@@jonnyarnett again I don't know why that is. He's listed as a 2 in every all time list. It doesn't help that basketball reference lists him as a 1 for whatever reason for most of his career. Further cementing the issue is that many think the venerable Oscar Robertson is a 2 guard due to his size and scoring when he only really played that way when Cousy reenacted himself as Cincy's PG for a few games.
Jerry west played shooting guard in the 60s because he played forward in college and he couldn’t bring the ball up.They had a player named Walt hazard who played point guard for some years during the 60s.But in the 70s coach bill sharman moved Jerry to the 1 so Gail Goodrich could play the 2.That is why Jerry’s assists numbers went way up in the 70s.
@Don Clark I started watching his highlights. I like his plat style. Simple, Smart but Sure basket... Will try to do his moves like Larry Bird and Nikola Jokic.
@@lloydkline6946 Ah, my friend, Mr. Clutch was more than just a pure shooter. There's very little he couldn't do well. Drive the lane, finish or dish. Dribble through traffic. Defend with the best. Shoot from virtually anywhere. He was a challenge for the best defenders. He rarely made a bad decision on the court. I'm not a Lakers fan, but you couldn't help but admire such a player. :-)
Me too...what I always tell people was how how fast/quick he was.he could jump like hell and gothis shotoff so fast. He was an incredible player who would b n all starr today easy
Really; I seen on old film legendary great pullup jump shot ; I hear nba rim are lot better today my hero too with gail Goodrich the lefty my favorite backcourt everl
I remember (yes, I'm old) after one game against the Knicks, Howie Komives (then a Knick guard) was asked if he had a good game. His super-serious response was, "Hell, yes, I held West to 30 points."
I had the privilege of watching him play in person several times as a kid. My dad took me to that playoff game when he hit the 63 footer to tie the game. He is, and always will be the LOGO.
Historians of the game including MJ, Kobe, Magic, and Lebron always talk about Jerry’s impact on the league. I personally didn’t realize how good he was. Great vid. Educated me. Now I know.
I wouldn't consider MJ, etc. as "Historians" of the game, maybe the best players, but they are not historians. The guy that did the video is more of a historian. No slight, but players are players. Historians are historians.
Yeah Jerry West should be on EVERYONE'S Top-10 greatest players list. He could do it all: great shooter, passer, rebounder and defender. He was before my time, but even as I'm a diehard Celtics fan, Jerry West was the goods. The all-around player most comparable to West was probably John Havlicek.
Saw him once getting off an elevator in West Los Angeles in the late 80's. Head and shoulders above the rest of the people in the elevator with him, he humbly walked out passed me and a couple co workers who, at the moment, were arguing who the best guard in the NBA was - Kevin Johnson, Dennis Johnson, or Magic Johnson. After I saw Jerry, I just pointed and said, "There's the best guard who ever played" He smiled and said thanks as he passed by...we all agreed. Mr. Clutch.
Typical for that era, he was taller than his listed height. Possibly 6' 5" barefoot. He would be listed 6' 6" if he were playing today. Monstrous wingspan would make him one of the longer swingmen of this era.
@@Kermit_T_Frog Oddly I noticed his wingspan only because it is long. He literally played "taller" than his height. I'm blessed similarly. I guard easily guys a few inches than me only because of wingspan and wide shoulders. Wild I mention me in same paragraph with JERRY WEST. Forgive me. When BAYLOR CHAMBERLAIN WEST were together the supporting cast must had included. Would explain why LAKERS did not 5 or 6 consecutive NBA championships.
From a guy who was once called "Zeke, from Cabin Creek", Jerry West went on to dominate his position in the game. Far more so than any other guard during his tenure in the NBA. Then became one of the most important architects of an organization that again, dominated the NBA, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis (who, but Jerry West could have foreseen Rambis' importance to those teams?), Jamal Wilkes, Bob McAdoo, Byron Scott, Mitch Kupchak, Earl Jones, Ronnie Lester, Mike McGee and Larry Spriggs beat the Boston Celtics to win the 1984-85 NBA Championship. They lost one game in that series, the aptly named "Memorial Day Massacre", losing 148-114 and then swept the Celtics. Amazing stuff and Jerry West deserves a lot of credit for putting that team together with Pat Riley. SHOWTIME was a very memorable team to behold. I loved it!
West was one of the most incredibly fundamental and skilled basketball player in NBA history. He could play and compete in any era along with players like the Big O, Rick Berry and Bill Russell.
Mr. Clutch. Final seconds everyone knew who was going to shoot that last shot, but just like MJ most of the time he got the ball and hit the big one. One of the 10 greatest of any era. Today with the 3 point line he would hit 4 or 5 from downtown each game, but when defenders came out to guard him Jerry was great going to the basket for lay ups and assists.
Your talking about a time when there was segregation and all that bs going on in america. He wasnt even the best player in the league. Hes only the logo to white wash shit.
He definitely benefited from being white. The black players got scrutinized far more like Wilt fit being “selfish” and he’s not a winner so he goes and leads the league in assists then they say he isn’t scoring as much. Jerry west lost 7 times in a row until wilt and Wilt 67 warriors team is considered the greatest team ever arguably. Segregation was going on and jerry west was viewed as the really good white player and black players were being accepted as time goes on but they got more criticized even tho Wilt won without jerry.
High School LBJ proves you need a full team. MJ didn’t win until he had the right team around him either. Same with West. Jerry West was an all time great player.
This video is one of the most professional “How good was he?” type videos I’ve ever seen. Really outstanding work. I knew Jerry West was an all time great, but I didn’t know how great. Thanks!
I saw him play many times on TV in the 1960s. I was an anti-Laker fan, but I had to grudgingly respect Jerry West. It just seemed like he never missed. He was sensational -- the best guard of that decade. Sorry, Oscar. What I hated most was listening to or watching Jerry hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer and having to hear Chick Hearn screaming, "Mr. Clutch! Mr. Clutch!"
By the way his finals MVP on the losing team, averaging 37.9 points over seven games, was done while playing with a hamstring injury. No player today would have even been playing with that injury
Jerry is such a great, humble guy. A great player, a fantastic guy all around. Doesn’t like the spotlight even when he deserves it. Can’t hate that man. A true historical basketball legend.
You haven't got a clue. pal;. I've met West and he's an arrogant prick. And, if you consider that anecdotal, I promise you that you can meet many others who have the same opinion of him.
I had the honor to see Jerry West play a number of times in that amazing, 71-72 season. I remember the 33 game winning streak and the excitement as it grew, and the long standing League record 69-13 season that took decades to get bested. That team does not get the respect it deserves when compared to the 60s Celtics, the 80s Lakers, the 90s Bulls or today's Warriors. But that team accomplished things that have yet to be matched, the win streak in particular. It was a team far greater than the sum of its parts. Imagine if Baylor had remained healthy enough to stay through that year instead of having just retired at season's start. And for all that team success, it was Jerry West's team, and he was the magic before there was Magic.
I was at the game in Boston when (I think) the winning streak was broken. I was a huge West fan, starting as a young kid. I hated to see them lose, and that was the only time I saw him live.
Great great points and your right... That team had west and Goodrich in the back court and wilt up front of course... Baylor retired after nine games... But Jim macmillan filled in well for him and happy hairston was the rebounding specialist... And a pretty damn good bench too... Leroy Ellis.. pat Riley.. Keith Erickson.. John trapp.. Jim Clemens.. Flynn Robinson.. a damn good team and really fun to watch
A rookie call-up was at the plate for batting practice before a game. He was hitting rockets all over the place. He came back to the bench and said, "I feel great! I never see the ball as well I'm seeing it today. I feel like I'm gonna get three hits this afternoon. You ever feel like that, Mr. Musial?" Stan said, "Every day." Apocryphal? Maybe, but who cares...? Someone invented that tale, maybe, to emphasize the cool greatness of a legend. I'm no lover of the Redbirds, but great players are great players, regardless of the uniform.
One, your first reply was full of silly notions that "[we] Caucasians" are on the lookout for a 'great white hope.' If you think so, then that's your issue, not mine. Two, West was a great player. More than 3,000 players have worn NBA jerseys, and West is No. 5 all-time in points per game. He's No. 6 all-time in minutes per game. He's No. 35 (that's top 1.5% all-time) in assists per game. He's No. 27 in player efficiency rating. He's No. 22 in total win shares. In the playoffs, he's No. 3 all-time in points per game. That's just a short list of numerical greatness. ... If you want to work off some different, subjective definition of greatness, then no one can stop you. If you want to litter replies with nonsense about Caucasian fans, then no one can stop you there, either. But those are opinions, not arguments.
Jerry is one of the greatest to ever play the game. As a young boy, I saw him play his last game as a Mountaineer. I adored him. Jerry is the reason I became a Laker Fan. His legacy is why I’m still a Laker Fan. Thanks, Jerry. God bless.
Actually, his stat line resembles Jordan's more than anybody else. Lower PPG and %, but no three point line. They didn't record blocks and steals for most of his career, but for the years they did it's Jordan esque.
@@keithd2284 Maybe it was Allan Malamud, I am not sure, that wrote long ago of Magic Johnson, whom I consider the best player I have ever seen, I am paraphrasing... 'he not only made everyone on the Lakers better, Magic made the other team better.' Larry Bird had that sort of value as well, though I don't think his teams were as strong, just my opinion. Their opposition didn't just want to win, they didn't want to look like fools. No shakes on Jordan, nope. But he was an unending highlight loop. He got boring quick. It was a different time and game. The NBA blows now. No discernable coaching or real team play. I can't abide the noise at games, the lights and "music," all the superfluous BS marketing dazzle. Contrast that with the vacant joyless slow play... no thanks. Just like the NFL. Dead to me now. I do attend the odd local high school and college games. Watching the passion at work is affirming. These "professionals" can f__K themselves.
And being named MVP of the finals from the losing team also happened in college. Mr West was named the tournament outstanding player when West Virginia lost to Cal in the 59 NCAA Tourney Finals.
@@blackemperors6233he would be a better player today than he was back then. If he played today obviously he would train his handle the way they do now
Well done, Jonny! Jerry's listed height in his playing days was 6'3" but as you said, Jerry was actually closer to 6'5" in Jerry's own words. When you see West pictured with Kobe, for example, he's the same height. Remember that todays players are measured with their shoes on as opposed to barefoot in West's day. This adds over an inch in height to today's players. In other words, West was actually an above average guard in terms of height and when you add in his above average jumping ability, outstanding quickness, and high bball IQ, it's no surprise he was a great defender who could also finish in the paint with the best guards of all-time. Of all the great guards in the history of the game, West is probably the best shooter (with the exception of Steph) of all of them and his pull up jumper may be the greatest of all-time. If West had had a 3 point line he'd have averaged even more points. Of all the players that never played with a 3 point line, his game probably transfers better to today's era the best. I saw West play growing up and he's as good as any combo guard I've ever seen and my favorite player ever.
