This is why championships should not be the primary factor in how good a player actually is. Championships are team accomplishments that require the right players, coaches, strategies, as well as luck, of which an individual star has very little control over. Leave it to media and narratives to decided that championships matter more than anything else. Jerry West should always be in the conversation for top 10 player of all time.
The reason many of us say Bill Russell is the GOAT is because, he led his high school team to State Championships his Junior and Senior years, U of San Francisco to NCAA Championships his Junior and Senior years, the U.S. Olympic team to a Gold Medal (at a time when professionals were not allowed to compete in the Olympics), and the Celtics to 11 NBA Championships in 13 years, two of those as player/coach. From his Junior year at USF through his final season with Boston, Russell won 14 Championships in 16 years.
@@EternalRecursion Man, you realise that his only skill was his D and he played in stacked with HOFamers teams? He was a role player in Boston, not even being the best player in his team...
@@ImaadtheAbdullah I mean he's right I think Because at this Era US was very racist so It would be not good that the NBA's Symbol was a Black person/Black Player. Furthermore, when you think about it, why Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain were not the Logo of the NBA ? Simple, Because they are/were Blacks. Rest In Peace to these to Legends And I am FRENCH so sorry if my text was not understandable.
His 1-8 finals record should not be held against him. He played excellent in a lot of those finals and unfortunately his Lakers were not really good enough to beat those 8 HOFers Celtic teams.
@@IM_HIMATh Welll lebron proclaiming himself the GOAT is the reason for all the hate. Had he not done that he would be loved. Had he not jumped teams to join up with other stars in their primes he would have been loved... the decision was a dumb move and the press conference of the not 1,2,3,4,5,6... before they even played a game together didnt help his cause either
@@johnnythekid4601 I mean there are plenty of stars that did that, why not hold them to that same standard? Like shaq said, what is the law of the land?
@@johnnythekid4601 Nah He only jumped to the heat, and it was justified. Since his teammates were trash and the GM never did a move to help him. And the GOAT thing is understandable. Especially after 2016. That ring ended the "debate"
Not to mention his passing and defense on top of that. I never saw him play, but his 2.6 steals in his last season (the first season steals were recorded) tells me he was a hard nose on defense
has just read that the great Jerry west has died. He was a really good player . Plus was part of administrative. As well as the 1970 nba champion. Also had over 20,000 career points. And many rebounds. was inducted into the neisbeth nba hall of fame in 2010. And also inducted into sure other hall of fame in 2024. he also knew Kobe Bryant. 😄😄😃
lol yeah I was about to post something about this. Glad I saw this comment. Shaq was shocked as well to hear that the great Jerry West went through all that before winning his first chip.
I was looking up the articles about his advice to Shaq and LeBron when I came across this in the article on James, although it's not about Jerry West, I found it interesting: "James takes pride in mentoring younger players; it's something he's actively sought to do as he grows into one of the game's elder statesmen. So long as his phone is on and it's not during a playoff series, James is in contact year-round with a wide range of young players from high school kids to college stars to his own contemporaries."
Jerry “the logo” West is so underrated and was the best player at the time. He was Kobe and Michael before them. He was fearless and was automatic from the middle range. It suck that no one mentions the legend as a all time great. He’s easily the top 10 player in nba history
I watched Jerry West career I'm a big-time Laker fan Jerry West was a Hall of Famer but he was no way near the top 10! He was a gunner he never seen a shot he didnt like! Why he's logo I can tell you! Elgin Baylor was by far a better player than Jerry West an Oscar Robertson was a beast !I always thought the main reason the Lakers lost so many times to the Celtics was partly because of Jerry West ! He was a good ballplayer but I think the logo needs to be changed though! He was not even near the best player in his era! My opinion but it's because he's white there was a lot of racism back in those days and just in case you're wondering I'm white! We all have opinions while there's mine and I seen his whole career or damn close to it and I didn't miss any games I've lived baseball, basketball, football,boxing my whole life!
How good is he? He’s so good that he had two Hall of Fame careers. One as a basketball player, and a second as a general manager. For crying out loud, this is the guy that helped build the showtime Lakers, and the lake show of the late 90s to mid 2000s
Don't forget he also helped the GSW and was the mind to draft Klay, Barnes and Green and told GSW don't trade Klay for Love. Helped get KD. Also was the mind behind putting Leonard and PG to the Clippers.
He also turned the Memphis franchise into a playoff contender and then advised Golden State on player personnel that resulted in the Golden State championship teams.
My favorite all time player. Was a huge Laker fan back in the 70's and 80's. Jerry wrote a book "West By West" back in 2011, an interesting insight into one of the greatest players the NBA has seen. Will always be #1, "Mr. Clutch.
I saw West play in his youth, before his later injuries, in the years before the rules and the ball were modified to boost scoring for fan appeal. The man was absolutely spectacular offensively -- he could rebound above the rim with the big men and shoot better than any of the guards. And unlike most stars, he also played tenacious defense. He elevated the play of every team he played on and never called attention to himself. He didn't need to. His play itself was eloquent enough.
I am 71 years old I I grew up in Los Angeles idolizing Jerry West. His jump shot was the most beautiful athletic feat I had ever seen. I was devastated like Jerry was when the Lakers lost those championship games to the hated Celtics. One of my happiest moments growing up was when I was 15 - I went to a Lakers game in early 1969 at The Forum. Jerry was recovering from an injury and was in street clothes on the Laker bench. I went up to him and asked, “Sir, may I please have your autograph?” He asked me my name and signed it “To Bruce, Best Wishes Jerry West”. What Jerry did that night made me feel like a million dollars and I will always remember his kindness. RIP Jerry - congratulations on all your impressive accomplishments and for being an inspiration to millions of youngsters like me. Condolences to your loved ones 😥😥😥
I was blessed to grow up in LA in the 60s and 70s. Being able to see a Laker game featuring a starting 5 of West, Baylor, Chamberlain, Goodrich, and Hairston was always a treat. Most nights it was listening to the great Chick Hearn calling the action on radio. Nobody fought harder in a basketball game than Jerry West. He'd chew out Chamberlain or Hairston for seeming to slack going up and down court. He was always feeding Baylor inside or Goodrich outside for easy open shots, since the defense had to collapse on West if he was driving. Mr. Clutch forever.
