supposedly good players only face Danny De Vitos before 2017
I think Jerry West often gets forgotten because he only has the one ring. People say, but what did he contribute? Then you see those moves he did and realize he was the first one to do them, and now, they're standard.
One of the greatest for sure. Lock down defender. He shot from 3 distance before they were worth 3 points. He saw the floor as well as anyone and could make any pass. Tough, competitive demeanor who was the ultimate teammate. His GM career also unparalleled. Mr. Clutch and a really good human being.
@@philb.1502 He was doing hesi moves without crossovers. People forget why Allen Iverson crossing MJ was such a big deal. A lot of media called it a carry. 6'3" (6'4.5" according to Chamberlain) with a 6'9" wingspan and 16 in above the rim. He would do fine in today's NBA. Next you gonna say Pete Maravich wasn't good at dribbling and Oscar Robertson was too small for point guard.😂 Learn ball before talking. Anybody can see he was good by how he moved and clutch shots he made.
I wasn’t alive when Jerry West played, but as an amateur historian of the game, I’ve studied West’s game thoroughly. IMHO, he was way ahead of his time. Even though he’s officially listed as a PG, I’ve always viewed him as a SG. He was one of the first, if not the first, true combo guards in the NBA, as he could play and defend both guard spots. He’s the bridge between the traditional, and modern day guard hybrid. My favorite era will always be 1980-1996, give or take a year. That’s when I fell in love with the game. Watching the game evolve in real time as a kid in the early 80s, and then as a young adult in mid 90s, is a time that I feel blessed to have been a witness to. That said, West paved the way for the “Magic Johnson, Larry Bird era”, that took the game to even greater heights, it revolutionized the NBA. One could argue that without the pioneering influence of “The Logo”, the Johnson and Bird led NBA may never have happened. Or at the very least, would not have had the same impact that it did.
If there was a 3 Point Line during Jerry West's Career he would 100 percent be the All Time Points Per Game Leader. West definitely needs to be in the talk of being the GOAT.
Good grief, no he doesn't. Not everyone needs to be in the dam GOAT discussion. He may be one of the best shooters ever, but guys like MJ, James, and Kobe would eat him for lunch
@robertjackson4751 No Way. West was way smarter than any of them and he does need included in the Discussion. Heck in the statement you just made then Larry Legend is the GOAT. MJ could never beat him. And Bird does need in the GOAT Discussion too. James isn't even in the Top 10 All Time.
@natureboy1313 Pistol Pete was probably the NCAA GOAT. He was great to watch. Poor Pete had so much trouble with his knees like Bill Walton. Being on some not so good NBA teams definitely effected West and Maravich in these people's Polls because they never seen them play.
Mr Cutch was a great player on both sides of the ball when he played and he was also one of the clutch players ever. The Logo's misfortune was playing during the great Celtic dynasty.
I watched jerry west in his prime, without a doubt he is the best all around guard of all time...his defensive skills was just as awesome as his high powered offense.
@@JohnnyRodgers3 I'd drop Kobe a lot, as his MISSES made up for a lot of his HITS - his shooting percentages all but ONE SEASON of his career barely beat NBA average.
It is so nice to hear Kevin Calabro in your intro. It brings back great memories of watching the sonics in the late 80's and through out the 90's. GET UP FOR THE DOWN STROKE!
The only autograph I got from a basketball player was from Jerry West. I lived east of LA and went to a few games at the "Fabulous" Forum. I wrote a letter asking Jerry for his height and weight and he wrote it on the photo: 6'3" 190 lbs. so I knew he read my letter. The only other pros I got an autograph also wore #44, Henry Aaron in 1974, and Al Downing (in person!), Downing was the Dodger pitcher who later tossed Aaron's record-breaking homer.
Not sure if it was him, because he stated that he was 6'4" and 1/2 and that he wasn't sure why they erroneously listed him at 6'2" or 6'3" all the time.
"Zeke from Cabin Creek". He is still revered in West Virginia. He went to high school in East Bank, WV. One time when he came home for a visit, the town officially changed its name to West Bank for the day.
If you wanted someone to take the last shot, that was Jerry West. He was a smaller version of Rick Barry with the same deadly shooting skills, but he also had Oscar's ability to just go where he wanted and then elevate for a shot. I vividly remember the Knicks game when he took the ball from 63 feet out and launched it to tie the game: there was no doubt that it was a bucket because Jerry WILLED it to go in. If he had played in the 3-point era, he would have averaged 45 a game easily.
I watched Jerry West when i was a kid. Yeah, i'm that old. Watching these old films is surreal for me, cuz my eyes are seeing once again, something i saw a long time ago. Jerry Was great !
Same here. Saw him play in the West Virginia state tournaments back in the late 1950s. He had a "hook shot with which he scored many points. A childhood hero for many of us growing up in that era.
Great vid by BTM. Cannot find an NBA player who didn't respect Jerry West as a player, or as a man. Michael Jordan, in his autobio, said that if there was one player he would compare his game to, and to have a dream matchup against, ...it was Jerry West. THAT's respect from MJ. Jerry's lifetime stats are very comparable to MJ: Jerry ppg 27, MJ: 30.1. Assists 6.7 to 5.3. Reb 5.8 to 6.2. In both of their last seasons, they both averaged 20 ppg! Now I'm gonna wait for the kids to watch this vid, and say (as they do with any player before 1990): "He looked slow... doesn't look like he could jump ... he never dunked ... he didn't have a crossover ... Lebron could stop him ... he couldn't play in today's NBA." 🤣
Jerry West dunked, it just wasn't as much a part of the game back then. Even Wilt Chamberlain wouldn't really throw down sometimes just dip the ball in without touching the rim or just touching it lightly. I think he was trying not to break the rim off, lol. Those old baskets weren't made for it.