There no obsession with metrics back in those days either. Scouts and coaches didn't care about your height, jumping ability, 40 time, or bench press. They cared if you could play. So nobody felt the need to make those numbers look as good as possible. If you grew a few inches, it was almost never updated in your bio.
@@perezfinichames In regards to the height issue, Bill Walton was 7'2" but, according to Bill, himself, he demanded to be listed as 6"11" because he didn't want people to react as if he was a freak of nature!
I get the push to change the “logo” in honor of Kobe, but that’s more of an emotional aspect to the argument. Jerry was impactful at every aspect of the game, this video lays it all out to prove that point. Honor Kobe in other ways, but do not dis-honor Jerry West with such a request. Even Kobe would say so...
Considering that he was going against the celtics dynasty also good teams but Wilt wasn`t performing well and did bad in the clutch or they just became un lucky
@@tj5180 in the 1969 finals [last time Russell played], Wilt's psychotic coach [who hated him] would not put him back into the game late in the 4th quarter, a move now widely considered the biggest coaching blunder in NBA history. It was never forgotten, the coach's obituary in the L.A. Times read: "He benched Wilt".
Jerry West, from my perspective, was truly one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was incredible to watch. His jump shot was pure art. He was also a team player -- he could amp up his play if a teammate went down. In addition to being a great shooter, he was fine passer and rebounder. One of my favorite players of the last 60 years.
I watched Jerry West play basketball when I was kid growing up during the 1960's and the 1970's for the L.A. Lakers. He is still one of my favorite basketball players, that ever played the game. He is an excellent example on what it takes to play in the N.B.A as a point guard then and now.
Mr. Arnett, thank you for this very true report. Everybody loved and respected Jerry West. Interesting that West and Oscar Robinson were the 1st 2 picks of the 1960 NBA draft and both won just 1 championship. I respect him as a human being with GR8 leadership. Those situations with Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant put Jerry West on whole another platform of respect. Both thumbs way up for this Well-Deserved report, Mr. Arnett.
they won just 1 nba title, but they were part of imho the greatest amateur us olympic hoops team ever. west, oscar, jerry lucas, bellamy, boozer, imhoff, dischinger. went 8-0 on their way to the gold medal, winning by an average of 43 pts/game.
@@jamesmarkscott6202 Mr. Scott, Kudos to you for remembering the majority members of the 1960 Olympic Basketball Gold Medal winning team. 🏀 Even Michael Jordan mentions his greatest.
Excellent analysis of one of the greatest ballplayers of all time. West was just about a perfect basketball player. Offense, defense, quickness, size, smarts, guts...everything. His stats would've been monumental if he played with the three-point shot and steals were recorded.
I could not agree more Cassandra, As it turns out, he was more than just a player in the NBA,, he was very important to the future of the NBA, I.E. Shaq, Kobe, those are the most famous, but there were many more who were very good to great players because of him, Jerry is a class act !!!!
Having gotten to watch West during his playing days instead of relying on scant historical videos, I've never doubted his bona fides for being a legend.
@@MrBronx61 His defense ( 5 time all Star) set him apart from other greats ! he was as tough as John Stockton and as with the offense of Oscar Robertson
Years ago, longtime NBA assistant coach Hank Egan told me that when he was in college, his team played against West Virginia and Jerry West. Egan's job was to guard West so before the game his coach told him, "I want you to get in his uniform" ...meaning to guard him super tight. Hank told me that night "he and Jerry scored 42 points." lol
😂 You gotta watch out for those West Virginia boys! One of the best players I ever played against in Bible College (hence, only intramurals) in the 70's was a guy from West Virginia named Reggie Garrett. He was one tough, consistent player! Had great character. Fun to be around; and of course, very spiritual.
I am blessed to have had the good fortune to watch Jerry in college (while I was in high school in Morgantown) and then to live in Los Angeles and watch him during his last 6 years as a pro. Btw, for many years, Jerry's 62 was the course record at Belair Country Club in LA.
Jim, I grew up near WV, and was a diehard fan of Jerry West, even though I was a Baltimore Bullets fan, until we moved to the Philadelphia area and became a 76ers fan. Regardless of where we lived I was always a Jerry West fan whenever I got to see him on TV. Those were great days to be an NBA fan; West, Chamberlain, Baylor, Goodrich, Jabar, and all the rest. Of course, I was a little kid and didn't always get to control the TV, so I often had to stay up late and see highlights on the late news shows. It was still great to see what I could. Quick note, I don't respond to nasty remarks. It's too bad some people feel the need to be that way, apparently they don't have manners enough to be considerate to others. I feel sorry for them.
He wasn't underrated by anyone who actually saw him play. I got to watch him through the last third of his playing career, and HE was the most dangerous scoring threat on the floor, even then, even while playing with Wilt, because Jerry was the one who brought up the ball. Even Frazier and Barnett, two great defensive guards, couldn't stop him.
I was fortunate enough to see Jerry play for the University of West Virginia and the Los Angeles Lakers. Spectacular...Thank you for reminding us how great he was as a player.
He was my favorite player IN NBA when I was growing up and I always thought he was best all-round player in the Leauge with Oscar .He elevated his game in post season to legendary heights
They left out another amazing fact which is he did all this while receiving 9 broken noses in his NBA career. No Jordan rules back then to protect and give him advantage over the rest of the league. You have to also factor in palming and walking were both called back then also, so that limited your offensive moves. Hand checking was also allowed which would add another 5 points a game to his average. Combine that with the three point line, walking, palming and the would probably translate to another 11 points a game in today's NBA.
Dave- outstanding points my man. West’s game was just so balanced and versatile, esp on offense. His quickness woudl still be all league level today. And re clutch shooting hes right up there with the best-MJ,Bird, and much more efficient than Bron Bron, Curry etc. MJS 43.6 clearly less impressive ads over 7 games, vs tougher opponent and NO 3 point line!! He was a way better assist man for a shooting guard, excellent rebounder and defender (sit down stef) EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCY !
Appreciate the video. I'm just old enough to remember Jerry West, but didn't know enough then to fully appreciate what a *total* player he was on both sides of the ball. This makes a very strong case for The Logo as the GOAT, and very deserving of his status as a literal icon.
Went to this after the passing of Jerry West. Thank you again for the great video content. It should be required viewing by all media, including podcasters, who report and comment on the NBA. Mr. West was a GREAT and one of a kind player. He was tremendous!
Brilliant video, He's one of those older legends who i havent really thought about much as a player because of everything else he's done, but this is a great insight into his talents.
Love Gail Goodrich too, I love watching 1960s nba basketball, I do not judge them like how good they were , had wilt and Jerry west, and Elgin Baylor were teammates in the early 1960s they had to learn to with each other ,
I remember as a kid having my dad take me to the local sporting goods store because Jerry West and Elgin Baylor were going to be there to sign autographs. I played high school basketball, patterned my game after Jerry, even wore number 44. I remember students signing my yearbook, to a guy who thinks he's Jerry West. Great memories, the best of all time.
What made West great was his heart, his soul, his personality--his character. His desire to be great and to do great things led to the talent which did numbers are the statistics. Whatever obstacle you placed before him he worked to overcome it. There's no secret there. Whatever Awards or or bonuses or benefits the NBA or others want to bestow upon Jerry West-- for whatever the reason, he deserves them.
Before I make other comments, first I wish to express my views as a former radio-tv sportscaster that your voiceover talent is monumentally great. I hope you are exploiting this talent to the max. I am an old cuss, old enough to remember Jerry West playing for West Virginia against California in the National Championshpi Game at Freedom Hall in Lousville, when NCAA Tournament Championships were not live TV broadcasts and only live radio. I saw West play at least 250 times in person for the Lakers, mostly after Wilt Chamberlain had joined the Lakers and Butch Van Breda Kolff and Bill Sharman were head coaches. First, in the early part of his career, West wasn't really a point guard, as the Lakers didn't really have point guard/shooting guard combos. They had two guards. Hot Rod Hundley and Frank Selvy handled the ball as much as he did when plays were actually set up to be run in the halfcourt. Also, West was a perimeter shooter in a different sense than today's perimeter shooters, and it isn't something to criticize. Without a three-point line, there was no reason to take shots farther out than 20 feet. Most of West's jumpers were around 15 to 18 feet. He was great at the run and jump shot, something that the most successful small players in that day could do. Gail Goodrich, Lou Hudson, Louie Dampier, Jim Walker, and Dave Bing all could hit the jumper off a quick move and deceptive stop on a dime. Likewise, today's perimeter shooters lack these skills. West could probably have done well shooting from behind the arc, but it's like wondering if Ty Cobb could have hit 40 home runs playing in the 1980's version of Tiger Stadium with a juiced up ball. In my opinion, the 1969 Lakers had the best player at each position on one team in the history of the game. Chamberlain at Center, Baylor at Forward, and West at Guard made the Lakers the best three-man team ever. The problem is the Celtics were good enough that Duck Chaney, Larry Siegfried, and Don Nelson were secondary elements and players like Bailey Howell and Russell at the end of their careers were still among the best ever. That 1971-72 Lakers were either the 2nd or 3rd best NBA team in history, tied with the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers (Wilt was on both teams). But, the 1960 Celtics were the best ever. They had the best 4-guard combo ever with Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Frank Ramsey, and K C Jones. Tom Heinsohn and Sam Jones joined Bill Russell to make the best defensive frontcourt ever. West had the misfortune of being with the Lakers when the Celtics were unstoppable, like the Dodgers being so great in the 40's and 50's but not having the overall talent equal to the Yankees in those days. Thanks for stirring up some great memories in an old man.
@Ll L the memory that comes to mind most is the LSU and Kentucky game at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington in the Winter of 1970. Coach Rupp believed that one star couldn't beat his great team, so he had Maravich guarded man to man Pete got 55 points that day but also committed a lot of turnovers, and the UK fast break punished the Tigers with several layups. Kentucky won 109-96. I also saw Maravich play in Nashville against Vanderbilt, and Commodore coach Roy Skinner used a 3-2 zone to confuse the star. LSU committed close to 20 turnovers in the first half, and Vanderbilt scored 60 in the opening 20 minutes and won 115-86.
Definitely a lot greater than a lot of folks today are aware of. Saw him play plenty of times, on TV mind you, but I still think he was the greatest of his generation, along with The Big O, as a guard. I was watching that crazy playoff game when he hit the half court turn around jumper to tie the game. And everyone knew he was going to take the shot. Just a wonderful player, and a veritable genius not just as a player, but as a coach and executive. No one like him in NBA history. Thanks for this marvelous video.