@@AnthonyRobinson-dc3pqits not like the nba talent didn't improved for over 30 years. Jerry west had hard time shooting from midrange while kobe shoots 3s conistantly and is overally way better player. Im tired of people that think that the players from 60s could be comperd to todays players. I think tha west is one of the most impactful player but his skills are worse than todays g-leage bench warmer
It's so sad hearing about all the finals losses and knowing how he is about losing. I can't imagine how frustrated I would've been 😭😭 especially since there was literally nothing he could do about it too
@@jedwing There were two of those finals the Lakers choked. It was heartbreaking to grow up with that. Thats why 1985 was so sweet for us that lived thru that pain
I'm 74 and I lived and died Laker basketball. Jerry was the greatest shooter that I ever saw. I hated the Celtics for denying the Lakers the championship. My first job was delivering food for Chicken Delight. I regularly delivered ribs to Elgin Baylor and talked a little basketball. He praised Jerry. RIP !!
Jerry west is one of the most underrated players due to era and people forgetting and only remembering him being a loser for most of his career but he could do almost anything besides good dunks
Jerry could dunk too? People hardly dunked, the best dunkers might do it once or twice a game. There's no reason Jerry couldn't have done the same, you can watch him play above the rim plenty it's not like he isn't physically capable.
One of the best all around players I have had the privelege of watching. What they don't mention in this video is his prowess as a defender. Imagine being your team's best offensive weapon, but also a lockdown defender & a willing rebounder! Jerry West was truly one of a kind!
Fing great, that's how good. Probably my favorite player of the era; also I came in--in the late 1960s--and still am, a die-hard Laker fan. Crazy outside shot that defied all form--flat and freakishly quick, looked like a long-range layup. Oscar was his equal, but Oscar was more of a 1-guard, Jerry the 2-guard. During his era Jerry was, other than Wilt, the man opposing players feared most if he had the ball in a crucial situation. His well-deserved nickname was Mister Clutch. After he retired, he embarked on an equally brilliant career as general manager, building both great Laker teams and helping the Warriors build the team they have today.
Celtic fan, here. Jerry West was very, very good. Clutch player all the way with a beautiful jumper from anywhere in the building. Played all-out all the time.
Red Aurbach, who we hated with a passion, with his damn cigar....He spent a lifetime ridiculing the Lakers. We heard it all. But he NEVER spoke badly of Jerry West, in fact he spoke very highly of him, throughout it all. I only found out years later that he tried more than once to trade for Jerry, but the Lakers werent about to let Jerry go, especially to the Celtics. LA has a history of riots, and there would have been a riot if Jerry got traded to the Celtics
I go back to the 1960s and am a lifelong Celtics fan. West was not only one of the greatest shooters, but also one of the greatest CLUTCH shooters of all time.
What Jerry did for the game is under appreciated all these years later. He played every position. No 3-point line. Could shoot from anywhere. That’s why he’s the Logo.
The reason Jerry West never dunked. Was because he was a gentleman player. He wanted to beat you. He didn’t want to embarrass you. That was old school basketball. To him it was all about winning. It wasn’t all about showmanship like it is today. It was a different time and a different game back then.
I remember one time, it was late in his career, maybe 1973 but it could have been 72, but Jerry dunked. It wasnt a power slam, but he put it down and Chick Hearn said it was the first time he saw him dunk in a game. Im sure he had seen him do it in practice, but Chicky Baby made a big deal about it
I began wearing 44 in 6th grade in honor of Jerry West, and wore that number all the way until end of my high school career....I was a 'scorer' in Jr. High but when got to HS became a 'everyman' type of player (played all 5 positions)...never could shoot like West but I was always had a role because I played flat out...something I learned from watching West...
As a lifelong Lakers fan, I am glad I got to experience the Kobe and Shaq era. What a heart break it would be to see my team lose to the Celtics so many times.
Off court, Jerry was also the one who was able to bring Shaq to LA from Orlando and traded for Kobe from Charlotte. Now imagine Jerry didn't have a contract dispute and played for at least 2 more years, he and Kareem would have played together and although West is already old by that time, that would have been a what if for me.
I am here he is from my hometown and I just want to say to be able to make it out of here you really gotta be somebody . What a life he made for himself RIP Jerry West
Jerry West is the only player in NBA history to have "West" on the front of his jersey and "West" on the back during the NBA Allstar Games. The ref couldn't tell if he was coming or going.
THANK YOU for shining the spotlight on these great players of the old days; they didn't have the unfair advantage of the 3-point circle. There was some long, boring games before the shot clock was instituted, but Jerry West was - like watching Michael Jordan, he was obviously a superior being, and you felt you had got your money's worth just by seeing the amazing show.
Manning was OVERRATED, had 1 year that was nice. 2nd super bowl the defense won the game. All he had to do was not LOSE it. Not afair comparison. West was talented.
In the early 70s Jerry was considered the GOAT by a lot of people. I was just a kid back then, and knew he was a great shooter but looking back at his career what surprises me is what a great defensive player he was.
Though I’m just under 30, Jerry West has still left a mark on me… and my whole family honestly. My grandfather coached Jerry when he was in high school and his sister worked at the post office in the town my mom grew up in and she was friends with my family and everyone else in the town… considering it was an extremely small suburban town on the Kanawha River. I have a signed piece of paper from Jerry in my family’s safety deposit box back home. I love Jerry, and though his peak was decades before I was even a twinkle in my Dad’s eye, he’s still such an important figure in my life.