Mike is very respectful and appreciative of previous greats. I hate when many overlook this and just bring up his trash talking. He did that, sure. But to get into opponents heads to get a mental edge. It doesn't deter his respect for others.
Jerry West couldn't dribble with his left hand. He only went right. It's obvious when you watch his old clips. How could he play in today's NBA only going right??
@@philb.1502 nice try. So basically every team and HALL OF FAME player West faced didn’t think about forcing West to his left. Here’s several clips of West going to his left: ruclips.net/video/_-xJm6B6xog/видео.html. I’m sure I can find more.
I was born and raised in the Philippines until we immigrated to the US and remember watching West on TV, when the games managed to come on. A lot of Filipino boys tried imitating West. He was the 60s version and early 70s of "I want to be like Jerry."
I learned a lot by watching Jerry West and his tactics as an offensive player. No two players are alike but it’s about learning and improving your skill
Back when Magic Johnson was a rookie, West was Lakers GM. One day Magic was in practice with the team ! He saw West sitting in stands watching the practice ! Magic yelled up to stands, “ hey, logo, how about showing us how to shoot “ ! West took off his jacket rolled up his sleeves and they all took turns shooting until they missed ! Once anyone missed , they were out ! Jerry beat them all at 42 years old. That’s why on a pregame show, they were talking about Steph , a great shooter in his own right . They asked magic is he the best you’ve seen. Magic said,’ no, and told that story ! ‘
I appreciate this Bro I really love the history of the game and so many great players that could really go and get the job done, Jerry was amazing and to see Kobe studying him and ask his self questions show you the respect.
Thanks Sean, another excellent episode. Mr. West - the logo for a reason, or really multiple, across-the-board reasons!! Great job keeping it simple - nice, straightforward intro, letting the legends tell us how it really was & is in their own words, with great game clips. Nice job as usual with the choice of clips too - nice balance of guys from various eras, talking about various aspects of the man. I am blessed to have seen guys from his era back in the day...glad you're bringing these features on the legends to the younger audience so they can have a better appreciation for the legends of previous eras. Keep up the great work!
The Big Three of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain were very strong. It was very disappointing that the Lakers lost in the 1969 NBA Finals.
@@PhoenixAscending how did Jerry choke in the game 7 when he had a 40 point triple double. The only reason they lost was Wilt breaking his leg in the 4th quater and Elgin going 8/22 from the field.
I cannot thank you enough, my friend you have the best videos the best commentary your articulate you have a great voice and you bring us the best videos on the NBA especially old school traverse is my auto growing up as a kid in New York I watched this already 3 times. Think I’m gonna wind up watching it every day for a long time. thanks my friend you’re awesome ! just know that we so thoroughly enjoy in fact, love watching your videos you are the man !
Lifelong Laker fan here - Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were both complete and total class acts and always conducted themselves with grace and dignity. As a Laker fan growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in Los Angeles it was a joy to watch these two magnificent athletes play the game of basketball.
He was never on a team that I really rooted for except when the Lakers played the despised Celtics but he was one of my favorite players. An amazing competitor and gm.
Growing up through the 60s and 70s was a great time for sports especially near Cincinnati. The Big Red Machine was running roughshod over MLB and the Bengals joined the NFL.
Don't know where you grew up, but, WOW, the Reds and those Steelers! Amongst hundreds of great star players that I admired, Johnny Bench is my favorite BB player and Jack Lambert my favorite football player.
Thank you so much for these videos. I've been away from the U.S. for many years. I've heard about the garbage that happens that brings me down but these videos make me feel great!
Jerry West WAS NBA Basketball at its best. It is with deep sorrow to lose such a humble and talented man as individuals such as him only come around once in a lifetime. Hearts out to his family, friends and former colleagues!
Old school hoops didn’t allow constant double dribbling, palming, and open lane dunks like today. Today’s game a,es guys look better than they really are with stats that would be totally different in the old days.
I see guys in the NBA today take four steps and no double dribbling called on them and guys just clear the lane for them for an easy dunk. I quit watching years ago. It just isn’t the same. I love watching old highlights of the greats from the past. I am from NE, Ohio said most would think I was partial to Lebron James coming from Akron . he is really good. No doubt about it but he didn’t have to play in the tough years and he luckily stayed very healthy to put up the numbers he is doing playing for what 2 decades now? Think of Larry Bird even had 12 healthy years and played in the modern era. I think he had 7 healthy years and even hurt his finger when he first entered the league. The old Celtics and Lakers games were awesome too watch. Nothing has compared to it since..
Jerry west played at a time when you were mugged within the paint. Michael Jordan, Bird and Magic all understand that. What they all have is the mental toughness but the I.Q during and after the NBA make them even better. Legends..
I saw some doc on him last year and podcast p. He is very inspirational. What his career told me if you have IT. Never give up and use your god given talents no matter how the world sees it. Lose over and over and never beat the celtics but moved passed it and kept pushing, kept shooting, kept competing and won a title. It is amazing to think about the resolve a man has to have to do that.
Fun fact. Jerry West won the Finals MVP when playing for the losing team. Chuck Howley won the Super Bowl MVP when playing for the losing team. Both players are the only players to do it. And both are from small towns in West Virginia.
People forget how good West was. I saw him play. He was clearly the best player on the floor; with his quick release he could shoot over anyone. He was also a top defensive player, and they called him Mr. Clutch for good reason.
