In the 1960 Olympics, Jerry West teamed with Oscar Robertson to form what may be the greatest guard tandem to ever play on a basketball team – amateur or pro. They were also both on the gold medal winning team at the 1959 Pan American Games. Through the 1970s, most basketball experts would say Robertson was the greatest guard to ever play basketball, but a few opted for West, and many basketball experts in the 1970s and 80s, if pressed to name their All-time, All-everything team, would start these same two guards. Jerry West came from West Virginia University where he starred on an NCAA runner-up, being named the NCAA Tournament’s MVP.
For 14 years, he performed his magic with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he became known as “Mr. Clutch”. In the last few seconds, if the game was close, the Laker’s main play was “Give the ball to Jerry!” West was 11 times NBA All-Star first-team, and twice second-team. He set NBA playoff records for field goals made, field goals attempted, free throws made, assists, and scoring average. His career playoff average was 29 points and in 1965, he set the still standing single-season playoff record by averaging 40.6 points for 11 games. After retiring as a player, West did some coaching for the Lakers. He was the head coach for three seasons, and later became an executive with the team, eventually moving onto the Memphis Grizzlies as Director of Basketball Operations.
United States