The video focuses on West’s accomplishments as a player. As an executive, West helped build the Lakers dynasty with Shaq and Kobe. Then helped with the creation of the Warriors dynasty of Curry, Thompson and Green. That’s a lot of championships. A lot of ppl don’t know Klay Thompson was Jerry West’s pick. When the Warriors tried to trade Thompson, West threatened to resign and they backed down.
I believe Lakers owner Jerry Buss wanted to trade Worthy for Mark Acguire (sp?). West threatened to resign if the trade was made, and the trade didn't happen.
When I first started playing B-Ball with the order boys we use to play a Game called Elimination! If you didn’t score by the time anyone scored 7pts you were out and had to wait until the next game after the winner scored 27 pts. I smaller so I didn’t get many rebounds but when I did I’d catch, dribbled quickly to an open space & say, West puts it up & it’s good! Really enjoyed watching JW play…big smile!
No matter the era, greatness is greatness. Tenacity is tenacity. And out of all the sick nicknames out there, it's hard to be cooler and more legendary than "The Logo"
I'll never forget when West made that shot from behind the half court line to send that game into overtime... I was very young at the time, but that was very memorable.
Jerry West…all i know about him is the NBA logo that comes from him until i watched this video that this guy deserved all the respect of being the legend among the legends of baskeball players in history of NBA. Now i know who Jerry West is…He is also the greatest shooter in basketball during his time.
I remember that half-court shot to tie the Knicks in the championship series. It was a shot, not a throw, and he walked calmly off the court. Great player regardless of his ranking. Also, remember there was no 3-point line so who is to say what his actual scoring average would have been if there was a 3-point line. There is a reason why they used him for the logo. BTW I was a die-hard Knicks fan!
Me too I loved the NY Knicks. Although I lived in San Francisco in the 70's I always rooted for the Knicks. That game 5 shot by West that sent the game to ot was ironically made over Willis Reed. And in game 7 Walt Clyde Frazier had the game of his life. If Willis doesn't arrive and inspire the Knicks in game 7 at Madison Square Garden, then maybe Jerry West might have had 2 NBA championships!!!! 👍
What a CAREER to be proud of!! I clearly remember watching those finals as a young boy growing up in Western New York. I couldn't believe the accuracy of West and Baylor and of course the Celtics in those years. I always rooted for the Lakers because of the Mighty Celtics. But then in 1972 they took it all. And my home team the Buffalo Braves picked up Jim McMillan a small forward from the Lakers in the 74 season. And he brought playoff experience to Bob McAdoo, Gar Heard, Randy Smith and Ernie DiGregorio.
I just finished his autobiography "West by West." A good sports read...especially the last chapter where he has a fantasy all time nba championship one game playoff.....he picks all time greats for each team, what the matchups would be, and who would take the final winning shot at the buzzer.
There is ONE Laker game that I will never forget. This game was played during the latter part of Jerry West's career. He was sicker that a dog that day but he suited up anyway. He sat on the the bench the WHOLE game and did not play..well, almost. The Lakers were behind by one point with just a few seconds left in the game. A timeout was called by the Lakers. Jerry was brought into the game. He received the inbound pass. He turned and sunk the basket. Game over. Lakers won. No jubilation. It was an insignificant game. the players just walked off the court like it was business as usual.
This video should be re-named "Jerry West is even greater than you think." I think he is still tormented by all those losses in the finals. It's cruel that he was brilliant in all those defeats, but when they finally won, he played his worst basketball. He deserves to be the logo, forever. Jerry West would've dominated in any era against any competition. He'd probably be one of the best 3-ball shooters of all time as well.
The story of Jerry West is ANYTHING BUT TRAGIC. Please STOP with "Here's the tragic story. Jerry's story is about perseverance and victory. Thanks for sharing.
Growing up in NYC I watched Mr. West play with the Lakers when I was a kid. Culminating with a Game 7 Championship against the Knicks which the Knicks Won he will always represent my idea of a "Silent Assassin." He was Deceptively Quick off the Dribble and was a Master at finding the open Man. He and Mr. Chamberlain along with Mr. Baylor were a handful for any opposing team..
As a child, Jerry West had a book that became one of the first books I read. Very motivating! Hard to like him on the court though. I was, and am a Warriors fan, having grown up in Northern California. Of course the Warriors had Nate Thurmond and Rick Barry as well. Respect was definitely there.
An all time great. I hope he has found peace in his ripe age. He should be respected by all NBA fans and players as one of the greatest guards of all time. He was a complete player and fierce competitor. He was also an all time great general manager for the Lakers, helping put together a bunch of championship teams in the 80’s and again with Kobe and Shaq
All those finals losses, but he never gave up. Unlike Durant and Lebron, 2 itches. Much respect to you, Mr. West. You will always be the people's champion.
One of my favorite players all time. Before my time but I started hunting game footage of him and watching videos dedicated to his story, and he was incredible 2 way player. Sniper, had that killer instinct. Straight legendary.
Growing up in the 70s in the Philippines, we'd only see NBA on Sundays, and often they would be old games. But I didn't care. Jerry West was The NBA to me. Everybody else was just playing WITH him. Until this video, I didn't know Jerry had a heartbreaking decade of frustrations. I always thought he stood 6'6" or more because he was so domineering. West is really The Logo, and will always be The Logo. Thank you, Jerry, for giving me great childhood memories. From a 60yr old Filipino-American.
Hey even in America in the late 60's and in the early 70's we'd only get to see NBA basketball once a week on tv. ABC (American broadcasting company) would televise the NBA game of the week each Saturday in the states.
