NBA Legends Explain Why Jerry West Was Better Than Everyone 

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Well Played

that got me. Good one

Shows you the lack of defense because West could only dribble with his right hand. He never went left.

@@philb.1502 Drexler went left 8 times in his whole career and couldn't shoot half as good as West.

@Shaun R True, but Clyde was 6'7 and was explosively athletic, especially when he was young. Clyde was a great all around player

@@philb.1502 Coincidentally right as I read this, there's a clip of him dribbling with his left hand. 10:08

@@philb.1502 How many games did you shut Jerry West down?

Go look and see where he is on the All Time Free Throws Made. He hasn't played 1 minute since the Vietnam War Era and he's still in the Top10. Jordan has more than twice as many as Steph Curry 😐

Curry doesn’t get the calls.

​@@cuttercorvin curry fires from outer space is a big part of it.

Jerry West and Oscar Robertson played 14 seasons an both have over 25,000 Points with no 3 Point line 😒 both are well over 4,000 Points ahead of Curry. I have both as 2 an 3 on my top PG list, both top 11 All-time Players. Easily to defend these 2 ranking. If Jerry West was able to get past Bill Russell atleast 3 times, just 3 he'd be viewed with more respect on top 10 list.

Against plumbers and firemen 🙃

You have to remember that when West played you could only dribble with your hand on top of the ball. No leaning in to your opponent because that was called an offensive foul, even if he was moving with you

I don't even pay attention to stats after 2000. The game isn't the same today and they've done everything they could to make scoring the ball easier.

West would have been the All Time PPG Leader if there was that 3 pt. line.

♥️ Jerry west my hero

​@@jedsteelwell2354​ That started in the late '80s. The reason scoring declined through the early '90s was because referee bias in favor of stars was so overwhelming and scouting changed accordingly. They wanted to protect Michael Jordan and all the rest of their big marketing draw players. So all the star players started getting increasingly bias treatment (esp MJ) from the refs - on both sides of the ball. This led to the Isolation Era of the late 90s-early 2000s, in which teams would just let their star player work with the ball while everyone else basically stood around. The star player would chew up the shot clock then go for the score and toss a bailout pass if they couldn't get a decent shot in the last 5 seconds. The favoritism of the refs included ignoring traveling violations and offensive and defensive fouls while frequently calling fouls on those defending against stars, increasingly so the less well known/liked the defender was. Since anyone decent could play the role of a "star" with the refs having their back, scouting in the 90s began simply seeking out the most athletic players who would draw the most attention with dramatic dunks and plays. The NBA from the late 80s to present day has been increasingly about spectacle and less about the integrity of the game. And part of that has been protecting star players from injury. The slower paced game, along with the zone defenses that came in the 2000s, meant star players had less wear and tear on them. Defenses could do less and less to stop them so star players were hit increasingly less when shooting. The problem was, their scouting and the way the game adjusted to the way things were called was getting noticed. Why did Free Throw percentage decline steadily through the 90s into the early 2000s? FG% declined. Scoring declined. Fewer shots were being taken. The standing around got even worse and on both ends of the floor once they made zone defenses acceptable. The caliber of play was undeniably falling off. The stars didn't really have to improve themselves anymore. They just had to be willing to jack up the shots and not complain about the hierarchy of favoritism too much. And the NBA officiating took an increasingly greater role in deciding outcomes to create results league executives wanted (deciding on what was best according to marketing tests). This also got noticed a bit too much. So, the league decided to change the rules and officiating even more to offset the effects of star treatment. Stars still got preferential treatment, but now everyone would get even greater latitude with traveling and protection from defenders when on offense. Offensive players became virtually untouchable and unstoppable. Defenses just backed off, became static zones, and the jump shots and dunks began to flow. Scores soared. And now we have our clown show NBA of today. It's a shadow of what the NBA of yesterday was. A lower bar, lower skill, and cringeworthy defense. Free throw percentages have improved though, so I guess there's that.

Just imagine if he were breast fed

@@buckchile614 Ha ha ha. Yep. I wanted a picture and an autograph so badly, but I decided to respect his space. Dang it.

They were what got me into basketball as a 5th grader. Two of the greatest ever, Clyde doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. West is an iconic figure for his playing career and for his career in the game since his retirement. First class dude worthy of being “The Logo”.