Shout out to the logo and it’s insane to think that he’s in the 25k points club (only 22 others ahead of him), 6th all time in ppg and did it without the three 😳😅 To further drive that point home on his bucket getting ability, Ray Allen retired (now 2nd all time with 2,967 3pt fgs) 687 points all time behind Mr. West. He would have feasted in any era and maybe with a three incorporated would have the top ppg average all time. Always great to see that golden era still get their flowers and many are still here to receive them
I grew up in Los Angeles during the 60’s. My Brother’s favorite player was Jerry West. Mine was Elgin Baylor. Grateful I got to witness their play in person many times! Got to meet Both of them in the locker room when the Lakers played at the Sports Arena…Dang those Celtics though! 😮They we’re simply the Better Team! Wish Bill Russell was a Laker! 😉
I used to hate Jerry West. Every time he played against one of my favorite teams and they were closed to winning at the end , he would almost single handedly take my team apart. He was unstoppable
I'm 67, got to see some games in person at the forum. One weakness West had...dribbling. For a guard that's important. I don't know why west didn't improve. But should be considered one of the best guards ever.
@@josephstewart2827 I'm not sure how much of West you saw, but I'm 67 and saw him up close. Went to a lot of games at the Forum. Saw what turned out to be Wilts last game in 73. Game 5 in the finals against the Nick's. Lakers lost, I waited for West to come out of the Forum for about 2hrs. Wilt came out, I walked him to his car, begged him to come back the next year.....he said West wouldn't be coming out for a long time, "he's still crying". But in tight times we all held our breath when West had the ball in that series. Remember the guy who guarded him??????? Walt Frazier, a great defender. Goodrich was a better ball handler. But I do admit nobody at that time was GREAT. Maybe Archibald. But if the game was on the line nobody was better than West. I think the only players to rival West ever at crunch time is Jordan and Bird. And coming from a Lakers fan.....Bird was the man. Hands down.
Playoff scoring: Jerry West = 29.13 ppg (.469 percent fg) out of 153 games (41.3 mpg) Wilt Chamberlain = 22.54 (.522 percent fg) out of 160 games (47.2 mpg)
West is from Cabin Creek, WV, near Charleston where I grew up. The Lakers played an exhibition game at Charleston (WV) Civic Center sometime in the 1960s when I was in high school. I remember the fans yelling him to dunk during the warm ups and he did (not his forte), The most memorable event was seeing Wilt just grab a ball going out of bounds like it was a tennis ball. My mother taught chemistry at his high school long after he left.
I remember in chess, I think it was either Kasparov or Carlsen who was asked if they thought they could beat Bobby Fisher in his prime. They said probably, but I don't know exactly what that means, because my whole generation of players grew up studying amongst other things Fisher's games. I think something similar applies. Jordan would obliterate West 1 on 1. But he might not even have been Jordan, had West not existed.
Thank you Isaiah, next time people talk about numbers on determining who the GOAT really is let’s talk about the impact. Jordan changed sports as we knew them. Lebron hasn’t done shit for basketball. The only one that’s had a big impact since MJ is Steph, because of him now it’s 3-pointball no longer basketball.
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
My favorite memory of Mr. West is when he was being interviewed by a local LA radio guy named John Ireland. John asks him: "Zeke from Cabin Creek, The Logo, Mr. Clutch. . .which one is your favorite?
Mr. West doesn't skip a beat and just says "I've always been partial to Jerry West"
Pure class!
He was so good they named an entire conference after him.
😂😂😂
🤣
Well Played
that got me. Good one
Jerry West had probably the most perfect form jump shot that ever existed. I was lucky to see him play live at the Forum.
me too, i scalped tickets in high school. a lot of free games, great seats, all the food i can eat and seeing all the greats back then. that's why i laugh when people like jj reddick calls these guys plumbers. they will never see what we saw.they will never know how great west, wilt and the host of other greats.even Jordan is aware of it which is a contribution to his greatness.they have no clue how great those guys were back then
@@thomasscott1570 it is commenters like us that say 1950's , 1960's , and 1970's players "plumbers" far more than ex pros like JJ Reddick. I get sick of having to correct the young en's that the NBA was always a pro level league - even when near All Star players had to work "second jobs" to make ends meat. Jerry West played with and against some serious players, like ; Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry Sloan (a personal favorite for his defense and he was a Bull), Bob Petit, and all those great Celtics teams lead by Bill Russell the championship GOAT.
Fun Fact : just seeing the color green would bother Jerry West for a couple of decades after he retired, because the Celtics beat him out of so many championships.
r. i. p. Jerry West, "Mr Clutch", aka "the Logo"
(you know a player is really special when they have multiple nicknames, like Wilt, MJ, Shaq, and Mr West).
@@williestyle35JJ Reddick being hired as coach of the Lakers would have Jerry West and Elgin Baylor turning over in their graves…
@@clu4u West for sure, because of things JJ said in the past. Baylor, who can say? He worked for years under Donald Sterling...
46 points a game without a 3 point line
Go look and see where he is on the All Time Free Throws Made. He hasn't played 1 minute since the Vietnam War Era and he's still in the Top10. Jordan has more than twice as many as Steph Curry 😐
Curry doesn’t get the calls.
@@cuttercorvin curry fires from outer space is a big part of it.
Jerry West and Oscar Robertson played 14 seasons an both have over 25,000 Points with no 3 Point line 😒 both are well over 4,000 Points ahead of Curry. I have both as 2 an 3 on my top PG list, both top 11 All-time Players. Easily to defend these 2 ranking. If Jerry West was able to get past Bill Russell atleast 3 times, just 3 he'd be viewed with more respect on top 10 list.