His OCD and desire for perfection makes me wonder what he’d look like in todays league, imagine if he knew about a 3 point line, flashy handles to create space, euro step, hop step. Like if he practiced with all that in mind I feel he’d be insane in todays league.
@@fruticetum , JJ Redick was just a fill type player, you know, a plumber. Jerry West was so much better than JJ it's criminal to put them in the same sentence.
I remember hearing about him as a little kid but he was really before my time. I'm glad that Jason Clarke played him in Winning Time. What a brilliant tragic character. It's clear now that Clarke studied his life very closely. He was probably the most interesting character in the series. They should make a movie about him alone.
Met him in Paris at the McDonald tournament...didn't have my pass ....he told the guard to let me in...had a brief conversation with him....what a nice dude....his pic as the logo fits well....lean and the roots of back then....he's a legend indeed......by the way I see Doris Day was present at a game lol
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Jerry West was a Monster. Dude was amazing and extremely underrated, nowadays we forget the first Sharpshooter in the NBA history
Bob Cousy
60 footer 60 footer👌swish
Ass
Jerry west was unguardable
60s Version of Steph Curry
This is why championships should not be the primary factor in how good a player actually is. Championships are team accomplishments that require the right players, coaches, strategies, as well as luck, of which an individual star has very little control over. Leave it to media and narratives to decided that championships matter more than anything else. Jerry West should always be in the conversation for top 10 player of all time.
They are not but they are little the game changer.
He was chasing that dragon but the dragon had a blinding shamrock on his ass.
He is a top ten guy alltime
The reason many of us say Bill Russell is the GOAT is because, he led his high school team to State Championships his Junior and Senior years, U of San Francisco to NCAA Championships his Junior and Senior years, the U.S. Olympic team to a Gold Medal (at a time when professionals were not allowed to compete in the Olympics), and the Celtics to 11 NBA Championships in 13 years, two of those as player/coach. From his Junior year at USF through his final season with Boston, Russell won 14 Championships in 16 years.
@@EternalRecursion Man, you realise that his only skill was his D and he played in stacked with HOFamers teams? He was a role player in Boston, not even being the best player in his team...
He is clearly the perfect player for the logo. He literally embodied skill, desire, perseverance and a never give up attitude.
You can say the same about the other Top 20 players
@@ScottFree-GB Not in this era of players running to winning teams when things get tough though.
I mean u could say that about kobe aswell
The logo should def be Jordan
You on his meat at this point
There's a reason why Jerry West got his jersey retired and an NBA logo, glad this video showcased his greatness.
Because he's white
@@tokivikerness8863 u racist????
@Soth no I just don't like white people. Or religious people. But only Christian white pe
@@ImaadtheAbdullah I mean he's right I think Because at this Era US was very racist so It would be not good that the NBA's Symbol was a Black person/Black Player. Furthermore, when you think about it, why Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain were not the Logo of the NBA ? Simple, Because they are/were Blacks.
Rest In Peace to these to Legends
And I am FRENCH so sorry if my text was not understandable.
Dont forget white person invented the basketball this black movement always get jealous,move on black people.
His 1-8 finals record should not be held against him.
He played excellent in a lot of those finals and unfortunately his Lakers were not really good enough to beat those 8 HOFers Celtic teams.
for real
But would you set those same standards for a player like bron or curry
@@IM_HIMATh Welll lebron proclaiming himself the GOAT is the reason for all the hate. Had he not done that he would be loved. Had he not jumped teams to join up with other stars in their primes he would have been loved... the decision was a dumb move and the press conference of the not 1,2,3,4,5,6... before they even played a game together didnt help his cause either
@@johnnythekid4601 I mean there are plenty of stars that did that, why not hold them to that same standard? Like shaq said, what is the law of the land?
@@johnnythekid4601 Nah He only jumped to the heat, and it was justified. Since his teammates were trash and the GM never did a move to help him. And the GOAT thing is understandable. Especially after 2016. That ring ended the "debate"
Jerry west is GOATED... man was averaging over 40+ points a game and without the 3point line... and he was a very good outside shooter
Not to mention his passing and defense on top of that. I never saw him play, but his 2.6 steals in his last season (the first season steals were recorded) tells me he was a hard nose on defense
Yeah Jerry west and John havlicek were bad to the bone... Great players
Thank you. If he had the 3 point line? Jeez.
has just read that the great Jerry west has died. He was a really good player . Plus was part of administrative. As well as the 1970 nba champion. Also had over 20,000 career points. And many rebounds. was inducted into the neisbeth nba hall of fame in 2010. And also inducted into sure other hall of fame in 2024. he also knew Kobe Bryant. 😄😄😃
@@troydonahue9866 oh geez I just read this... Kind of a shock.. he's gonna be missed by alot of people.. a legend on the court and a good man
No wonder he was able to calm Shaq when he had earlier losses in the playoffs, West had it worse and it put Shaq's losses into perspective
It also helps that Jerry handled him with that old man strength.
lol yeah I was about to post something about this. Glad I saw this comment. Shaq was shocked as well to hear that the great Jerry West went through all that before winning his first chip.
He did the same for LeBron when he lost to Dallas with Miami
I was looking up the articles about his advice to Shaq and LeBron when I came across this in the article on James, although it's not about Jerry West, I found it interesting:
"James takes pride in mentoring younger players; it's something he's actively sought to do as he grows into one of the game's elder statesmen. So long as his phone is on and it's not during a playoff series, James is in contact year-round with a wide range of young players from high school kids to college stars to his own contemporaries."
Man, listen Shaq I lost eight finals on a row. Sit yo big a## down and eat some BBQ chicken.
I had no idea he was that good. What an absolute legend
Yeah man. People talk about Curry being the greatest shooter but if West was playing now with the 3-point shot, HE'D BE THE ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER.