Killmonger 26 It’s ridiculous to clown someone for their Finals record. LeBron gets clowned for going 3-9 in the Finals and so I know there are people who view Jerry West’s 1-9 in the Finals as abysmal as well. The Finals record argument ignores context, just looking at Jerry West, summing up his championship run as 1-9, ignores his insane averages or the team’s condition, or that he still managed to win Finals MVP, but lost the series. The Finals argument has only become a thing in order to discredit LeBron. Nobody cared about your Finals record up until 2016. When I was growing up, the only thing we talked about was the fact that they were champions. As a kid, all I knew and was taught about Jerry West was that he was the logo, Mr. Clutch, a Lakers legend, and that he got 1 ring in his playing career. I understood he lost 8 times in the Finals too, but it was never viewed as a detriment to his legacy, unlike today. Or even a legend like the late great Kobe Bryant, I knew he had 5 rings. It was never stressed that he went 5-2 in the Finals.
@@johnnyblingg "The Finals argument has only become a thing in order to discredit LeBron." .. LOL, I can tell you are young and are apart of this Participation Trophy generation . The 'Finals Record' has ALWAYS been a discussion point, and especially in the G.O.A.T. conversation.. Jerry West WAS in the GOAT conversation until about Jordan's 4th Finals win. Some would laugh when West's name would be brought up and some would make stats arguments (like LeBron Fans do) but either way winning the Championship AND HOW YOU WIN is what matters the most. Finals Record isn't the only thing that matters but it is a heavy weight. Wilt Chamberlain is still in the GOAT convo and he also has a losing Finals Record like LeBron. But here are the reasons LeBron gets roasted: 1.) Got to pick his teammates (Cleveland Part I his last couple of years) 2.) Traded to Miami for the purpose of winning The Finals (also a type of choosing teammates) 3.) Bragged about he was going to win 8 straight titles (aka - what people thought Jordan would have done had he not retired and that was LeBron's way of saying he was going to do what Jordan didn't) 4.) Went 2-4 in The Finals with Miami (still a losing Finals record) 5.) Lost to the Dallas Mavericks who weren't stacked 6.) Out played by Jason Terry (Who? Exactly.) 7.) Back to Cleveland who already had a good players (Choosing teammates AGAIN because that was a stipulation for him coming back) 8.) Had almost all of his teammates traded for new ones (2018 Season, 5th TIME choosing teammates) 9.) Went 1-4 in the Finals against the Warriors (with a handpicked team, remember that) 10.) Claimed himself to be the GOAT because of his 2016 Title win 11.) Swept 0-4 in a Finals run (while having a handpicked team, being called the GOAT, and clearly giving up on effort after Game 1 loss and then claiming injury after Game 4 loss but being considered healthy for games 2, 3, and 4) Russell, Bird, Jordan, Bryant, Magic, Chamberlain .. and even West.. didn't do ANY of that... THAT'S why LeBron gets clowned. He stat pads and makes excuses... Kobe (RIP) even called him out on losing despite having good players by his side...
The Gen XY The Gen XY From the first sentence, your comment reeks of condescension. I’m straight on thoroughly reading it, but you’re reiterating my point. All you did was point out the difference in how other all time greats won their championships and then you proceeded to go full ESPN, and rehash all the reasons why the Finals losses argument was created to spite LeBron. I’m in my 20s, yet you claim to be older, but then proceeded to ironically prove my point like a child lol like I said before, the Finals argument is stupid. I’d l
I saw the Zeke from Cabin Creek with his family at the LA Zoo. He had just gotten his nose broken and was wearing a white bandage over it. And he had a terrific smile. He IS the logo.
WOW, I didn't know this guy was that GOOD! If he would had been playing today, he would have been a $uper $tar!!!🌟 Especially if they could count those extra 3 point shots. Thank you for the video. Very informative.
Uhhhhhh, he WAS a super star! How do you think he wound up as the logo? The only guard from back in the 60's that was remotely considered his equal was MAYBE Oscar Robertson, remember the guy who averaged a triple double?
Yes. Good on you for learning. You should also check out pre (knee injuries) '64 Elgin Baylor. West is a bit forgotten now, but Baylor is to me the most underrated great player now.
My father being from West Virginia , that was his favorite player. While we lived in New Jersey, we saw all the heartbreaking losses to the Celtics. The Celtics as stated were always loaded , No free agency back then like now where you have LeBron James having played on three different teams so far. I can categorically say having watched him? and I’m 78 years old that he definitely would dominate today along with the late great wilt Chamberlain. The name of the game has always been, put the ball in the basket.
When I was growing up and watching the NBA JERRY WEST was always my favorite player and then came WILT! Needless to say I hated the CELTICS because they always won the title! Watching this makes me know again why he was my favorite player. He was amazing and he almost always beat the CELTICS single handedly.When he made that long bomb shot it only tied the KNICKS and then they lost so as others have pointed out without the 3 point shot his stats are even more amazing! GREAT VIDEO HERE!
Jerry West and Oscar Robertson were both phenomenally talented players and both played within a team concept. Great players of any era were great for a reason, they had talent and drive. I've never seen a center better than Wilt or Kareem. Russell could play against any of these guys, as could Nate Thurmond, Willis Reed , Dave Cowen, and Walt Bellamy. Lots of great players, a really enjoy watch Steph Curry . Wish I could see Rick Barry again.
I thought same thing; someone should estimate, but too hard. Why would Jerry shoot from 3 point range when only worth 2 points? So let’s add 4 more points to each game? Even more impressive!
1st ever FMVP, only FMVP after losing the finals, 50th and 75th anniversary team member, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch”, and finally, the NBA LOGO. Rest in paradise Jerry West. ❤
Spencer Haywood and Lenny Wilkins.. Lenny simply one of the most forgotten and underrated point guards in the game.. If only the Coliseum roof didn't halve to leak and take out Spencer's knee They may both be remembered for as great as thy were.
The lack of film on many of his games pro and college, the grainy quality of it all, really adds to his mystique and legend. Just this year for All-Star Weekend, TNT did a fantasy draft on the top 75 players of all time. Mr. West built a team that was for sure going to take it all. What impressed me the most, whenever he spoke, the whole room was quiet and enthralled to hear what he had to say on the game past and present.
Wow...have to admit I'am impressed. And that's not often. Knew a lot about Jerry but obviously not nerley enough to know what kind of amazing player he was. Props to video
I saw him play many times and I don't remember ever seeing him perform poorly. Nor did I ever see him ignore a wide open teammate, I can't say the same for many other stars. If you got open he would get you the ball. Everything he did was with class.
@@uasakura I think he may mean that there are alot of people calling for the logo to be changed cuz of Kobe's untimely death and claiming that its about time as if West was just any other Joe Blow.
@@eb60lp Jerry West is heartbroken about Kobe's death and wants to extend a way to honor him. That's what it's about. I'll leave it there cuz I'm not gonna turn this string into a debate about Kobe being the logo. If there's anyone who deserves the logo change its MJ for how he exploded the game domestically and internationally as well as being the greatest winner in the modern era of sports.
Yes, he was listed at 6’ 4” and he was always listed at that size when he played. His wingspan however, from fingertip to fingertip, is 6’ 7”. He was always noted for his quickness. He was subtle and dangerous. Players never thought him as fast, and perhaps he wasn’t, but he was very quick and had eyes out of the back of his head.
George Orwell I’m from L.A. & grew up watching Jerry West & Elgin Baylor. Let me tell you something: West was unstoppable. When he took a jump shot, it looked like it would be easy to block, but his release was too damn quick. The man was a force in all aspects of the game. When asked to explain his excellence, West (in his typical humble style) said, “For some reason, I was able to play the game at a high level.” Even West didn’t know where his greatness came from! Truth be told, I was actually an Elgin Baylor fan. Big time. When West joined the Lakers, I resented the attention & favoritism the press was showing West & I underplayed his talent. Finally, after watching his greatness for many years, I simply had to give the man his due. Jerry West could play in ANY era & was, quite simply, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. Period.
@@chatman2a I was a fan of the Lakers then as well. I saw when West hit that crazy 55 footer at the end of Game 5(?) of the 1969 finals against the Knickerbockers. What was amazing about West was from a rookie to his last year, his level of play never changed. He was at the top of his game from beginning to end.
@@chatman2a The first pro game I ever saw the Lakers were playing and West had a huge game scoring, passing, he was all over the court on defense, and won the game in crunch time. From that point on I was a Jerry West fan and he is still my fave guard ever.
George Orwell I remember that game well: It was game 3 in the series. The shot was from far behind the center-court line & sent the game into overtime. (In today’s NBA, that shot would have been a 3-pointer & given the Lakers the victory). Despite the momentum the shot gave to the Lakers, the Knicks won the game in overtime. The Knicks ultimately won the series in 7 games.
I am also from West Virginia, so I am biased. Jetty is one of the best ever!!!! He worked his butt off! He had a shot that was just unreal. He produced!!! Especially in crunch time. That takes a special drive and skills.
I remember him scoring a longer than half court shot to tie the Knicks at 102 in the final seconds of the a finals game. They eventually lost the game and the title that year. If there was a three point shot at the time, that shot would have won the game and the Knicks might have wound up never winning that title.
I remember the shot, the desperate dribble getting out of (can't remember which player) the way, then launching it two-handed.....and hitting nothing but net. I think Dave DeBusschere fell on the floor.
I can still see Dave DeBusschere collapsing under his own basket in disbelief at that 75-foot buzzer-beater. I also remain convinced that Wilt committed an inbounds violation on that play.
If there would have been a three point line, the point difference between the teams very likely wouldn’t have been the same by the end of the game: we don’t know how many other three-pointers there would have been by both teams. I wonder if using sophisticated computer graphics that someone could take the film and figure out how many three-point shots there would have been to find out what the outcome would’ve been...
I'll call Jerry West the greatest point guard of all time and use this outstanding, illuminating video as my defense. Speaking of defense, I was privileged to watch him up close during my freshman year (his junior) at WVU, and watched him guarding his opponent left of the top of the key. The opponent threw a pass to his teammate across court who caught the ball, jumped, shot - and the ball was blocked - by West. He was a graceful yet athletic and fierce competitor. I enjoyed just watching that team, who lost in the NCAA Final Game by one point, practice on afternoons after classes, not knowing of the season they would complete. I'm not the only Mountaineer fan who yet agonizes , as does Jerry, over that one point loss. Yes, he's the greatest of all time. I believe he would be an All-Star if he was playing in today's NBA.
Wow...how old are you? Lol. But wasnt he more a SG. I have him as the 3rd best SG ever. Jordan is untouchable at SG (although West could almost score as well as him in the playoffs) Maybe a slight argument over Kobe too as he was a better playoff scorer. But Kobe Bryant won more titles and had a longer career. But west did say he didnt want to hang around just to stay in the NBA just for the sake to keep playing.