Against plumbers and firemen 🙃
If you bare in mind there was no 3 point line back then and do the math on his playoff average, the number becomes truly unattainable.
I saw that some college kid is 'close' to breaking Pete Marivich's season average...only he has a 3 point line and twice as many games to do it in. That is how good the legends were.
You have to remember that when West played you could only dribble with your hand on top of the ball. No leaning in to your opponent because that was called an offensive foul, even if he was moving with you
I don't even pay attention to stats after 2000. The game isn't the same today and they've done everything they could to make scoring the ball easier.
West would have been the All Time PPG Leader if there was that 3 pt. line.
♥️ Jerry west my hero
@@jedsteelwell2354 That started in the late '80s. The reason scoring declined through the early '90s was because referee bias in favor of stars was so overwhelming and scouting changed accordingly. They wanted to protect Michael Jordan and all the rest of their big marketing draw players. So all the star players started getting increasingly bias treatment (esp MJ) from the refs - on both sides of the ball. This led to the Isolation Era of the late 90s-early 2000s, in which teams would just let their star player work with the ball while everyone else basically stood around. The star player would chew up the shot clock then go for the score and toss a bailout pass if they couldn't get a decent shot in the last 5 seconds. The favoritism of the refs included ignoring traveling violations and offensive and defensive fouls while frequently calling fouls on those defending against stars, increasingly so the less well known/liked the defender was. Since anyone decent could play the role of a "star" with the refs having their back, scouting in the 90s began simply seeking out the most athletic players who would draw the most attention with dramatic dunks and plays. The NBA from the late 80s to present day has been increasingly about spectacle and less about the integrity of the game. And part of that has been protecting star players from injury. The slower paced game, along with the zone defenses that came in the 2000s, meant star players had less wear and tear on them. Defenses could do less and less to stop them so star players were hit increasingly less when shooting. The problem was, their scouting and the way the game adjusted to the way things were called was getting noticed. Why did Free Throw percentage decline steadily through the 90s into the early 2000s? FG% declined. Scoring declined. Fewer shots were being taken. The standing around got even worse and on both ends of the floor once they made zone defenses acceptable. The caliber of play was undeniably falling off. The stars didn't really have to improve themselves anymore. They just had to be willing to jack up the shots and not complain about the hierarchy of favoritism too much. And the NBA officiating took an increasingly greater role in deciding outcomes to create results league executives wanted (deciding on what was best according to marketing tests). This also got noticed a bit too much. So, the league decided to change the rules and officiating even more to offset the effects of star treatment. Stars still got preferential treatment, but now everyone would get even greater latitude with traveling and protection from defenders when on offense. Offensive players became virtually untouchable and unstoppable. Defenses just backed off, became static zones, and the jump shots and dunks began to flow. Scores soared. And now we have our clown show NBA of today. It's a shadow of what the NBA of yesterday was. A lower bar, lower skill, and cringeworthy defense. Free throw percentages have improved though, so I guess there's that.
Mr. Jerry West is the one of the pride of West Virginia. The Man is great!!! Humble and for real..... I think he played center at WVU. Jerry is a special human being. SPECIAL...... Thanks man.
I was blest to live in L.A. during the Jerry West years. What stood out to me was his fluidity and grace in his movements and shot taking. The intangibles only serve to augment his deadly accuracy.
Many older Celtics fans revere West. We just wish he hadn't turned out to be such a good general manager (LOL).
what's your opinion of the nba now?
Me, too!! Started watching West, Chamberlain, Goodrich at the LA Sports Arena, before The Forum opened in '67!!!
under appreciated, as a competitor. he had a lot of finesse but make no mistake, he always competed hard and at times single handedly kept his team afloat against the greatest dynasty ever.
I watched an old game with Jerry some time ago. He was a monster, scoring at will from any position.
40ppg in the playoffs over 11 games with no 3pt line is insane 🔥
Shows you the lack of defense because West could only dribble with his right hand. He never went left.
@@philb.1502 Drexler went left 8 times in his whole career and couldn't shoot half as good as West.
@Shaun R True, but Clyde was 6'7 and was explosively athletic, especially when he was young. Clyde was a great all around player
@@philb.1502 Coincidentally right as I read this, there's a clip of him dribbling with his left hand. 10:08
@@philb.1502 How many games did you shut Jerry West down?
As a Celtics fan, and watching those games on TV, I HATED it when Jerry West got the ball. Because you knew you were in trouble, and he'd always make the shot. Ultimate respect to the man.
same here growing up in maine i was a celtic fan and i hated to see west with the ball because i knew it was a basket.
But you had Bill Russell, who stopped many of those shots, enough to prevent West from winning any championships - until Russell retired.
West went by Russell all the time to score.@broadstreet21
Watching Walt Frazier and Jerry West go at it was WONDERFUL. I did not realize how solid Jerry was until I ran into him in the elevator at the Warriors game when they were in Oakland. He is a big strong corn-fed looking dude. And I mean that in a good way.
Just imagine if he were breast fed
@@buckchile614 Ha ha ha. Yep. I wanted a picture and an autograph so badly, but I decided to respect his space. Dang it.
They were what got me into basketball as a 5th grader. Two of the greatest ever, Clyde doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. West is an iconic figure for his playing career and for his career in the game since his retirement. First class dude worthy of being “The Logo”.
@@cycleoflife565 I agree, Clyde and West were built from the same cloth. Saw him at the NBA rookie summer league in Vegas one year. He is built like a small tank also. They both were great players along with Gail Goodrich. That was a good basketball era. They actually played defense during their Allstars games. LOL
First time I saw Clyde was in the NIT tourney with Southern Illinois about 1966 or 1965,I was about 9 or 10yo.