@@cycleoflife565 I agree, Clyde and West were built from the same cloth. Saw him at the NBA rookie summer league in Vegas one year. He is built like a small tank also. They both were great players along with Gail Goodrich. That was a good basketball era. They actually played defense during their Allstars games. LOL

First time I saw Clyde was in the NIT tourney with Southern Illinois about 1966 or 1965,I was about 9 or 10yo.

same here growing up in maine i was a celtic fan and i hated to see west with the ball because i knew it was a basket.

Many older Celtics fans revere West. We just wish he hadn't turned out to be such a good general manager (LOL).

what's your opinion of the nba now?

Jerry West and Walt Frazier were two of my favorite guards. They played defense and offense and never bitched to the refs like today's players. And they both had class.

If Jerry West played today, he wouldn't get off the bench!

@@philb.1502 So your saying all the guys Was played against sucked, and West had it easy ???😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

@@bayouboy8644 Most of the guys that West played against wouldn't be good enough to play in the NBA today! That's a fact.

@@philb.1502 How old are you JR ? Check it out. Look up the TOP 100 ALL TIME NBA, and 50 of them played with west, so you dont have any idea what your talking about.

Because people are stupid ans are sold narrative that only the last 5 seasons count, and that any supposedly good players only face Danny De Vitos before 2017

You mean how he lost 9 finals? Or how he completely choked in the 4th of game 7 in 69?

​@Robert Jackson puhleeze. West did everything possible to win that series. Wilt stunk and Baylor was inefficient

@@PhoenixAscending Exactly, great individual player not a great team player. All around great players make their teammates better like Larry Bird did.

​@Travis McGee did West ever get swept while being surrounded by HOFers with homecourt advantage like bird did?

Good grief, no he doesn't. Not everyone needs to be in the dam GOAT discussion. He may be one of the best shooters ever, but guys like MJ, James, and Kobe would eat him for lunch

@robertjackson4751 No Way. West was way smarter than any of them and he does need included in the Discussion. Heck in the statement you just made then Larry Legend is the GOAT. MJ could never beat him. And Bird does need in the GOAT Discussion too. James isn't even in the Top 10 All Time.

People who think otherwise don't know ball by looking at tape

Maybe, but i would put my $ on Maravich.

@natureboy1313 Pistol Pete was probably the NCAA GOAT. He was great to watch. Poor Pete had so much trouble with his knees like Bill Walton. Being on some not so good NBA teams definitely effected West and Maravich in these people's Polls because they never seen them play.

Yep

AND at a pretty high shot volume. Not off the bench shooting "specialists" who shoot 8 - 10 times a game and play 20 mpg.

West wouldn't get off the bench if he played in today's NBA!

@@philb.1502 negative IQ "take"

@@mojebi3804 West would be in the Gleague! This isn't 1963!! Get real

@@philb.1502 So stupid it hurts

@@philb.1502 He was doing hesi moves without crossovers. People forget why Allen Iverson crossing MJ was such a big deal. A lot of media called it a carry. 6'3" (6'4.5" according to Chamberlain) with a 6'9" wingspan and 16 in above the rim. He would do fine in today's NBA. Next you gonna say Pete Maravich wasn't good at dribbling and Oscar Robertson was too small for point guard.😂 Learn ball before talking. Anybody can see he was good by how he moved and clutch shots he made.

TOP 5(based off production and ability) 1.oscar 2.Mj 3.Kobe 4.West 5.magic

@@JohnnyRodgers3 These guys were not outstanding defense players like West. I have to omit the big O was awesome.

@@GDJ1957 mj and kobe?

@@GDJ1957 Magic was a great defensive player

Wilt broke his leg in G7, plus the coach's rotations were screwed up.

Yeah, where West completely choked

@@PhoenixAscending how did Jerry choke in the game 7 when he had a 40 point triple double. The only reason they lost was Wilt breaking his leg in the 4th quater and Elgin going 8/22 from the field.

​@@PhoenixAscending Right, that's why he was Finals MVP, smh

​@@phinpanay5566 Wilt stinking was the biggest issue

I disagree. Jerry was a better shooter than Rick.

​@@gregyoung3278 a bit. Agree with you. But pretty close. And Rick is such an underrated passer. For that matter, Jerry is too.

45 ppg is taking it a bit far but no doubt he would have excelled in this era that so heavily favors the team with the ball.

The last shot . Maybe John havlicek

Nonsense!! West wasn't a better shooter than Curry, and Curry has never come close to 45 pts a game. People on here exaggerate

FAVORITE SPORTS FIGURE OF ALL TIME. LITTLE ABOVE SANDY KOUFAX.