Well said. Even this video cannot capture West's greatness. He was simply unstoppable. As the 24-second clock wound down, everyone knew where the ball was going. The Lakers were not balanced, so the ball went to West. Always. He made an astounding number of last-second shots--hence, Mr. Clutch--but one wonders what his shooting percentage would have been on a team with more balance. The video does show his quickness. The players today might be bigger and stronger, and they might be faster in a sprint, but on defense, their reaction times cannot be any faster than the players' were back then. In fact, I would argue that the defenders back in the day were better. Defense, particularly footwork, was a priority, because the game was played from 22 feet in. The video shows that West's quickness on the drive made it impossible to stay close enough to stop his jump shot, which was the fastest in the league anyway. Even Steph Curry admits he borrowed West's quick release move. If West played today, he would not have to do anything differently to have the same effectiveness. With the three-pointer as an option, he might have even been better. With the step-back shot and side-step shot now legal, he might have embraced those, although he wouldn't need to. Anyone who has seen James Harden play knows that a shooting guard can be unstoppable. But as great as Harden is, he is no Jerry West.
Young guys of this era, as the narrator obviously is, are enthralled with the term point guard. That didn't exist during West's time. If it was called anything, it was the playmaker. There was no shooting guard either, you were just a guard, as Jerry was. I'm 67 years old, so I saw West during his early years. He was so much better than everyone else, it wasn't even close. That's both Black and White players. He pretty much perfected the jumpshot, the pullup jumpshot was literally his creation. I appreciate young guys researching his career, wrong terms or not.
Outstanding work, JA!! Never a greater player than Jerry to my mind. Russell as great in his revolutionary way. Magic belongs. Very few others in that top list. Your comments on West's height are spot-on. I played a bit of college ball at 6-4 in the 60s and was a good judge of height. When I chatted with Jerry at the old Sports Arena, he didn't seem over 6-2, maybe only a 1/2 inch more. Some folks were sure he was taller. He was not. (Back then, you could meet and talk with the players coming in and leaving the games. Very informal in LA.) Of all the pro players I met, none was more polite than Jerry West. You noted Chick Hearn, the immortal Laker broadcaster. He'd call West "Zeke from Cabin Creek"--great moniker. I tip my hat to your insistence on West's great all-round game. He was always anticipating passes, touching balls and completely disruptive on defense. Coach's dream. When I began coaching, I wish I'd had films of Jerry. I did tell my guards to play like Gary Payton or Dennis Johnson. But there was only one West. He embodied and demonstrated every facet of the game so intuitively and brilliantly.
GREAT video . Jerry West has been a great player, a great general manager and a great executive. He is a big part of NBA history and I’ve always enjoyed the respect he got as the Logo. I thought this video’s coverage of his defensive accolades was a very good angle that you don’t always appreciate. Another great memory - seeing Jerry and Oscar hanging out at the Best 75 ceremony, and then Michael Jordan coming over to say hi.
Johhny, honestly I'm starting to become unsure about who ranks where with all these talented players. There are so many intangibles with the upper echelon of players. Your videos are so informative and insightful with very thorough research. Not fluff. Great work, keep up the good job Johnny!
I saw him play. My favorite player along with Rick Barry. West’s miracle shot at the garden should have won game vs Knicks. West was unreal. And him and Wilt won 33 in a row. A record that will never fall. The miracle shot to tie game at buzzer was his side of half court and no 3 point. Shot yet. It’s BS. Greatest shot ever. 1971, Lakers win title, w West, Chamberlain, Goodrich, Hairston, and McMillian. The 33 game streak included. West is best player I’ve ever seen
Jerry West was the last person you wanted to see with the ball in the final seconds of any game, he was as clutch as anyone playing today including MJ or Kobe. He was "Lil Zeke from Cabin Creek" (he hated that name) Every kid should watch his shooting form ( if you are serious about your game) he was virtually unstoppable off the dribble, He was and still is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
If you watched him play, that is 100% correct. He was so unbelievable at crunch time. If he was playing your favorite team it was agony every time he touched the ball. That's something the stats can't tell you.
He was great. Tremendous elecvation on his jumper. Great hands. Long arms. Fast and smooth. I watched him in person and was always blown away. In those years you could walk down by the court in Knicks games and seeing West and Wilt up close changed my opinion of both. They were great.
Jerry West came into the NBA during my formative teen years. I have always said that he was the greatest point guard I've ever seen because he can do it all score, defend, rebound everything. There was a matchup of him and the Knicks Walt Frazier that I actually paid money to see. They gave you 48 minutes a pure desire. I wouldn't pay a dime to see the players of today
And the videos of him dunking prove that the NBA wasnt as slow and unathletic as people think it was. Go to your local gym, and there are actually plenty of guys who are 6'2-6'4 and can't dunk. This video really shows how impressive west actually was
6”2 and i can’t can’t dunk but that’s because I’m 285. If I lost weight and trained I’m sure I could dunk. I’ll come back to this comment in the summer when it’s done.
I was lucky to see him play several times. I also watched or listened to every one is his 33 straight wins. One thing that impressed me is how he went behind a much taller player during a shot and would block it. It is mind boggling to ever imagine what his averages would be if there was a 3 Point Line back then. It was beautiful to see both West and Goodrich in the backcourt...mind blowing duo!
2 questions: Where do you rank Jerry West among the greatest Point Guards ever, and how do you think he would do in todays game?
He was NOT a point guard. Why does everyone think this?
Because he's listed as one everywhere, although I would agree that his style mostly resembled a 2 more than a 1.
@@jonnyarnett again I don't know why that is. He's listed as a 2 in every all time list.
It doesn't help that basketball reference lists him as a 1 for whatever reason for most of his career. Further cementing the issue is that many think the venerable Oscar Robertson is a 2 guard due to his size and scoring when he only really played that way when Cousy reenacted himself as Cincy's PG for a few games.
Hey if Boston was so stack how bill is 1 of the greatest if we put bill on the Knicks how great would he be 🤔
Jerry west played shooting guard in the 60s because he played forward in college and he couldn’t bring the ball up.They had a player named Walt hazard who played point guard for some years during the 60s.But in the 70s coach bill sharman moved Jerry to the 1 so Gail Goodrich could play the 2.That is why Jerry’s assists numbers went way up in the 70s.
Jerry West was and is still my Favorite Basketball Player. And Yes I'm old, and I saw him play many times.
@@JankySpanky7711 maybe nba best pure shooter ever, one of the original basketball players who created their own shot
@Don Clark I started watching his highlights. I like his plat style. Simple, Smart but Sure basket... Will try to do his moves like Larry Bird and Nikola Jokic.
@@lloydkline6946
Ah, my friend, Mr. Clutch was more than just a pure shooter. There's very little he couldn't do well. Drive the lane, finish or dish. Dribble through traffic. Defend with the best. Shoot from virtually anywhere. He was a challenge for the best defenders. He rarely made a bad decision on the court.
I'm not a Lakers fan, but you couldn't help but admire such a player.
:-)
Me too...what I always tell people was how how fast/quick he was.he could jump like hell and gothis shotoff so fast. He was an incredible player who would b n all starr today easy
Really; I seen on old film legendary great pullup jump shot ; I hear nba rim are lot better today my hero too with gail Goodrich the lefty my favorite backcourt everl
I remember (yes, I'm old) after one game against the Knicks, Howie Komives (then a Knick guard) was asked if he had a good game. His super-serious response was, "Hell, yes, I held West to 30 points."
Lol, great quote! My dad knew Butch Komives pretty well.
I had the privilege of watching him play in person several times as a kid. My dad took me to that playoff game when he hit the 63 footer to tie the game. He is, and always will be the LOGO.
Amen
Historians of the game including MJ, Kobe, Magic, and Lebron always talk about Jerry’s impact on the league. I personally didn’t realize how good he was. Great vid. Educated me. Now I know.
So well put. I won't even bother trying 👍
I wouldn't consider MJ, etc. as "Historians" of the game, maybe the best players, but they are not historians. The guy that did the video is more of a historian. No slight, but players are players. Historians are historians.
Yeah Jerry West should be on EVERYONE'S Top-10 greatest players list. He could do it all: great shooter, passer, rebounder and defender. He was before my time, but even as I'm a diehard Celtics fan, Jerry West was the goods. The all-around player most comparable to West was probably John Havlicek.
Zeke from Cabin Creek was one of the best 5 players ever.
I knew how Bad A&& Jerry West was as a player, I watched him play many, many basketball games with my brothers🏀🏀❗💕
Saw him once getting off an elevator in West Los Angeles in the late 80's. Head and shoulders above the rest of the people in the elevator with him, he humbly walked out passed me and a couple co workers who, at the moment, were arguing who the best guard in the NBA was - Kevin Johnson, Dennis Johnson, or Magic Johnson. After I saw Jerry, I just pointed and said, "There's the best guard who ever played" He smiled and said thanks as he passed by...we all agreed. Mr. Clutch.
That's a great story
Typical for that era, he was taller than his listed height. Possibly 6' 5" barefoot. He would be listed 6' 6" if he were playing today. Monstrous wingspan would make him one of the longer swingmen of this era.
That's an amazing story.
@@Kermit_T_Frog Oddly I noticed his wingspan only because it is long. He literally played "taller" than his height. I'm blessed similarly. I guard easily guys a few inches than me only because of wingspan and wide shoulders. Wild I mention me in same paragraph with JERRY WEST. Forgive me.
When BAYLOR CHAMBERLAIN WEST were together the supporting cast must had included. Would explain why LAKERS did not 5 or 6 consecutive NBA championships.
From a guy who was once called "Zeke, from Cabin Creek", Jerry West went on to dominate his position in the game. Far more so than any other guard during his tenure in the NBA. Then became one of the most important architects of an organization that again, dominated the NBA, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis (who, but Jerry West could have foreseen Rambis' importance to those teams?), Jamal Wilkes, Bob McAdoo, Byron Scott, Mitch Kupchak, Earl Jones, Ronnie Lester, Mike McGee and Larry Spriggs beat the Boston Celtics to win the 1984-85 NBA Championship. They lost one game in that series, the aptly named "Memorial Day Massacre", losing 148-114 and then swept the Celtics. Amazing stuff and Jerry West deserves a lot of credit for putting that team together with Pat Riley. SHOWTIME was a very memorable team to behold. I loved it!
One of the best clutch shooters in basketball history. Very consistent player. A great man, a true legend of the game.
He was a choke artist.
the hand release on his jumper is iconic
His jumper alone too 🔥
Touch
He could always get that shot. Against anyone.
Agree if they change thenba logo that should be it.