Here after the passing of Jerry West this morning.... Rest in Power Mr West....
Jerry will be missed by a lot of us.
It might be debatable if he should be the logo - but it's NOT debatable that he was one of the all time greatest.
Jerry was my favorite player growing up in LA. My friends too. Everybody wanted to be like him. Great jump shot. And you could depend on him taking those crucial shots. Mr. Clutch for sure.
You have to be a total badass to be called the Logo!!! Mr. West you're truly a legend and even that is a gross understatement!!!
He wasn't called the logo, the NBA used his silhouette as the NBA logo.
Jerry West, what a Basketball player. He was even a greater person. Love Jerry West.
I remember seeing an interview clip with Pat Riley years ago, and his exact words were "Michael may have played the game more athletically, but nobody has played the game of basketball better than Jerry West". That's how good he was.
Jerry West and Walt Frazier were two of my favorite guards. They played defense and offense and never bitched to the refs like today's players. And they both had class.
If Jerry West played today, he wouldn't get off the bench!
@@philb.1502 So your saying all the guys Was played against sucked, and West had it easy ???😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
@@bayouboy8644 Most of the guys that West played against wouldn't be good enough to play in the NBA today! That's a fact.
@@philb.1502 How old are you JR ? Check it out. Look up the TOP 100 ALL TIME NBA, and 50 of them played with west, so you dont have any idea what your talking about.
Jerry West was my childhood idol.
Jerry is without a doubt, one of the greats in nba basketball!
Go look at his postseason numbers to see why West is so respected.
Because people are stupid ans are sold narrative that only the last 5 seasons count, and that any supposedly good players only face Danny De Vitos before 2017
You mean how he lost 9 finals? Or how he completely choked in the 4th of game 7 in 69?
@Robert Jackson puhleeze. West did everything possible to win that series. Wilt stunk and Baylor was inefficient
@@PhoenixAscending Exactly, great individual player not a great team player. All around great players make their teammates better like Larry Bird did.
@Travis McGee did West ever get swept while being surrounded by HOFers with homecourt advantage like bird did?
I think Jerry West often gets forgotten because he only has the one ring. People say, but what did he contribute? Then you see those moves he did and realize he was the first one to do them, and now, they're standard.
A lot of Celtics have multiple Championships because of Bill Russell, West would have had at least 10 had he played with Russell.
He's the logo. What else do you need?
Jerry West was a beast 💪, he the logo...🤔
Watching West and Oscar go at it in a game , was the game ! Two of the first guards to shoot over 50% from the field ! That was must see tv !
Yep
AND at a pretty high shot volume. Not off the bench shooting "specialists" who shoot 8 - 10 times a game and play 20 mpg.
One of the greatest for sure. Lock down defender. He shot from 3 distance before they were worth 3 points. He saw the floor as well as anyone and could make any pass. Tough, competitive demeanor who was the ultimate teammate. His GM career also unparalleled. Mr. Clutch and a really good human being.
West wouldn't get off the bench if he played in today's NBA!
@@philb.1502 negative IQ "take"
@@mojebi3804 West would be in the Gleague! This isn't 1963!! Get real
@@philb.1502 So stupid it hurts
@@philb.1502 He was doing hesi moves without crossovers. People forget why Allen Iverson crossing MJ was such a big deal. A lot of media called it a carry. 6'3" (6'4.5" according to Chamberlain) with a 6'9" wingspan and 16 in above the rim. He would do fine in today's NBA. Next you gonna say Pete Maravich wasn't good at dribbling and Oscar Robertson was too small for point guard.😂 Learn ball before talking. Anybody can see he was good by how he moved and clutch shots he made.
I wasn’t alive when Jerry West played, but as an amateur historian of the game, I’ve studied West’s game thoroughly. IMHO, he was way ahead of his time. Even though he’s officially listed as a PG, I’ve always viewed him as a SG. He was one of the first, if not the first, true combo guards in the NBA, as he could play and defend both guard spots. He’s the bridge between the traditional, and modern day guard hybrid.
My favorite era will always be 1980-1996, give or take a year. That’s when I fell in love with the game. Watching the game evolve in real time as a kid in the early 80s, and then as a young adult in mid 90s, is a time that I feel blessed to have been a witness to.
That said, West paved the way for the “Magic Johnson, Larry Bird era”, that took the game to even greater heights, it revolutionized the NBA. One could argue that without the pioneering influence of “The Logo”, the Johnson and Bird led NBA may never have happened. Or at the very least, would not have had the same impact that it did.
Jerry is what's missing today. Humble!!!!!!!!!
If there was a 3 Point Line during Jerry West's Career he would 100 percent be the All Time Points Per Game Leader. West definitely needs to be in the talk of being the GOAT.
Good grief, no he doesn't. Not everyone needs to be in the dam GOAT discussion. He may be one of the best shooters ever, but guys like MJ, James, and Kobe would eat him for lunch
@robertjackson4751 No Way. West was way smarter than any of them and he does need included in the Discussion. Heck in the statement you just made then Larry Legend is the GOAT. MJ could never beat him. And Bird does need in the GOAT Discussion too. James isn't even in the Top 10 All Time.
People who think otherwise don't know ball by looking at tape
Maybe, but i would put my $ on Maravich.
@natureboy1313 Pistol Pete was probably the NCAA GOAT. He was great to watch. Poor Pete had so much trouble with his knees like Bill Walton. Being on some not so good NBA teams definitely effected West and Maravich in these people's Polls because they never seen them play.
