Jerry West (Part 2)

Jerry West's transition to the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers was initially challenging, as he felt out of place in his new environment. His unique voice and thick Appalachian accent earned him nicknames like "Tweety Bird" and "Zeke from Cabin Creek." Despite this, West quickly gained respect from his teammates with his defensive hustle, vertical jump, and relentless work ethic.
On the court, West made an immediate impact, averaging 17.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He became the Lakers' second scoring option behind Hall-of-Famer Elgin Baylor, earning his first of fourteen NBA All-Star Game selections in his rookie season.
Under West's leadership, the Lakers showed significant improvement, finishing the season with 36 wins and securing a spot in the 1961 NBA Playoffs. They faced tough competition, including a seven-game series against the St. Louis Hawks, where they narrowly lost in the final game.
Despite the disappointment of falling short in the playoffs, West's performance and leadership were instrumental in the Lakers' resurgence. His combination of scoring ability, defensive prowess, and work ethic set the stage for a remarkable career in the NBA.


In Jerry West's second NBA season, he stepped into a leadership role for the Los Angeles Lakers as Elgin Baylor's playing time was limited due to his service in the U.S. Army Reserves. West flourished in this role, averaging an impressive 30.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, earning All-NBA First Team honors. He also showcased his scoring prowess by setting a career-high with 63 points in a single game against the New York Knicks on January 17, 1962, solidifying his reputation as "Mr. Clutch" for his ability to hit important late-game shots.
The Lakers had a successful regular season, winning 54 games and earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. They defeated the Pistons in the playoffs to advance to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. The series was tightly contested, with West making crucial plays, including a game-tying steal and layup in Game 3. However, despite West's heroics, the Celtics ultimately prevailed in Game 7, marking the beginning of the legendary rivalry between the two teams.


In the 1962–63 season, Baylor returned to full-time play, but West continued to excel, averaging 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. However, he missed the last seven weeks of the regular season due to a hamstring injury. The Lakers once again reached the NBA Finals but fell short against the Celtics in six games.
During the 1963–64 season, West led the Lakers in scoring for the first time with 28.7 points per game. Despite his individual success, the team struggled, winning only 42 games and losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Hawks.


In the 1964–65 NBA season, Jerry West had a remarkable performance, averaging a career-high 31.0 points per game, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain in scoring. After Lakers' captain Elgin Baylor suffered a knee injury during the playoffs, West stepped up as the team's leader. In a memorable first-round playoff series against the Baltimore Bullets, West put on a scoring clinic, averaging an astonishing 46.3 points per game, which remains an NBA record. Despite his scoring heroics, the Lakers fell to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, losing the series 4–1.
The following season, 1965–66, West continued his scoring prowess, averaging 31.3 points per game, along with 7.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He set an NBA record by making 840 free throws and earned All-Star Team and All-NBA First Team honors once again. Despite his stellar individual performance, the Lakers faced heartbreak once more in the NBA Finals, losing to the Celtics in a closely contested Game 7.


In the 1966–67 NBA season, West was limited to 66 games due to injury, but still managed to maintain impressive averages of 28.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. However, the Lakers had a disappointing season, winning only 36 games and getting swept in the playoffs by the San Francisco Warriors.
The 1967–68 season saw the Lakers rebound with 52 wins under new coach Butch Van Breda Kolff, despite West playing only 51 regular-season games due to injury. West's scoring average dipped to 26.3 points per game, and he was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the first time since his rookie year.
In the 1968 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals once again, facing the Boston Celtics. Despite a valiant effort from West, who played through an ankle injury, the Lakers fell short, losing the series 4–2. West lamented missed opportunities in the series but praised the Celtics' resilience and determination.

Notes

1.  "Jerry West". WVU Stats. Archived from the original on November 22, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
2. ^ "Jerry West 1958". WVU Stats. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
3. ^ "Jerry West 1960". WVU Stats. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
4. ^ "WVU Alumni: Jerry West ('60 BS)". West Virginia University Alumni Association. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
5. "Lakers Retired numbers". NBA.com. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
6. ^ "1960-61 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
7. "LAKERS: Los Angeles Lakers History". NBA.com. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
8. Taylor, 163–167
9. ^ "1961 NBA Playoffs Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
10. ^ "New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, January 17, 1962". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
11. a b c "Celtics, Lakers work OT to start Rivalry". NBA.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
12. ^ "Cousy retires as Six-Time champion". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
13. a b "Elgin Baylor Bio". NBA.com. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
14. ^ "1963-64 Los Angeles Lakers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
15. ^ "Baltimore Bullets at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 5, 1965". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2020.