West was the one who built the W's, and a side by side of his jump shot and Klay Thompson's is eerily similar.
Jerry was not only an amazing NBA player but also did so much for the game after he retired.
He spotted, fought for, and got Kobe Bryant. End of story.
West was one of the most incredibly fundamental and skilled basketball player in NBA history. He could play and compete in any era along with players like the Big O, Rick Berry and Bill Russell.
Mr. Clutch. Final seconds everyone knew who was going to shoot that last shot, but just like MJ most of the time he got the ball and hit the big one. One of the 10 greatest of any era. Today with the 3 point line he would hit 4 or 5 from downtown each game, but when defenders came out to guard him Jerry was great going to the basket for lay ups and assists.
Let’s remember this:
Jerry West and his amazing all around career are without controversy and drama. That alone is unheard of anymore.
Social media also didn’t exist...
Your talking about a time when there was segregation and all that bs going on in america. He wasnt even the best player in the league. Hes only the logo to white wash shit.
He definitely benefited from being white. The black players got scrutinized far more like Wilt fit being “selfish” and he’s not a winner so he goes and leads the league in assists then they say he isn’t scoring as much. Jerry west lost 7 times in a row until wilt and Wilt 67 warriors team is considered the greatest team ever arguably. Segregation was going on and jerry west was viewed as the really good white player and black players were being accepted as time goes on but they got more criticized even tho Wilt won without jerry.
High School LBJ proves you need a full team. MJ didn’t win until he had the right team around him either. Same with West. Jerry West was an all time great player.
@@jodymicheallee How so? For speaking the truth about a particular era in us history? Enlighten me please.
He has done so much for the NBA. He should be voted the "All-Time" logo. Fantastic player and a very humble man!
Ultimate gentleman, Jerry west
This video is one of the most professional “How good was he?” type videos I’ve ever seen. Really outstanding work. I knew Jerry West was an all time great, but I didn’t know how great. Thanks!
I saw him play many times on TV in the 1960s. I was an anti-Laker fan, but I had to grudgingly respect Jerry West. It just seemed like he never missed. He was sensational -- the best guard of that decade. Sorry, Oscar. What I hated most was listening to or watching Jerry hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer and having to hear Chick Hearn screaming, "Mr. Clutch! Mr. Clutch!"
By the way his finals MVP on the losing team, averaging 37.9 points over seven games, was done while playing with a hamstring injury. No player today would have even been playing with that injury
What a beast!
Key word....'today'
@Lee 1227 Yes, ballhog Kobe would have played and screwed his team in the process.
ye but they would in that weak ass league
hitek9wittafulclip KD don’t play without a spine .. it’s crazy !
Jerry is such a great, humble guy. A great player, a fantastic guy all around. Doesn’t like the spotlight even when he deserves it. Can’t hate that man. A true historical basketball legend.
You haven't got a clue. pal;. I've met West and he's an arrogant prick. And, if you consider that anecdotal, I promise you that you can meet many others who have the same opinion of him.
Yank ee when??
Well stated sir, you have my respect for what that's worth....
I had the honor to see Jerry West play a number of times in that amazing, 71-72 season. I remember the 33 game winning streak and the excitement as it grew, and the long standing League record 69-13 season that took decades to get bested. That team does not get the respect it deserves when compared to the 60s Celtics, the 80s Lakers, the 90s Bulls or today's Warriors. But that team accomplished things that have yet to be matched, the win streak in particular. It was a team far greater than the sum of its parts. Imagine if Baylor had remained healthy enough to stay through that year instead of having just retired at season's start. And for all that team success, it was Jerry West's team, and he was the magic before there was Magic.
I was at the game in Boston when (I think) the winning streak was broken. I was a huge West fan, starting as a young kid. I hated to see them lose, and that was the only time I saw him live.
I saw him play live in person in buffalo that year and of course live on tv
Great great points and your right... That team had west and Goodrich in the back court and wilt up front of course... Baylor retired after nine games... But Jim macmillan filled in well for him and happy hairston was the rebounding specialist... And a pretty damn good bench too... Leroy Ellis.. pat Riley.. Keith Erickson.. John trapp.. Jim Clemens.. Flynn Robinson.. a damn good team and really fun to watch
He averaged a lot of points when the three point line wasn't even introduced yet. That's pretty amazing imo.
VERY
hes born on my bday
He took like 25 shots a game lol shooting that much he better average 30
@@joestuehmer7967 yeah, on 47% shooting, I wouldn't complain if I were the coach if he chucks up those shots
@@yunan9610 True he was a great scorer so deserved it and the pace of the game was a lot faster back then so players took more shots
He's the Stan Musial of the NBA, a criminally underrated all-time legend. Jerry West could play and excel in any NBA era.
Wolf---I have always thought the same way about Stan the man.His stats are so consistent.Didn't he miss years because of military service?
Paul Kryder maybe if he played basketball. 8th all time when it comes to RBIs says he would be able to excel even now in the mlb
A rookie call-up was at the plate for batting practice before a game. He was hitting rockets all over the place. He came back to the bench and said, "I feel great! I never see the ball as well I'm seeing it today. I feel like I'm gonna get three hits this afternoon. You ever feel like that, Mr. Musial?" Stan said, "Every day."
Apocryphal? Maybe, but who cares...? Someone invented that tale, maybe, to emphasize the cool greatness of a legend. I'm no lover of the Redbirds, but great players are great players, regardless of the uniform.
Who nominated West for GOAT status? I must have missed that post.
One, your first reply was full of silly notions that "[we] Caucasians" are on the lookout for a 'great white hope.' If you think so, then that's your issue, not mine. Two, West was a great player. More than 3,000 players have worn NBA jerseys, and West is No. 5 all-time in points per game. He's No. 6 all-time in minutes per game. He's No. 35 (that's top 1.5% all-time) in assists per game. He's No. 27 in player efficiency rating. He's No. 22 in total win shares. In the playoffs, he's No. 3 all-time in points per game. That's just a short list of numerical greatness. ... If you want to work off some different, subjective definition of greatness, then no one can stop you. If you want to litter replies with nonsense about Caucasian fans, then no one can stop you there, either. But those are opinions, not arguments.
Jerry is one of the greatest to ever play the game. As a young boy, I saw him play his last game as a Mountaineer. I adored him.
Jerry is the reason I became a Laker Fan. His legacy is why I’m still a Laker Fan. Thanks, Jerry. God bless.
Me to , until LaBaby became a Laker, don't even watch the NBA . How great would he have been " If " he could palm and travel like all do 2day...
He was Magic/Bird good when nobody noticed.
One of THE best ever.
Actually, his stat line resembles Jordan's more than anybody else. Lower PPG and %, but no three point line. They didn't record blocks and steals for most of his career, but for the years they did it's Jordan esque.
I don't care about stats. I watched the guy. Nobody plays like those guys anymore... nobody.
@@hugh-johnfleming289 Well yea, I was just pointing out that he was Jordan tier, or at least damn near it.
@@keithd2284 Maybe it was Allan Malamud, I am not sure, that wrote long ago of Magic Johnson, whom I consider the best player I have ever seen, I am paraphrasing... 'he not only made everyone on the Lakers better, Magic made the other team better.' Larry Bird had that sort of value as well, though I don't think his teams were as strong, just my opinion. Their opposition didn't just want to win, they didn't want to look like fools. No shakes on Jordan, nope. But he was an unending highlight loop. He got boring quick.
It was a different time and game. The NBA blows now. No discernable coaching or real team play. I can't abide the noise at games, the lights and "music," all the superfluous BS marketing dazzle. Contrast that with the vacant joyless slow play... no thanks. Just like the NFL. Dead to me now.
I do attend the odd local high school and college games. Watching the passion at work is affirming. These "professionals" can f__K themselves.
Hugh-John Fleming How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?
"Lets start at the beginning" and then it starts with the NBA. He was an outstanding college player as well.
And a Gold medalist in the Olympics
.
Great point. Legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp called West the best he'd ever seen, adding that he'd seen them all!
The man from Cabin Creek was the best...
Then there was Hot Rod Hundley...both from West by God Virginia...
And being named MVP of the finals from the losing team also happened in college. Mr West was named the tournament outstanding player when West Virginia lost to Cal in the 59 NCAA Tourney Finals.
@@joekaiser7512 Zeke from Cabin Creek as Chick Hearn would call him! I don't believe Mr West ever liked that moniker!
My heart broke the day he retired. West played the game at the highest level, and could have done so in any era.
@@blackemperors6233he would be a better player today than he was back then. If he played today obviously he would train his handle the way they do now
@@TheFadedSpade35 ye u right i wasnt thinking mb
@@blackemperors6233 it's hard to evaluate him because we didn't watch him, but I've seen full games of him and he was an insane player
Well done, Jonny! Jerry's listed height in his playing days was 6'3" but as you said, Jerry was actually closer to 6'5" in Jerry's own words. When you see West pictured with Kobe, for example, he's the same height. Remember that todays players are measured with their shoes on as opposed to barefoot in West's day. This adds over an inch in height to today's players. In other words, West was actually an above average guard in terms of height and when you add in his above average jumping ability, outstanding quickness, and high bball IQ, it's no surprise he was a great defender who could also finish in the paint with the best guards of all-time. Of all the great guards in the history of the game, West is probably the best shooter (with the exception of Steph) of all of them and his pull up jumper may be the greatest of all-time. If West had had a 3 point line he'd have averaged even more points. Of all the players that never played with a 3 point line, his game probably transfers better to today's era the best. I saw West play growing up and he's as good as any combo guard I've ever seen and my favorite player ever.
If they kept track of steals during his career the steals record would be forever out of reach
Thank You sir. That is correct. And Jerry was older when Kobe came in and probably has shrunk a small bit.
There no obsession with metrics back in those days either. Scouts and coaches didn't care about your height, jumping ability, 40 time, or bench press. They cared if you could play. So nobody felt the need to make those numbers look as good as possible. If you grew a few inches, it was almost never updated in your bio.
@@perezfinichames In regards to the height issue, Bill Walton was 7'2" but, according to Bill, himself, he demanded to be listed as 6"11" because he didn't want people to react as if he was a freak of nature!
^6 3 .5 in tall
I get the push to change the “logo” in honor of Kobe, but that’s more of an emotional aspect to the argument. Jerry was impactful at every aspect of the game, this video lays it all out to prove that point. Honor Kobe in other ways, but do not dis-honor Jerry West with such a request. Even Kobe would say so...
Sometimes change is better I’m sure if they changed the logo to honor the death of the great Kobe jerry wouldn’t mind
Jerry never wanted to be the logo
How bout a LOGO of Kobe shooting with West playing Defense on him, OR Larry and MJ the 2 best ever IMO !???
Brian west couldn’t block Kobe.