@@jedwinghe would have tougher defense tho and he shot 35% for three in his career
@@Celuta96Who would have tougher defense, West? ha ha, no one plays defense in the modern NBA.
@@Celuta96tougher defense? jerry west broke his nose 12 times with “ 1960s defense “
@@imjustzaying8249 Best case for those that don't know how hard NBA went back then
Jerry “the logo” West is so underrated and was the best player at the time. He was Kobe and Michael before them. He was fearless and was automatic from the middle range. It suck that no one mentions the legend as a all time great. He’s easily the top 10 player in nba history
No way you just said that. No way in a universe where Wilt, Kobe, Lebron, Kareem, and Magic exist.
Idk about top 10
Not top 10 but definitely up there
bull shit
I watched Jerry West career I'm a big-time Laker fan Jerry West was a Hall of Famer but he was no way near the top 10! He was a gunner he never seen a shot he didnt like! Why he's logo I can tell you!
Elgin Baylor was by far a better player than Jerry West an Oscar Robertson was a beast !I always thought the main reason the Lakers lost so many times to the Celtics was partly because of Jerry West ! He was a good ballplayer but I think the logo needs to be changed though! He was not even near the best player in his era! My opinion but it's because he's white there was a lot of racism back in those days and just in case you're wondering I'm white! We all have opinions while there's mine and I seen his whole career or damn close to it and I didn't miss any games I've lived baseball, basketball, football,boxing my whole life!
How good is he? He’s so good that he had two Hall of Fame careers. One as a basketball player, and a second as a general manager. For crying out loud, this is the guy that helped build the showtime Lakers, and the lake show of the late 90s to mid 2000s
Don't forget he also helped the GSW and was the mind to draft Klay, Barnes and Green and told GSW don't trade Klay for Love. Helped get KD. Also was the mind behind putting Leonard and PG to the Clippers.
He also turned the Memphis franchise into a playoff contender and then advised Golden State on player personnel that resulted in the Golden State championship teams.
H is
He is the only player to be inducted to the Hall of Fame THREE times, one for his 1960 Olympics
My favorite all time player. Was a huge Laker fan back in the 70's and 80's. Jerry wrote a book "West By West" back in 2011, an interesting insight into one of the greatest players the NBA has seen. Will always be #1, "Mr. Clutch.
I saw West play in his youth, before his later injuries, in the years before the rules and the ball were modified to boost scoring for fan appeal. The man was absolutely spectacular offensively -- he could rebound above the rim with the big men and shoot better than any of the guards. And unlike most stars, he also played tenacious defense. He elevated the play of every team he played on and never called attention to himself. He didn't need to. His play itself was eloquent enough.
You have to wonder how much more he would have scored if there was a 3pt line. He was the original sharpshooter
@@Captainaceguy00 If there was a three point line Jerry West would have had 30,000 to 35,000 career points.
Jerry played big, like a 6.8 small forward.
I am 71 years old I I grew up in Los Angeles idolizing Jerry West.
His jump shot was the most beautiful athletic feat I had ever seen. I was devastated like Jerry was when the Lakers lost those championship games to the hated Celtics.
One of my happiest moments growing up was when I was 15 - I went to a Lakers game in early 1969 at The Forum. Jerry was recovering from an injury and was in street clothes on the Laker bench. I went up to him and asked, “Sir, may I please have your autograph?” He asked me my name and signed it “To Bruce, Best Wishes Jerry West”.
What Jerry did that night made me feel like a million dollars and I will always remember his kindness.
RIP Jerry - congratulations on all your impressive accomplishments and for being an inspiration to millions of youngsters like me. Condolences to your loved ones 😥😥😥
ONLY JESUS CHRIST IS WORTH OF WORSHIP
@@livefree316 : do yourself a favor and find something else to do beside making idiotic comments on internet message boards.
@@livefree316lol u bots are everywhere
@@Boomhauersdad yiu mean truth is BEING SPREAD everywhere by Jesus people. What's the difference between living and dead fish?
@@livefree31617:15
I was blessed to grow up in LA in the 60s and 70s. Being able to see a Laker game featuring a starting 5 of West, Baylor, Chamberlain, Goodrich, and Hairston was always a treat. Most nights it was listening to the great Chick Hearn calling the action on radio. Nobody fought harder in a basketball game than Jerry West. He'd chew out Chamberlain or Hairston for seeming to slack going up and down court. He was always feeding Baylor inside or Goodrich outside for easy open shots, since the defense had to collapse on West if he was driving. Mr. Clutch forever.
You missed one starter, the great Jim McMillon
Not only was this guy a great player but he was an even better GM
Jerry West is a Hall of famer across the board
@@AnthonyRobinson-dc3pqHe deserves to be the Logo
I believe prime West could beat Kobe in a one on one
@@AnthonyRobinson-dc3pqits not like the nba talent didn't improved for over 30 years. Jerry west had hard time shooting from midrange while kobe shoots 3s conistantly and is overally way better player. Im tired of people that think that the players from 60s could be comperd to todays players. I think tha west is one of the most impactful player but his skills are worse than todays g-leage bench warmer
What a legend🙏 and he continued to build his legacy, as he was also a phenomenal GM!
yeah you can see why he was such a good GM
It's so sad hearing about all the finals losses and knowing how he is about losing. I can't imagine how frustrated I would've been 😭😭 especially since there was literally nothing he could do about it too
Yea that was kinda heartbreaking to watch
Well the Celtics were there, winners of 11 titles in the Russell era.
@@jedwing There were two of those finals the Lakers choked. It was heartbreaking to grow up with that. Thats why 1985 was so sweet for us that lived thru that pain
An unforgettable legend.
I'm 74 and I lived and died Laker basketball. Jerry was the greatest shooter that I ever saw. I hated the Celtics for denying the Lakers the championship. My first job was delivering food for Chicken Delight. I regularly delivered ribs to Elgin Baylor and talked a little basketball. He praised Jerry. RIP !!