Mr Cutch was a great player on both sides of the ball when he played and he was also one of the clutch players ever. The Logo's misfortune was playing during the great Celtic dynasty.
I watched jerry west in his prime, without a doubt he is the best all around guard of all time...his defensive skills was just as awesome as his high powered offense.
TOP 5(based off production and ability)
1.oscar
2.Mj
3.Kobe
4.West
5.magic
@@JohnnyRodgers3 These guys were not outstanding defense players like West. I have to omit the big O was awesome.
@@GDJ1957 mj and kobe?
@@GDJ1957 Magic was a great defensive player
@@JohnnyRodgers3 I'd drop Kobe a lot, as his MISSES made up for a lot of his HITS - his shooting percentages all but ONE SEASON of his career barely beat NBA average.
It is so nice to hear Kevin Calabro in your intro. It brings back great memories of watching the sonics in the late 80's and through out the 90's.
GET UP FOR THE DOWN STROKE!
The only autograph I got from a basketball player was from Jerry West. I lived east of LA and went to a few games at the "Fabulous" Forum. I wrote a letter asking Jerry for his height and weight and he wrote it on the photo: 6'3" 190 lbs. so I knew he read my letter. The only other pros I got an autograph also wore #44, Henry Aaron in 1974, and Al Downing (in person!), Downing was the Dodger pitcher who later tossed Aaron's record-breaking homer.
Not sure if it was him, because he stated that he was 6'4" and 1/2 and that he wasn't sure why they erroneously listed him at 6'2" or 6'3" all the time.
I remember watching him win the all star game in 1972. Definitely Mr. Clutch.
"Zeke from Cabin Creek". He is still revered in West Virginia. He went to high school in East Bank, WV. One time when he came home for a visit, the town officially changed its name to West Bank for the day.
If you wanted someone to take the last shot, that was Jerry West. He was a smaller version of Rick Barry with the same deadly shooting skills, but he also had Oscar's ability to just go where he wanted and then elevate for a shot. I vividly remember the Knicks game when he took the ball from 63 feet out and launched it to tie the game: there was no doubt that it was a bucket because Jerry WILLED it to go in. If he had played in the 3-point era, he would have averaged 45 a game easily.
I disagree. Jerry was a better shooter than Rick.
@@gregyoung3278 a bit. Agree with you. But pretty close. And Rick is such an underrated passer. For that matter, Jerry is too.
45 ppg is taking it a bit far but no doubt he would have excelled in this era that so heavily favors the team with the ball.
The last shot . Maybe John havlicek
Nonsense!! West wasn't a better shooter than Curry, and Curry has never come close to 45 pts a game. People on here exaggerate
I watched Jerry West when i was a kid. Yeah, i'm that old. Watching these old films is surreal for me, cuz my eyes are seeing once again, something i saw a long time ago. Jerry Was great !
Same.
Same here. Saw him play in the West Virginia state tournaments back in the late 1950s. He had a "hook shot with which he scored many points. A childhood hero for many of us growing up in that era.
Amazing video for an amazing player. I wasn't alive when he was playing so awesome to see stuff like this
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
I've been on you about respecting the 60s players more, now I acknowledge that you are. 🙏
Great vid by BTM. Cannot find an NBA player who didn't respect Jerry West as a player, or as a man. Michael Jordan, in his autobio, said that if there was one player he would compare his game to, and to have a dream matchup against, ...it was Jerry West. THAT's respect from MJ. Jerry's lifetime stats are very comparable to MJ: Jerry ppg 27, MJ: 30.1. Assists 6.7 to 5.3. Reb 5.8 to 6.2. In both of their last seasons, they both averaged 20 ppg! Now I'm gonna wait for the kids to watch this vid, and say (as they do with any player before 1990): "He looked slow... doesn't look like he could jump ... he never dunked ... he didn't have a crossover ... Lebron could stop him ... he couldn't play in today's NBA." 🤣
Jerry West dunked, it just wasn't as much a part of the game back then. Even Wilt Chamberlain wouldn't really throw down sometimes just dip the ball in without touching the rim or just touching it lightly. I think he was trying not to break the rim off, lol. Those old baskets weren't made for it.
Mike is very respectful and appreciative of previous greats. I hate when many overlook this and just bring up his trash talking. He did that, sure. But to get into opponents heads to get a mental edge.
It doesn't deter his respect for others.
Reminds me of another shooter named Rick Mount out of Purdue
Jerry West couldn't dribble with his left hand. He only went right. It's obvious when you watch his old clips. How could he play in today's NBA only going right??
@@philb.1502 nice try. So basically every team and HALL OF FAME player West faced didn’t think about forcing West to his left. Here’s several clips of West going to his left: ruclips.net/video/_-xJm6B6xog/видео.html. I’m sure I can find more.
The LOGO. Nuff said.
Great short piece. You covered it well. And a nice overview of this great player. And I did get to see him play many times.
I was born and raised in the Philippines until we immigrated to the US and remember watching West on TV, when the games managed to come on. A lot of Filipino boys tried imitating West. He was the 60s version and early 70s of "I want to be like Jerry."