@@ibebrodey How do you know what Jerry wanted.
A 1-8 record in the Finals means 'nine' finals. That is not a failure of any kind. It shows incredibly consistent high achievement.
Try explaining that to the detractors of the guy from the modern era with a personal Finals record of 4-6.
*Lebron haters left the chat*
Considering that he was going against the celtics dynasty also good teams but Wilt wasn`t performing well and did bad in the clutch or they just became un lucky
@@tj5180 in the 1969 finals [last time Russell played], Wilt's psychotic coach [who hated him] would not put him back into the game late in the 4th quarter, a move now widely considered the biggest coaching blunder in NBA history. It was never forgotten, the coach's obituary in the L.A. Times read: "He benched Wilt".
@@ehi_ij Labron has nothing to do with this discussion! Peace.
Jerry West, from my perspective, was truly one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was incredible to watch. His jump shot was pure art. He was also a team player -- he could amp up his play if a teammate went down. In addition to being a great shooter, he was fine passer and rebounder. One of my favorite players of the last 60 years.
I watched Jerry West play basketball when I was kid growing up during the 1960's and the 1970's for the L.A. Lakers. He is still one of my favorite basketball players, that ever played the game. He is an excellent example on what it takes to play in the N.B.A as a point guard then and now.
Mr. Arnett, thank you for this very true report. Everybody loved and respected Jerry West. Interesting that West and Oscar Robinson were the 1st 2 picks of the 1960 NBA draft and both won just 1 championship. I respect him as a human being with GR8 leadership. Those situations with Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant put Jerry West on whole another platform of respect. Both thumbs way up for this Well-Deserved report, Mr. Arnett.
they won just 1 nba title, but they were part of imho the greatest amateur us olympic hoops team ever. west, oscar, jerry lucas, bellamy, boozer, imhoff, dischinger. went 8-0 on their way to the gold medal, winning by an average of 43 pts/game.
@@jamesmarkscott6202 Mr. Scott, Kudos to you for remembering the majority members of the 1960 Olympic Basketball Gold Medal winning team. 🏀 Even Michael Jordan mentions his greatest.
Excellent analysis of one of the greatest ballplayers of all time. West was just about a perfect basketball player. Offense, defense, quickness, size, smarts, guts...everything. His stats would've been monumental if he played with the three-point shot and steals were recorded.
One of the greatest shooting guard and a true gentlemen.
He was arguably one of the best.if not THE best contributors..accross the board.. to the NBA of all time!
I could not agree more Cassandra, As it turns out, he was more than just a player in the NBA,, he was very important to the future of the NBA, I.E. Shaq, Kobe, those are the most famous, but there were many more who were very good to great players because of him, Jerry is a class act !!!!
Having gotten to watch West during his playing days instead of relying on scant historical videos, I've never doubted his bona fides for being a legend.
Me too
Same here. Any top ten greatest list without West (and Oscar) isn't legit, IMO. And all this talk about changing the NBA logo needs to stop.
Saw him his senior year play W V 1959 Norfolk Va single handedly beat William and Mary playing center against much taller players
@@clintfulful - Younger NBA fans don't realize what a tremendous athlete West was, and his toughness on the court.
@@MrBronx61 His defense ( 5 time all Star) set him apart from other greats ! he was as tough as John Stockton and as with the offense of Oscar Robertson
Mr. Clutch, clearly one of the all time great players. Then proceeded to be an all-time NBA executive. One of a kind!
Best pure shooter ever
Years ago, longtime NBA assistant coach Hank Egan told me that when he was in college, his team played against West Virginia and Jerry West. Egan's job was to guard West so before the game his coach told him, "I want you to get in his uniform" ...meaning to guard him super tight. Hank told me that night "he and Jerry scored 42 points." lol
😄
Great story! Loved it.
😂 You gotta watch out for those West Virginia boys! One of the best players I ever played against in Bible College (hence, only intramurals) in the 70's was a guy from West Virginia named Reggie Garrett. He was one tough, consistent player! Had great character. Fun to be around; and of course, very spiritual.
Lol
His greatness as a player often goes unnoticed
An astounding all round player. He could have played in any era. Thanks for sharing
Zeke from Cabin Creek, as an all time Celtic fan, I can tell you West was an absolute superstar.. What a player.
I am blessed to have had the good fortune to watch Jerry in college (while I was in high school in Morgantown) and then to live in Los Angeles and watch him during his last 6 years as a pro. Btw, for many years, Jerry's 62 was the course record at Belair Country Club in LA.
Jim, I grew up near WV, and was a diehard fan of Jerry West, even though I was a Baltimore Bullets fan, until we moved to the Philadelphia area and became a 76ers fan. Regardless of where we lived I was always a Jerry West fan whenever I got to see him on TV. Those were great days to be an NBA fan; West, Chamberlain, Baylor, Goodrich, Jabar, and all the rest.
Of course, I was a little kid and didn't always get to control the TV, so I often had to stay up late and see highlights on the late news shows. It was still great to see what I could.
Quick note, I don't respond to nasty remarks. It's too bad some people feel the need to be that way, apparently they don't have manners enough to be considerate to others. I feel sorry for them.
The logo was one of the most underrated in nba history and an all-time great who knows how to build teams in the front office
He wasn't underrated by anyone who actually saw him play. I got to watch him through the last third of his playing career, and HE was the most dangerous scoring threat on the floor, even then, even while playing with Wilt, because Jerry was the one who brought up the ball. Even Frazier and Barnett, two great defensive guards, couldn't stop him.
I was fortunate enough to see Jerry play for the University of West Virginia and the Los Angeles Lakers. Spectacular...Thank you for reminding us how great he was as a player.
He was my favorite player IN NBA when I was growing up and I always thought he was best all-round player in the Leauge with Oscar .He elevated his game in post season to legendary heights
They left out another amazing fact which is he did all this while receiving 9 broken noses in his NBA career. No Jordan rules back then to protect and give him advantage over the rest of the league. You have to also factor in palming and walking were both called back then also, so that limited your offensive moves. Hand checking was also allowed which would add another 5 points a game to his average. Combine that with the three point line, walking, palming and the would probably translate to another 11 points a game in today's NBA.
Great point Dave.Also remember west problems with his hamstring, massive bandage.Guys today would be sitting on the bench.
YES....THANK YOU!!! VERY TRUE!!!
Dave- outstanding points my man. West’s game was just so balanced and versatile, esp on offense. His quickness woudl still be all league level today. And re clutch shooting hes right up there with the best-MJ,Bird, and much more efficient than Bron Bron, Curry etc. MJS 43.6 clearly less impressive ads over 7 games, vs tougher opponent and NO 3 point line!! He was a way better assist man for a shooting guard, excellent rebounder and defender (sit down stef) EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCY !
The Jordan Rules were the overly physical plan by the Detroit Bad Boys the pound the daylight out of MJ.
@@michaelkraus4135 West ate better food. Food supply now is junk
Appreciate the video. I'm just old enough to remember Jerry West, but didn't know enough then to fully appreciate what a *total* player he was on both sides of the ball. This makes a very strong case for The Logo as the GOAT, and very deserving of his status as a literal icon.
He is not the Goat that term gets thrown around way to easy and quite frankly its annoying!
Jerry west made me become a lakers fan,and to this day,I still am!
Me to plus I grew up around highway 44 west in redding ca.
Liked for the "Bill Russell is a bad ass..." line. I love these videos, Jonny. Keep up the great work!
Went to this after the passing of Jerry West. Thank you again for the great video content. It should be required viewing by all media, including podcasters, who report and comment on the NBA. Mr. West was a GREAT and one of a kind player. He was tremendous!
Brilliant video, He's one of those older legends who i havent really thought about much as a player because of everything else he's done, but this is a great insight into his talents.
Imagine if him and Wilt played together in their primes
Love Gail Goodrich too, I love watching 1960s nba basketball, I do not judge them like how good they were , had wilt and Jerry west, and Elgin Baylor were teammates in the early 1960s they had to learn to with each other ,
Shaq and Kobe...the original version. Or Magic and Kareem, though he was more of a prolific scorer than Magic.
Overpowered, basketball iq + a freak of nature
Well, they still would have been beaten by ANY team that had Bill Russell on it!
their first season they were stl in their primes, 30 and 32, baylor wasn't at 34
I remember as a kid having my dad take me to the local sporting goods store because Jerry West and Elgin Baylor were going to be there to sign autographs. I played high school basketball, patterned my game after Jerry, even wore number 44. I remember students signing my yearbook, to a guy who thinks he's Jerry West. Great memories, the best of all time.
What made West great was his heart, his soul, his personality--his character. His desire to be great and to do great things led to the talent which did numbers are the statistics. Whatever obstacle you placed before him he worked to overcome it. There's no secret there. Whatever Awards or or bonuses or benefits the NBA or others want to bestow upon Jerry West-- for whatever the reason, he deserves them.
Okay. Yeah. Cooool
I am now and have always been a Jerry West fan! I still feel that he and Oscar Robertson are the best guards ever!
R.I.P. to The Logo. My favorite old school player
Before I make other comments, first I wish to express my views as a former radio-tv sportscaster that your voiceover talent is monumentally great. I hope you are exploiting this talent to the max.
I am an old cuss, old enough to remember Jerry West playing for West Virginia against California in the National Championshpi Game at Freedom Hall in Lousville, when NCAA Tournament Championships were not live TV broadcasts and only live radio.
I saw West play at least 250 times in person for the Lakers, mostly after Wilt Chamberlain had joined the Lakers and Butch Van Breda Kolff and Bill Sharman were head coaches. First, in the early part of his career, West wasn't really a point guard, as the Lakers didn't really have point guard/shooting guard combos. They had two guards. Hot Rod Hundley and Frank Selvy handled the ball as much as he did when plays were actually set up to be run in the halfcourt.
Also, West was a perimeter shooter in a different sense than today's perimeter shooters, and it isn't something to criticize. Without a three-point line, there was no reason to take shots farther out than 20 feet. Most of West's jumpers were around 15 to 18 feet. He was great at the run and jump shot, something that the most successful small players in that day could do. Gail Goodrich, Lou Hudson, Louie Dampier, Jim Walker, and Dave Bing all could hit the jumper off a quick move and deceptive stop on a dime. Likewise, today's perimeter shooters lack these skills.
West could probably have done well shooting from behind the arc, but it's like wondering if Ty Cobb could have hit 40 home runs playing in the 1980's version of Tiger Stadium with a juiced up ball.
In my opinion, the 1969 Lakers had the best player at each position on one team in the history of the game. Chamberlain at Center, Baylor at Forward, and West at Guard made the Lakers the best three-man team ever. The problem is the Celtics were good enough that Duck Chaney, Larry Siegfried, and Don Nelson were secondary elements and players like Bailey Howell and Russell at the end of their careers were still among the best ever.