Jerry west is one of the most underrated players due to era and people forgetting and only remembering him being a loser for most of his career but he could do almost anything besides good dunks
Jerry could dunk too? People hardly dunked, the best dunkers might do it once or twice a game. There's no reason Jerry couldn't have done the same, you can watch him play above the rim plenty it's not like he isn't physically capable.
@@lukecash3500 thats not what hes saying gang
@@lukecash3500 he dunked from time to time in his youth.
Lol, his career winning percentage is 63.8% and went to 9 Finals in 14 years. He was the opposite of a loser.
I wouldn't call an Olympic Champion a "loser" !
One of the best all around players I have had the privelege of watching. What they don't mention in this video is his prowess as a defender. Imagine being your team's best offensive weapon, but also a lockdown defender & a willing rebounder! Jerry West was truly one of a kind!
During the regular season, he wouldn't rebound to protect his nose but in the finals, he often got 10 rebounds on pure quickness.
@@DrJohnnyJ Jerry might have been the quickest white man in the history of history
I was at that game, sitting mid court, about 10 rows up where he made that 60’ shot - the whole place went nuts!
I am so glad that as a kid I got a chance to watch him play. He was phenomenal.
Fing great, that's how good. Probably my favorite player of the era; also I came in--in the late 1960s--and still am, a die-hard Laker fan. Crazy outside shot that defied all form--flat and freakishly quick, looked like a long-range layup. Oscar was his equal, but Oscar was more of a 1-guard, Jerry the 2-guard. During his era Jerry was, other than Wilt, the man opposing players feared most if he had the ball in a crucial situation. His well-deserved nickname was Mister Clutch. After he retired, he embarked on an equally brilliant career as general manager, building both great Laker teams and helping the Warriors build the team they have today.
now i know. what a hall of famer, even all of the losses in the finals, still never give up. salute to you mister logo
Just like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle in baseball and Jim Brown in football, underrated today, West was undeniably recognized by his opponents.
Didn’t realize how close this man came to a chip so many times😵💫your storytelling is great btw
Celtic fan, here. Jerry West was very, very good. Clutch player all the way with a beautiful jumper from anywhere in the building. Played all-out all the time.
Red Aurbach, who we hated with a passion, with his damn cigar....He spent a lifetime ridiculing the Lakers. We heard it all. But he NEVER spoke badly of Jerry West, in fact he spoke very highly of him, throughout it all. I only found out years later that he tried more than once to trade for Jerry, but the Lakers werent about to let Jerry go, especially to the Celtics. LA has a history of riots, and there would have been a riot if Jerry got traded to the Celtics
Jerry West is a great player.1 of the best, he's the logo of the NBA. That's how great he is.
I go back to the 1960s and am a lifelong Celtics fan. West was not only one of the greatest shooters, but also one of the greatest CLUTCH shooters of all time.
What Jerry did for the game is under appreciated all these years later. He played every position. No 3-point line. Could shoot from anywhere. That’s why he’s the Logo.
The reason Jerry West never dunked. Was because he was a gentleman player. He wanted to beat you. He didn’t want to embarrass you. That was old school basketball. To him it was all about winning. It wasn’t all about showmanship like it is today. It was a different time and a different game back then.
So was Walt Frazier
@BrianMaravich Walt was incredible, no one ever talks about him. I'm biased, the first year I remember basketball was 1972-73.
Back then it was called show boating ☝️
I remember one time, it was late in his career, maybe 1973 but it could have been 72, but Jerry dunked. It wasnt a power slam, but he put it down and Chick Hearn said it was the first time he saw him dunk in a game. Im sure he had seen him do it in practice, but Chicky Baby made a big deal about it
@@jeffwatts1126 👍
My Pop talked a lot of the players back in his day. Jerry was one of several players. Bill, Wilt, and Connie are his favorites.
I began wearing 44 in 6th grade in honor of Jerry West, and wore that number all the way until end of my high school career....I was a 'scorer' in Jr. High but when got to HS became a 'everyman' type of player (played all 5 positions)...never could shoot like West but I was always had a role because I played flat out...something I learned from watching West...
This is heart breaking. I feel sorry for west. He really gave it all to the game of basketball.
As a lifelong Lakers fan, I am glad I got to experience the Kobe and Shaq era. What a heart break it would be to see my team lose to the Celtics so many times.
@kenny. I was 8 when they lost to Boston in '69. I thought my life was ruined at the time. It still bothers me today whenever I'm reminded of it.
Whenever I'm feeling like giving up, I think about West losing final after final and still carrying on.
Off court, Jerry was also the one who was able to bring Shaq to LA from Orlando and traded for Kobe from Charlotte.
Now imagine Jerry didn't have a contract dispute and played for at least 2 more years, he and Kareem would have played together and although West is already old by that time, that would have been a what if for me.
I am here he is from my hometown and I just want to say to be able to make it out of here you really gotta be somebody . What a life he made for himself RIP Jerry West
Jerry West is the only player in NBA history to have "West" on the front of his jersey and "West" on the back during the NBA Allstar Games. The ref couldn't tell if he was coming or going.
And if Magic had played for Orlando. He would've had his first name on the front of his jersey, and his last name on the back. 😊
THANK YOU for shining the spotlight on these great players of the old days; they didn't have the unfair advantage of the 3-point circle. There was some long, boring games before the shot clock was instituted, but Jerry West was - like watching Michael Jordan, he was obviously a superior being, and you felt you had got your money's worth just by seeing the amazing show.
He was Peyton Manning before Peyton Manning. A player who, despite constantly losing in the post-season, gave everything he can to be the best.