I learned a lot by watching Jerry West and his tactics as an offensive player. No two players are alike but it’s about learning and improving your skill
Rip to the legend Jerry West
Jerry West, would do great in the league today.!!;!!! He seemed like a guy who could live forever.!!!!! Nice post 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Way ahead of his time
Back when Magic Johnson was a rookie, West was Lakers GM. One day Magic was in practice with the team ! He saw West sitting in stands watching the practice ! Magic yelled up to stands, “ hey, logo, how about showing us how to shoot “ ! West took off his jacket rolled up his sleeves and they all took turns shooting until they missed ! Once anyone missed , they were out ! Jerry beat them all at 42 years old. That’s why on a pregame show, they were talking about Steph , a great shooter in his own right . They asked magic is he the best you’ve seen. Magic said,’ no, and told that story ! ‘
Too bad he couldn't make one to save his life in the 69 finals, in the 4th qt of game 7. The game is what counts, not practice
@@PhoenixAscending Wow....
@@PhoenixAscending should have deferred like Jordan did to Kerr and Paxson , huh !
@@PhoenixAscending but he made that 63 ft. Shot that caused game 7 !
No cause he could shoot over 50% without have to dunk to do so !
I ALWAYS LOVED MR. JERRY! HE IS DEFINITELY ONE OF A KIND! MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!
I appreciate this Bro I really love the history of the game and so many great players that could really go and get the job done, Jerry was amazing and to see Kobe studying him and ask his self questions show you the respect.
Thanks Sean, another excellent episode. Mr. West - the logo for a reason, or really multiple, across-the-board reasons!! Great job keeping it simple - nice, straightforward intro, letting the legends tell us how it really was & is in their own words, with great game clips. Nice job as usual with the choice of clips too - nice balance of guys from various eras, talking about various aspects of the man. I am blessed to have seen guys from his era back in the day...glad you're bringing these features on the legends to the younger audience so they can have a better appreciation for the legends of previous eras. Keep up the great work!
FAVORITE SPORTS FIGURE OF ALL TIME. LITTLE ABOVE SANDY KOUFAX.
The Big Three of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain were very strong.
It was very disappointing that the Lakers lost in the 1969 NBA Finals.
Wilt broke his leg in G7, plus the coach's rotations were screwed up.
Yeah, where West completely choked
@@PhoenixAscending how did Jerry choke in the game 7 when he had a 40 point triple double. The only reason they lost was Wilt breaking his leg in the 4th quater and Elgin going 8/22 from the field.
@@PhoenixAscending Right, that's why he was Finals MVP, smh
@@phinpanay5566 Wilt stinking was the biggest issue
I cannot thank you enough, my friend you have the best videos the best commentary your articulate you have a great voice and you bring us the best videos on the NBA especially old school traverse is my auto growing up as a kid in New York I watched this already 3 times. Think I’m gonna wind up watching it every day for a long time. thanks my friend you’re awesome ! just know that we so thoroughly enjoy in fact, love watching your videos you are the man !
Jerry and Oscar. Bill Russell and Wilt. What a time to grow up and watch NBA basketball!
You just named 4 of the top 5 players in the decade of the 60s. The other being Elgin Baylor.
Do one on Elgin Baylor. He was incredible!
The first GREAT all around superstar.
Lifelong Laker fan here - Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were both complete and total class acts and always conducted themselves with grace and dignity. As a Laker fan growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in Los Angeles it was a joy to watch these two magnificent athletes play the game of basketball.
He was never on a team that I really rooted for except when the Lakers played the despised Celtics but he was one of my favorite players. An amazing competitor and gm.
MJ gave brotherly hug to Jerry West and the future Jerry West 🤩
Grew up a Celtics fan I saw Jerry play in the old Boston Garden.There
was no player I feared more than Mr.West he was Mr.Basketball!
Growing up through the 60s and 70s was a great time for sports especially near Cincinnati. The Big Red Machine was running roughshod over MLB and the Bengals joined the NFL.
Don't know where you grew up, but, WOW, the Reds and those Steelers! Amongst hundreds of great star players that I admired, Johnny Bench is my favorite BB player and Jack Lambert my favorite football player.
If they had the 3 Point line back then, West and teammate Gail Goodrich would have lit the league on fire. Both could drill from way beyond the arc.
I was lucky to live in L A and listen to Chick Hern describe Jerry West. Those are some great memories
Me too! Mr Clutch, Zeke from cabin creek. He was part of my adolescence growing up. Unforgettable
Thank you so much for these videos. I've been away from the U.S. for many years. I've heard about the garbage that happens that brings me down but these videos make me feel great!
I watched him when I was growing up, and all I can say is wow he was something special!!!
I'm loving your content!
Met him in Las Vegas in 1972. Saw him play on TV many times . He was really good.
I appreciate this channel. RIP the Logo.
Simply in the top five all around players. Period.
Jerry West WAS NBA Basketball at its best. It is with deep sorrow to lose such a humble and talented man as individuals such as him only come around once in a lifetime. Hearts out to his family, friends and former colleagues!
Old school hoops didn’t allow constant double dribbling, palming, and open lane dunks like today. Today’s game a,es guys look better than they really are with stats that would be totally different in the old days.
I see guys in the NBA today take four steps and no double dribbling called on them and guys just clear the lane for them for an easy dunk. I quit watching years ago. It just isn’t the same. I love watching old highlights of the greats from the past. I am from NE, Ohio said most would think I was partial to Lebron James coming from Akron . he is really good. No doubt about it but he didn’t have to play in the tough years and he luckily stayed very healthy to put up the numbers he is doing playing for what 2 decades now? Think of Larry Bird even had 12 healthy years and played in the modern era. I think he had 7 healthy years and even hurt his finger when he first entered the league. The old Celtics and Lakers games were awesome too watch. Nothing has compared to it since..
Great video.
Scoring machine! 40 plus points without a 3 pt line
lOVED WATCHING HIM PLAY, THE GOAT OF HIS TIME
Another great one! Thanks Sean!