That 1971-72 Lakers were either the 2nd or 3rd best NBA team in history, tied with the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers (Wilt was on both teams). But, the 1960 Celtics were the best ever. They had the best 4-guard combo ever with Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Frank Ramsey, and K C Jones. Tom Heinsohn and Sam Jones joined Bill Russell to make the best defensive frontcourt ever.
West had the misfortune of being with the Lakers when the Celtics were unstoppable, like the Dodgers being so great in the 40's and 50's but not having the overall talent equal to the Yankees in those days.
Thanks for stirring up some great memories in an old man.
@Ll L the memory that comes to mind most is the LSU and Kentucky game at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington in the Winter of 1970.
Coach Rupp believed that one star couldn't beat his great team, so he had Maravich guarded man to man
Pete got 55 points that day but also committed a lot of turnovers, and the UK fast break punished the Tigers with several layups. Kentucky won 109-96.
I also saw Maravich play in Nashville against Vanderbilt, and Commodore coach Roy Skinner used a 3-2 zone to confuse the star. LSU committed close to 20 turnovers in the first half, and Vanderbilt scored 60 in the opening 20 minutes and won 115-86.
wi54725 thanks for those memories. 🙏🏼🙏🏼 (from WV basketball fan :)
Enjoyed reading this.
Jerry West, my favourite Lakers player ever and I'm a diehard Celtics fan
wow thats saying alot i am a Laker die hard since the late 60's and enjoyed Larry Bird play
And I’m a Lakers fan from the 60’s..
and I love John Havlicek!
45. From the cape. Jerry is the best laker.
I think as the years go by… we grow to appreciate our most worthy opponents.
💜💛💜
Definitely a lot greater than a lot of folks today are aware of. Saw him play plenty of times, on TV mind you, but I still think he was the greatest of his generation, along with The Big O, as a guard. I was watching that crazy playoff game when he hit the half court turn around jumper to tie the game. And everyone knew he was going to take the shot. Just a wonderful player, and a veritable genius not just as a player, but as a coach and executive. No one like him in NBA history. Thanks for this marvelous video.
He’s the reason why I hate the Finals losses argument
John Barnett why
Killmonger 26 It’s ridiculous to clown someone for their Finals record. LeBron gets clowned for going 3-9 in the Finals and so I know there are people who view Jerry West’s 1-9 in the Finals as abysmal as well. The Finals record argument ignores context, just looking at Jerry West, summing up his championship run as 1-9, ignores his insane averages or the team’s condition, or that he still managed to win Finals MVP, but lost the series.
The Finals argument has only become a thing in order to discredit LeBron. Nobody cared about your Finals record up until 2016. When I was growing up, the only thing we talked about was the fact that they were champions. As a kid, all I knew and was taught about Jerry West was that he was the logo, Mr. Clutch, a Lakers legend, and that he got 1 ring in his playing career. I understood he lost 8 times in the Finals too, but it was never viewed as a detriment to his legacy, unlike today. Or even a legend like the late great Kobe Bryant, I knew he had 5 rings. It was never stressed that he went 5-2 in the Finals.
John Barnett I hate when people bring up 3-6 too
@@johnnyblingg "The Finals argument has only become a thing in order to discredit LeBron." .. LOL, I can tell you are young and are apart of this Participation Trophy generation . The 'Finals Record' has ALWAYS been a discussion point, and especially in the G.O.A.T. conversation.. Jerry West WAS in the GOAT conversation until about Jordan's 4th Finals win. Some would laugh when West's name would be brought up and some would make stats arguments (like LeBron Fans do) but either way winning the Championship AND HOW YOU WIN is what matters the most. Finals Record isn't the only thing that matters but it is a heavy weight. Wilt Chamberlain is still in the GOAT convo and he also has a losing Finals Record like LeBron. But here are the reasons LeBron gets roasted:
1.) Got to pick his teammates (Cleveland Part I his last couple of years)
2.) Traded to Miami for the purpose of winning The Finals (also a type of choosing teammates)
3.) Bragged about he was going to win 8 straight titles (aka - what people thought Jordan would have done had he not retired and that was LeBron's way of saying he was going to do what Jordan didn't)
4.) Went 2-4 in The Finals with Miami (still a losing Finals record)
5.) Lost to the Dallas Mavericks who weren't stacked
6.) Out played by Jason Terry (Who? Exactly.)
7.) Back to Cleveland who already had a good players (Choosing teammates AGAIN because that was a stipulation for him coming back)
8.) Had almost all of his teammates traded for new ones (2018 Season, 5th TIME choosing teammates)
9.) Went 1-4 in the Finals against the Warriors (with a handpicked team, remember that)
10.) Claimed himself to be the GOAT because of his 2016 Title win
11.) Swept 0-4 in a Finals run (while having a handpicked team, being called the GOAT, and clearly giving up on effort after Game 1 loss and then claiming injury after Game 4 loss but being considered healthy for games 2, 3, and 4)
Russell, Bird, Jordan, Bryant, Magic, Chamberlain .. and even West.. didn't do ANY of that... THAT'S why LeBron gets clowned. He stat pads and makes excuses...
Kobe (RIP) even called him out on losing despite having good players by his side...
The Gen XY The Gen XY From the first sentence, your comment reeks of condescension. I’m straight on thoroughly reading it, but you’re reiterating my point. All you did was point out the difference in how other all time greats won their championships and then you proceeded to go full ESPN, and rehash all the reasons why the Finals losses argument was created to spite LeBron.
I’m in my 20s, yet you claim to be older, but then proceeded to ironically prove my point like a child lol like I said before, the Finals argument is stupid. I’d l
Dang he sounds underrated to me.
Underrated? He's the NBA logo, how is that being underrated?
@@grapas100 Yes. Jerry is never brought up in the greatest of all time debate. That is underrated.
@@wray2real
Indeed, he should be brought up in the all-time greats conversation.
very underrated
The lack of video and people alive who watched them play in this era leads to many of them being underrated. It's unfortunate.
I saw the Zeke from Cabin Creek with his family at the LA Zoo. He had just gotten his nose broken and was wearing a white bandage over it. And he had a terrific smile. He IS the logo.
WOW, I didn't know this guy was that GOOD! If he would had been playing today, he would have been a $uper $tar!!!🌟 Especially if they could count those extra 3 point shots. Thank you for the video. Very informative.
Uhhhhhh, he WAS a super star! How do you think he wound up as the logo? The only guard from back in the 60's that was remotely considered his equal was MAYBE Oscar Robertson, remember the guy who averaged a triple double?
D.E.B. B - remotely considered his equal? I would say they were equals - Jerry was on better teams than Robertson
Yes. Good on you for learning. You should also check out pre (knee injuries) '64 Elgin Baylor. West is a bit forgotten now, but Baylor is to me the most underrated great player now.
My father being from West Virginia , that was his favorite player. While we lived in New Jersey, we saw all the heartbreaking losses to the Celtics. The Celtics as stated were always loaded , No free agency back then like now where you have LeBron James having played on three different teams so far. I can categorically say having watched him? and I’m 78 years old that he definitely would dominate today along with the late great wilt Chamberlain. The name of the game has always been, put the ball in the basket.
When I was growing up and watching the NBA JERRY WEST was always my favorite player and then came WILT! Needless to say I hated the CELTICS because they always won the title! Watching this makes me know again why he was my favorite player. He was amazing and he almost always beat the CELTICS single handedly.When he made that long bomb shot it only tied the KNICKS and then they lost so as others have pointed out without the 3 point shot his stats are even more amazing! GREAT VIDEO HERE!
Jerry West and Oscar Robertson were both phenomenally talented players and both played within a team concept. Great players of any era were great for a reason, they had talent and drive.
I've never seen a center better than Wilt or Kareem. Russell could play against any of these guys, as could Nate Thurmond, Willis Reed , Dave Cowen, and Walt Bellamy.
Lots of great players, a really enjoy watch Steph Curry . Wish I could see Rick Barry again.
Jerry west what a great player coach and executive in the nba great video as always!
His scoring average was without a three-point shot either.
I thought same thing; someone should estimate, but too hard. Why would Jerry shoot from 3 point range when only worth 2 points? So let’s add 4 more points to each game? Even more impressive!
Either? You mean also or btw.
Charles Smith theres no three point line before
He would have averaged 40 ppg
Transport Jerry West to today and he would average 40PPG if given enough shots.
1st ever FMVP, only FMVP after losing the finals, 50th and 75th anniversary team member, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch”, and finally, the NBA LOGO. Rest in paradise Jerry West. ❤
Looking at his shooting form it's perfect a perfect sweet shot.
I remember as a kid playing b-ball in the yard. My best friend was Spencer Haywood and i was jerry west. Those summer nights were amazing.
Spencer Haywood and Lenny Wilkins.. Lenny simply one of the most forgotten and underrated point guards in the game.. If only the Coliseum roof didn't halve to leak and take out Spencer's knee They may both be remembered for as great as thy were.
Wow he's really gone now RIP to the logo the one and only Jerry West
Good? Please! Jerry West was Phenomenal! That's why he's THE LOGO!!!
The lack of film on many of his games pro and college, the grainy quality of it all, really adds to his mystique and legend. Just this year for All-Star Weekend, TNT did a fantasy draft on the top 75 players of all time. Mr. West built a team that was for sure going to take it all. What impressed me the most, whenever he spoke, the whole room was quiet and enthralled to hear what he had to say on the game past and present.
Haven’t even watched the video and can answer that question easily. He was amazing.
Lifelong Laker fan here... I had no idea about either his offensive or defensive prowess. Epic vid. 👊
Simply phenomenal!!! And unbelievably entertaining. Zero nonsense. A pleasure to watch. I wanna be Mike. I wanna be Jerry also.
Wow...have to admit I'am impressed. And that's not often. Knew a lot about Jerry but obviously not nerley enough to know what kind of amazing player he was. Props to video
I saw him play many times and I don't remember ever seeing him perform poorly. Nor did I ever see him ignore a wide open teammate, I can't say the same for many other stars. If you got open he would get you the ball. Everything he did was with class.
RIP Mr. West. You are a legend!
He was unbelievable. A true basketball superstar.
I'd rank Jerry West in the top 5 all time, saw him play, and he was Great.
He's damn close... Can't argue against him
You gave West his well deserved props in this video. I come out of this video more impressed with West than before.
Watching West as a kid, I am not impressed now. Most stars of today would be lucky to score 15 on him. He was a defensive terror. What a competitor!
and would lay 30 on ya in the same game !!!
How good was he? Answer: He's the NBA's logo! Anymore questions?