Not sure if it was him, because he stated that he was 6'4" and 1/2 and that he wasn't sure why they erroneously listed him at 6'2" or 6'3" all the time.

Jerry West dunked, it just wasn't as much a part of the game back then. Even Wilt Chamberlain wouldn't really throw down sometimes just dip the ball in without touching the rim or just touching it lightly. I think he was trying not to break the rim off, lol. Those old baskets weren't made for it.

Mike is very respectful and appreciative of previous greats. I hate when many overlook this and just bring up his trash talking. He did that, sure. But to get into opponents heads to get a mental edge. It doesn't deter his respect for others.

Reminds me of another shooter named Rick Mount out of Purdue

Jerry West couldn't dribble with his left hand. He only went right. It's obvious when you watch his old clips. How could he play in today's NBA only going right??

@@philb.1502 nice try. So basically every team and HALL OF FAME player West faced didn’t think about forcing West to his left. Here’s several clips of West going to his left: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_-xJm6B6xog.html. I’m sure I can find more.

Too bad he couldn't make one to save his life in the 69 finals, in the 4th qt of game 7. The game is what counts, not practice

​@@PhoenixAscending Wow....

@@PhoenixAscending should have deferred like Jordan did to Kerr and Paxson , huh !

@@PhoenixAscending but he made that 63 ft. Shot that caused game 7 !

No cause he could shoot over 50% without have to dunk to do so !

I see guys in the NBA today take four steps and no double dribbling called on them and guys just clear the lane for them for an easy dunk. I quit watching years ago. It just isn’t the same. I love watching old highlights of the greats from the past. I am from NE, Ohio said most would think I was partial to Lebron James coming from Akron . he is really good. No doubt about it but he didn’t have to play in the tough years and he luckily stayed very healthy to put up the numbers he is doing playing for what 2 decades now? Think of Larry Bird even had 12 healthy years and played in the modern era. I think he had 7 healthy years and even hurt his finger when he first entered the league. The old Celtics and Lakers games were awesome too watch. Nothing has compared to it since..

Don't know where you grew up, but, WOW, the Reds and those Steelers! Amongst hundreds of great star players that I admired, Johnny Bench is my favorite BB player and Jack Lambert my favorite football player.

Same.

Same here. Saw him play in the West Virginia state tournaments back in the late 1950s. He had a "hook shot with which he scored many points. A childhood hero for many of us growing up in that era.

Thank you. I only just this. Thanks a lot!

Made Isiah and Kevin McHale cringe too.

Lebron isn't even in my top 25. The guy needs to get a life.

@@patricklondon6006 There was no bigger Lakers fan than me, for decades, UNTIL LeClown came to the team. Now I avidly root against them.

If they had a legitimate big man, they would have won more titles than they did.

West got it done, dribbling wasn’t fancy but he was tough as nails

@@josephstewart2827 I'm not sure how much of West you saw, but I'm 67 and saw him up close. Went to a lot of games at the Forum. Saw what turned out to be Wilts last game in 73. Game 5 in the finals against the Nick's. Lakers lost, I waited for West to come out of the Forum for about 2hrs. Wilt came out, I walked him to his car, begged him to come back the next year.....he said West wouldn't be coming out for a long time, "he's still crying". But in tight times we all held our breath when West had the ball in that series. Remember the guy who guarded him??????? Walt Frazier, a great defender. Goodrich was a better ball handler. But I do admit nobody at that time was GREAT. Maybe Archibald. But if the game was on the line nobody was better than West. I think the only players to rival West ever at crunch time is Jordan and Bird. And coming from a Lakers fan.....Bird was the man. Hands down.

The first GREAT all around superstar.

Lifelong Laker fan here - Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were both complete and total class acts and always conducted themselves with grace and dignity. As a Laker fan growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in Los Angeles it was a joy to watch these two magnificent athletes play the game of basketball.

Games 20 and 21 were thrilling nail biters.

The only numbers that matter are playoff #'s..."Playoffs are where you make your Fame"

Bill Russell Will always be the GOAT !

@@Getloose360 your absolutely right, playoffs separate the men from the boys.

@@SuperBeachbum74 He was 👍 great

@@Getloose360 that's why James Harden will never be top 5 at his position

Same here, as he was for many other West Virginia boys.

You just named 4 of the top 5 players in the decade of the 60s. The other being Elgin Baylor.