Good comparison
Until there was Tom Brady....Lol
Manning was OVERRATED, had 1 year that was nice. 2nd super bowl the defense won the game. All he had to do was not LOSE it. Not afair comparison. West was talented.
Are you honestly saying manning wasn't talented? You're thick in the head
@@bertsmith6778 Manning and West were both great. Their only flaw was being great at a team sport.
In the early 70s Jerry was considered the GOAT by a lot of people.
I was just a kid back then, and knew he was a great shooter but looking back at his career what surprises me is what a great defensive player he was.
People don't seem to talk about defense any more.
The Man, The Myth, The Logo, The Legend, Mr. Jerry West! 👏👏💜💛
He's really a perfectionist, had that whatever it takes mentality..
Jerry west is a unforgetable legend
yeah he is goat
not goat but he is undwrrate
Probably the most inspiring story I’ve heard perfect example of falling down 1000 times straight and still fighting until u win 💪
Though I’m just under 30, Jerry West has still left a mark on me… and my whole family honestly.
My grandfather coached Jerry when he was in high school and his sister worked at the post office in the town my mom grew up in and she was friends with my family and everyone else in the town… considering it was an extremely small suburban town on the Kanawha River.
I have a signed piece of paper from Jerry in my family’s safety deposit box back home.
I love Jerry, and though his peak was decades before I was even a twinkle in my Dad’s eye, he’s still such an important figure in my life.
Kanawha river is beautiful.....from Point Pleasant on into your state.
"Zeke from cabin Creek"
Two men in that era who were bank with a shot: Oscar and Jerry West. And on top of that, defensive shut-down specialists too.
The video focuses on West’s accomplishments as a player. As an executive, West helped build the Lakers dynasty with Shaq and Kobe. Then helped with the creation of the Warriors dynasty of Curry, Thompson and Green. That’s a lot of championships. A lot of ppl don’t know Klay Thompson was Jerry West’s pick. When the Warriors tried to trade Thompson, West threatened to resign and they backed down.
It’s tragic that he wasn’t able to get more rings as a player. He sure made up for it once his playing days were done.
I was going to say the same. His impact in basketball has been astronomical on and off the court.
I believe Lakers owner Jerry Buss wanted to trade Worthy for Mark Acguire (sp?). West threatened to resign if the trade was made, and the trade didn't happen.
When I first started playing B-Ball with the order boys we use to play a Game called Elimination! If you didn’t score by the time anyone scored 7pts you were out and had to wait until the next game after the winner scored 27 pts. I smaller so I didn’t get many rebounds but when I did I’d catch, dribbled quickly to an open space & say, West puts it up & it’s good! Really enjoyed watching JW play…big smile!
He deserves the logo man he was the first Larry bird ,what determination
He rivals Bird as a player. At least to some degree. He was much quicker, far better on D.
Jerry West is the most underrated great player in any sport. When you talk top 5 he belongs there as the greatest guard of all time.
No matter the era, greatness is greatness. Tenacity is tenacity. And out of all the sick nicknames out there, it's hard to be cooler and more legendary than "The Logo"
Thanks for the video ! Now , my love for basketball grew more and more!
My favorite player EVER, it's weird I'm 27 .
I'm 18 but he my favorite too due to how underrated he is
He may not have a lot of rings in his playing career but he sure made some of the most important decisions as a man behind curtains.
The Logo and one of the greatest athletes from West Virginia 🐐
I'll never forget when West made that shot from behind the half court line to send that game into overtime... I was very young at the time, but that was very memorable.
Top 14 player of all time.
Top 3 actually. Shaq, West, Russell westbrook
@@MontanaNumba1 If this is not a joke after a few weeks your gonna be torn apart in the comments 💀
i assume he’s number 8 on your list
@@MontanaNumba1 tf
@@KB-KianteBlue right lmao
Jerry West…all i know about him is the NBA logo that comes from him until i watched this video that this guy deserved all the respect of being the legend among the legends of baskeball players in history of NBA. Now i know who Jerry West is…He is also the greatest shooter in basketball during his time.
Without this video i never knew that Jerry west has a never say die mentality, indeed he deserved to be in the NBA logo and a legit sharp shooter.
How good was Jerry West, incredible, great. What he would accomplish today with the three point and the open defense would be unbelievable.
Holy cow. Imagine how much him and Pete Maravich would score (or even dominate) if they had the 3 point line in their time. Unreal.
West Virginia Proud:
Thank you for your video. Enjoyed that you included Mr. Clutch early years. Loved it
I remember that half-court shot to tie the Knicks in the championship series. It was a shot, not a throw, and he walked calmly off the court. Great player regardless of his ranking. Also, remember there was no 3-point line so who is to say what his actual scoring average would have been if there was a 3-point line. There is a reason why they used him for the logo. BTW I was a die-hard Knicks fan!
Me too I loved the NY Knicks. Although I lived in San Francisco in the 70's I always rooted for the Knicks. That game 5 shot by West that sent the game to ot was ironically made over Willis Reed. And in game 7 Walt Clyde Frazier had the game of his life. If Willis doesn't arrive and inspire the Knicks in game 7 at Madison Square Garden, then maybe Jerry West might have had 2 NBA championships!!!! 👍
What a CAREER to be proud of!! I clearly remember watching those finals as a young boy growing up in Western New York. I couldn't believe the accuracy of West and Baylor and of course the Celtics in those years. I always rooted for the Lakers because of the Mighty Celtics. But then in 1972 they took it all. And my home team the Buffalo Braves picked up Jim McMillan a small forward from the Lakers in the 74 season. And he brought playoff experience to Bob McAdoo, Gar Heard, Randy Smith and Ernie DiGregorio.
As a Knicks fan, Jerry was the one we feared most
I just finished his autobiography "West by West." A good sports read...especially the last chapter where he has a fantasy all time nba championship one game playoff.....he picks all time greats for each team, what the matchups would be, and who would take the final winning shot at the buzzer.