Mr.West is forever a Lakers and Loved as of this day 08.25.2020
Turns out the logo was no scrub... unlike what a lot have dummies have been saying lately 😡
Yep, he was amazing to be honest
I honestly never heard of people calling jerry west a scrub
@@uasakura I think he may mean that there are alot of people calling for the logo to be changed cuz of Kobe's untimely death and claiming that its about time as if West was just any other Joe Blow.
Israel Rosario Jr. even Jerry West thinks Kobe should be the logo and that he’s the greatest Laker ever. I’m a Laker fan and Jerry West is one of us!
@@eb60lp Jerry West is heartbroken about Kobe's death and wants to extend a way to honor him. That's what it's about. I'll leave it there cuz I'm not gonna turn this string into a debate about Kobe being the logo. If there's anyone who deserves the logo change its MJ for how he exploded the game domestically and internationally as well as being the greatest winner in the modern era of sports.
Yes, he was listed at 6’ 4” and he was always listed at that size when he played. His wingspan however, from fingertip to fingertip, is 6’ 7”. He was always noted for his quickness. He was subtle and dangerous. Players never thought him as fast, and perhaps he wasn’t, but he was very quick and had eyes out of the back of his head.
Yes, and a "point guard". West was a 6' 4" shooting guard.
George Orwell I’m from L.A. & grew up watching Jerry West & Elgin Baylor. Let me tell you something: West was unstoppable. When he took a jump shot, it looked like it would be easy to block, but his release was too damn quick. The man was a force in all aspects of the game. When asked to explain his excellence, West (in his typical humble style) said, “For some reason, I was able to play the game at a high level.” Even West didn’t know where his greatness came from!
Truth be told, I was actually an Elgin Baylor fan. Big time. When West joined the Lakers, I resented the attention & favoritism the press was showing West & I underplayed his talent. Finally, after watching his greatness for many years, I simply had to give the man his due. Jerry West could play in ANY era & was, quite simply, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. Period.
@@chatman2a I was a fan of the Lakers then as well. I saw when West hit that crazy 55 footer at the end of Game 5(?) of the 1969 finals against the Knickerbockers. What was amazing about West was from a rookie to his last year, his level of play never changed. He was at the top of his game from beginning to end.
@@chatman2a The first pro game I ever saw the Lakers were playing and West had a huge game scoring, passing, he was all over the court on defense, and won the game in crunch time. From that point on I was a Jerry West fan and he is still my fave guard ever.
George Orwell I remember that game well: It was game 3 in the series. The shot was from far behind the center-court line & sent the game into overtime. (In today’s NBA, that shot would have been a 3-pointer & given the Lakers the victory). Despite the momentum the shot gave to the Lakers, the Knicks won the game in overtime. The Knicks ultimately won the series in 7 games.
I am also from West Virginia, so I am biased. Jetty is one of the best ever!!!! He worked his butt off! He had a shot that was just unreal. He produced!!! Especially in crunch time. That takes a special drive and skills.
I remember him scoring a longer than half court shot to tie the Knicks at 102 in the final seconds of the a finals game. They eventually lost the game and the title that year. If there was a three point shot at the time, that shot would have won the game and the Knicks might have wound up never winning that title.
And Bill Sharman jumping out of his seat OMG!
I remember the shot, the desperate dribble getting out of (can't remember which player) the way, then launching it two-handed.....and hitting nothing but net. I think Dave DeBusschere fell on the floor.
Jerome
You Sir, are.....
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.🏀
I can still see Dave DeBusschere collapsing under his own basket in disbelief at that 75-foot buzzer-beater. I also remain convinced that Wilt committed an inbounds violation on that play.
If there would have been a three point line, the point difference between the teams very likely wouldn’t have been the same by the end of the game: we don’t know how many other three-pointers there would have been by both teams. I wonder if using sophisticated computer graphics that someone could take the film and figure out how many three-point shots there would have been to find out what the outcome would’ve been...
I'll call Jerry West the greatest point guard of all time and use this outstanding, illuminating video as my defense. Speaking of defense, I was privileged to watch him up close during my freshman year (his junior) at WVU, and watched him guarding his opponent left of the top of the key. The opponent threw a pass to his teammate across court who caught the ball, jumped, shot - and the ball was blocked - by West. He was a graceful yet athletic and fierce competitor. I enjoyed just watching that team, who lost in the NCAA Final Game by one point, practice on afternoons after classes, not knowing of the season they would complete. I'm not the only Mountaineer fan who yet agonizes , as does Jerry, over that one point loss. Yes, he's the greatest of all time. I believe he would be an All-Star if he was playing in today's NBA.
Wow...how old are you? Lol.
But wasnt he more a SG. I have him as the 3rd best SG ever.
Jordan is untouchable at SG (although West could almost score as well as him in the playoffs)
Maybe a slight argument over Kobe too as he was a better playoff scorer. But Kobe Bryant won more titles and had a longer career. But west did say he didnt want to hang around just to stay in the NBA just for the sake to keep playing.
Well said. Even this video cannot capture West's greatness. He was simply unstoppable. As the 24-second clock wound down, everyone knew where the ball was going. The Lakers were not balanced, so the ball went to West. Always. He made an astounding number of last-second shots--hence, Mr. Clutch--but one wonders what his shooting percentage would have been on a team with more balance. The video does show his quickness. The players today might be bigger and stronger, and they might be faster in a sprint, but on defense, their reaction times cannot be any faster than the players' were back then. In fact, I would argue that the defenders back in the day were better. Defense, particularly footwork, was a priority, because the game was played from 22 feet in. The video shows that West's quickness on the drive made it impossible to stay close enough to stop his jump shot, which was the fastest in the league anyway. Even Steph Curry admits he borrowed West's quick release move. If West played today, he would not have to do anything differently to have the same effectiveness. With the three-pointer as an option, he might have even been better. With the step-back shot and side-step shot now legal, he might have embraced those, although he wouldn't need to. Anyone who has seen James Harden play knows that a shooting guard can be unstoppable. But as great as Harden is, he is no Jerry West.
Young guys of this era, as the narrator obviously is, are enthralled with the term point guard. That didn't exist during West's time. If it was called anything, it was the playmaker. There was no shooting guard either, you were just a guard, as Jerry was. I'm 67 years old, so I saw West during his early years. He was so much better than everyone else, it wasn't even close. That's both Black and White players. He pretty much perfected the jumpshot, the pullup jumpshot was literally his creation. I appreciate young guys researching his career, wrong terms or not.
Outstanding work, JA!! Never a greater player than Jerry to my mind. Russell as great in his revolutionary way. Magic belongs. Very few others in that top list.
Your comments on West's height are spot-on. I played a bit of college ball at 6-4 in the 60s and was a good judge of height. When I chatted with Jerry at the old Sports Arena, he didn't seem over 6-2, maybe only a 1/2 inch more. Some folks were sure he was taller. He was not. (Back then, you could meet and talk with the players coming in and leaving the games. Very informal in LA.) Of all the pro players I met, none was more polite than Jerry West.
You noted Chick Hearn, the immortal Laker broadcaster. He'd call West "Zeke from Cabin Creek"--great moniker.
I tip my hat to your insistence on West's great all-round game. He was always anticipating passes, touching balls and completely disruptive on defense. Coach's dream. When I began coaching, I wish I'd had films of Jerry. I did tell my guards to play like Gary Payton or Dennis Johnson. But there was only one West. He embodied and demonstrated every facet of the game so intuitively and brilliantly.
I got to see Jerry towards the end of his career, He was well in his 30's then. Still one of, if not the best guard in the league.
GREAT video . Jerry West has been a great player, a great general manager and a great executive. He is a big part of NBA history and I’ve always enjoyed the respect he got as the Logo. I thought this video’s coverage of his defensive accolades was a very good angle that you don’t always appreciate.
Another great memory - seeing Jerry and Oscar hanging out at the Best 75 ceremony, and then Michael Jordan coming over to say hi.
Johhny, honestly I'm starting to become unsure about who ranks where with all these talented players. There are so many intangibles with the upper echelon of players. Your videos are so informative and insightful with very thorough research. Not fluff. Great work, keep up the good job Johnny!
From his beginning till now he is the greatest all-around talent the league has ever seen.
I saw him play. My favorite player along with Rick Barry. West’s miracle shot at the garden should have won game vs Knicks. West was unreal. And him and Wilt won 33 in a row. A record that will never fall.
The miracle shot to tie game at buzzer was his side of half court and no 3 point. Shot yet. It’s BS. Greatest shot ever. 1971, Lakers win title, w West, Chamberlain, Goodrich, Hairston, and McMillian. The 33 game streak included. West is best player I’ve ever seen
Jerry West was the last person you wanted to see with the ball in the final seconds of any game, he was as clutch as anyone playing today including MJ or Kobe. He was "Lil Zeke from Cabin Creek" (he hated that name) Every kid should watch his shooting form ( if you are serious about your game) he was virtually unstoppable off the dribble, He was and still is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
If you watched him play, that is 100% correct. He was so unbelievable at crunch time. If he was playing your favorite team it was agony every time he touched the ball. That's something the stats can't tell you.
29ppg in the playoffs without a 3 point line. GOD
Dean Hill They played in a faster pace though right or am I wrong
He was great. Tremendous elecvation on his jumper. Great hands. Long arms. Fast and smooth. I watched him in person and was always blown away. In those years you could walk down by the court in Knicks games and seeing West and Wilt up close changed my opinion of both. They were great.
Jerry West came into the NBA during my formative teen years. I have always said that he was the greatest point guard I've ever seen because he can do it all score, defend, rebound everything. There was a matchup of him and the Knicks Walt Frazier that I actually paid money to see. They gave you 48 minutes a pure desire. I wouldn't pay a dime to see the players of today
one thing that is rarely mentioned is he was almost always double teamed, yet he still got his 30 points......Willie
And the videos of him dunking prove that the NBA wasnt as slow and unathletic as people think it was. Go to your local gym, and there are actually plenty of guys who are 6'2-6'4 and can't dunk. This video really shows how impressive west actually was
@PL Lyons not true at all. Not everyone has hops
When an active player, West said several times that he normally did not dunk on purpose, only when a defender might block a layup.
PL Lyons u clearly don’t know how athleticism works
@PL Lyons Not everyone can jump well
6”2 and i can’t can’t dunk but that’s because I’m 285. If I lost weight and trained I’m sure I could dunk. I’ll come back to this comment in the summer when it’s done.
I was lucky to see him play several times. I also watched or listened to every one is his 33 straight wins. One thing that impressed me is how he went behind a much taller player during a shot and would block it. It is mind boggling to ever imagine what his averages would be if there was a 3 Point Line back then. It was beautiful to see both West and Goodrich in the backcourt...mind blowing duo!
All those points even without the 3 point line damn.