People get confused because of his slow and steady fundamental dribble and think he can't play. He'd light up any team today
RIP jerry “the logo” west
I don't know if anyone else played the game with more passion than Jerry West
Jerry West is wildly underrated.
We old Lakers fans KNOW how good he was. And all of his contemporaries KNOW.
Jerry west played at a time when you were mugged within the paint. Michael Jordan, Bird and Magic all understand that.
What they all have is the mental toughness but the I.Q during and after the NBA make them even better.
Legends..
Rest in peace Mr Logo!
“Just give me the ball & GTF out of my way” was his exact quote!
I saw some doc on him last year and podcast p. He is very inspirational. What his career told me if you have IT. Never give up and use your god given talents no matter how the world sees it. Lose over and over and never beat the celtics but moved passed it and kept pushing, kept shooting, kept competing and won a title. It is amazing to think about the resolve a man has to have to do that.
Fun fact.
Jerry West won the Finals MVP when playing for the losing team.
Chuck Howley won the Super Bowl MVP when playing for the losing team.
Both players are the only players to do it. And both are from small towns in West Virginia.
People forget how good West was. I saw him play. He was clearly the best player on the floor; with his quick release he could shoot over anyone.
He was also a top defensive player, and they called him Mr. Clutch for good reason.
Shout out to the logo and it’s insane to think that he’s in the 25k points club (only 22 others ahead of him), 6th all time in ppg and did it without the three 😳😅
To further drive that point home on his bucket getting ability, Ray Allen retired (now 2nd all time with 2,967 3pt fgs) 687 points all time behind Mr. West. He would have feasted in any era and maybe with a three incorporated would have the top ppg average all time. Always great to see that golden era still get their flowers and many are still here to receive them
I grew up in Los Angeles during the 60’s. My Brother’s favorite player was Jerry West. Mine was Elgin Baylor. Grateful I got to witness their play in person many times! Got to meet Both of them in the locker room when the Lakers played at the Sports Arena…Dang those Celtics though! 😮They we’re simply the Better Team! Wish Bill Russell was a Laker! 😉
I got to see Jerry and Wilt play in '72, saw the game where they tied the winning streak (game 20).
Games 20 and 21 were thrilling nail biters.
your channel is excellent
The Logo was an animal. Truly Mr Clutch.
Mr. Clutch🏀🏀🏀
I used to hate Jerry West. Every time he played against one of my favorite teams and they were closed to winning at the end
, he would almost single handedly take my team apart. He was unstoppable
love these videos!
Thanks for this educational material.
Thank you. I only just this. Thanks a lot!
I'm 67, got to see some games in person at the forum. One weakness West had...dribbling. For a guard that's important. I don't know why west didn't improve. But should be considered one of the best guards ever.
West got it done, dribbling wasn’t fancy but he was tough as nails
@@josephstewart2827 I'm not sure how much of West you saw, but I'm 67 and saw him up close. Went to a lot of games at the Forum. Saw what turned out to be Wilts last game in 73. Game 5 in the finals against the Nick's. Lakers lost, I waited for West to come out of the Forum for about 2hrs. Wilt came out, I walked him to his car, begged him to come back the next year.....he said West wouldn't be coming out for a long time, "he's still crying". But in tight times we all held our breath when West had the ball in that series. Remember the guy who guarded him??????? Walt Frazier, a great defender. Goodrich was a better ball handler. But I do admit nobody at that time was GREAT. Maybe Archibald.
But if the game was on the line nobody was better than West. I think the only players to rival West ever at crunch time is Jordan and Bird. And coming from a Lakers fan.....Bird was the man. Hands down.
My lineup. West, bird MJ Russell and Walt. With Kobe as 6th man.
Playoff scoring:
Jerry West = 29.13 ppg (.469 percent fg) out of 153 games (41.3 mpg)
Wilt Chamberlain = 22.54 (.522 percent fg) out of 160 games (47.2 mpg)
To have all the Basketball world ( past , present and future) call you "The Logo , Mr. Clutch"
You cannot be more cooler
West is from Cabin Creek, WV, near Charleston where I grew up. The Lakers played an exhibition game at Charleston (WV) Civic Center sometime in the 1960s when I was in high school. I remember the fans yelling him to dunk during the warm ups and he did (not his forte), The most memorable event was seeing Wilt just grab a ball going out of bounds like it was a tennis ball.
My mother taught chemistry at his high school long after he left.
My favorite player growing up. Just so happens that I lived close to state high way 44 West in redding ca.
Wish I could have grown up watching Jerry West. I was a kid when I first saw Magic and became a fan; not a bad experience either.
I remember in chess, I think it was either Kasparov or Carlsen who was asked if they thought they could beat Bobby Fisher in his prime. They said probably, but I don't know exactly what that means, because my whole generation of players grew up studying amongst other things Fisher's games.
I think something similar applies. Jordan would obliterate West 1 on 1. But he might not even have been Jordan, had West not existed.
Top 5 player ever and most kids today don't even know who he is, crazy.
Thank you Isaiah, next time people talk about numbers on determining who the GOAT really is let’s talk about the impact. Jordan changed sports as we knew them. Lebron hasn’t done shit for basketball. The only one that’s had a big impact since MJ is Steph, because of him now it’s
3-pointball no longer basketball.
The only numbers that matter are playoff #'s..."Playoffs are where you make your Fame"
Bill Russell Will always be the GOAT !
@@Getloose360 your absolutely right, playoffs separate the men from the boys.
@@SuperBeachbum74 He was 👍 great
@@Getloose360 that's why James Harden will never be top 5 at his position
Jerry West was such a G