This has been long overdue. Mr logo was a phenom in his time
As a Knick fan I remember all the games and players of the era. West was a monster and a Knick killer. I had no choice but to hate him
May God rest your wonderful soul, Jerry. Definition of class on and off the court.
There is ONE Laker game that I will never forget. This game was played during the latter part of Jerry West's career. He was sicker that a dog that day but he suited up anyway. He sat on the the bench the WHOLE game and did not play..well, almost. The Lakers were behind by one point with just a few seconds left in the game. A timeout was called by the Lakers. Jerry was brought into the game. He received the inbound pass. He turned and sunk the basket. Game over. Lakers won. No jubilation. It was an insignificant game. the players just walked off the court like it was business as usual.
Dude was a averaging 46 without the 3 pointer God like
I saw Mr West play at MSG. That was a great backcourt: West/Goodrich!!!!
He had the purest jump shot I have seen to this day. Incredible basketball player. The LOGO
I met him personally and he is a very nice guy. I cant take my eyes on him that time. Lucky to shakes his hand and have his signature. Thank you sir.
This video should be re-named "Jerry West is even greater than you think." I think he is still tormented by all those losses in the finals. It's cruel that he was brilliant in all those defeats, but when they finally won, he played his worst basketball.
He deserves to be the logo, forever. Jerry West would've dominated in any era against any competition. He'd probably be one of the best 3-ball shooters of all time as well.
The story of Jerry West is ANYTHING BUT TRAGIC. Please STOP with "Here's the tragic story. Jerry's story is about perseverance and victory. Thanks for sharing.
Growing up in NYC I watched Mr. West play with the Lakers when I was a kid.
Culminating with a Game 7 Championship against the Knicks which the Knicks Won he will always represent my idea of a "Silent Assassin." He was Deceptively Quick off the Dribble and was a Master at finding the open Man.
He and Mr. Chamberlain along with Mr. Baylor were a handful for any opposing team..
I felt sorry for him, in that game 7 loss to the Knicks that year: Walt Frazier gave him fits that night
Wow! He was before my time and this is the first I've seen of him playing. One of the goats for sure.
the SG all time list is, MJ,KB,JW,DW,CD. If you wanna know how good JW was see how MJ greets and talks about him!
Kobe is overrated... He wasn't even the best Laker most of times, being a sidekick of Shaq.
As a child, Jerry West had a book that became one of the first books I read. Very motivating! Hard to like him on the court though. I was, and am a Warriors fan, having grown up in Northern California. Of course the Warriors had Nate Thurmond and Rick Barry as well. Respect was definitely there.
Giannis' speech makes all the sense, and Jerry West is one great example of it
Jerry West is a top 10 all-time player! RIP 44!
An all time great. I hope he has found peace in his ripe age. He should be respected by all NBA fans and players as one of the greatest guards of all time. He was a complete player and fierce competitor. He was also an all time great general manager for the Lakers, helping put together a bunch of championship teams in the 80’s and again with Kobe and Shaq
thanks so much for this video ! he's a legend. even as a die hard Lakers fan I haven't seen how hard and closed Jerry lost. just damn.
Imagine they had the 3pt line implemented during his time. Bro would've been unstoppable
All those finals losses, but he never gave up. Unlike Durant and Lebron, 2 itches. Much respect to you, Mr. West. You will always be the people's champion.
Saw him play several times, he was great!!
Luv you Jerry. One of THE greatest to ever play. He could play today. Transcendent players can play in any era.
This is why Michael Jordan always gives Jerry West so much respect any time goats are mentioned.
One of my favorite players all time. Before my time but I started hunting game footage of him and watching videos dedicated to his story, and he was incredible 2 way player. Sniper, had that killer instinct. Straight legendary.
Growing up in the 70s in the Philippines, we'd only see NBA on Sundays, and often they would be old games. But I didn't care. Jerry West was The NBA to me. Everybody else was just playing WITH him. Until this video, I didn't know Jerry had a heartbreaking decade of frustrations. I always thought he stood 6'6" or more because he was so domineering. West is really The Logo, and will always be The Logo. Thank you, Jerry, for giving me great childhood memories. From a 60yr old Filipino-American.
Finding out he was only 6'3" is even more impressive now. He was just scoring over defenders at will.
Hey even in America in the late 60's and in the early 70's we'd only get to see NBA basketball once a week on tv. ABC (American broadcasting company) would televise the NBA game of the week each Saturday in the states.
This was an incredible piece of content from all facets. Thank you. I would love to see you do Kobe
His OCD and desire for perfection makes me wonder what he’d look like in todays league, imagine if he knew about a 3 point line, flashy handles to create space, euro step, hop step. Like if he practiced with all that in mind I feel he’d be insane in todays league.
he'd probably be steph curry
@@michaelfeeser3269 I thought of him also as Steph Curry but with an underdog lineup.
The only player in the modern era who came close to West was JJ Redick.
There's a joke in there somewhere but i don't think i get it.
@@fruticetum , JJ Redick was just a fill type player, you know, a plumber. Jerry West was so much better than JJ it's criminal to put them in the same sentence.
I remember hearing about him as a little kid but he was really before my time. I'm glad that Jason Clarke played him in Winning Time. What a brilliant tragic character. It's clear now that Clarke studied his life very closely. He was probably the most interesting character in the series. They should make a movie about him alone.
Definitely "the Logo"
That 1-8 finals record really didnt tell the whole story.
Met him in Paris at the McDonald tournament...didn't have my pass ....he told the guard to let me in...had a brief conversation with him....what a nice dude....his pic as the logo fits well....lean and the roots of back then....he's a legend indeed......by the way I see Doris Day was present at a game lol
He was a legend
and always will be
@@RandomStuffFreak for real