Jerry West

Jerry West , born the May 28th 1938 with Cheylan, is a player of American Basket-ball evolving/moving at the post of leader.

Its small gauge prevents it, at its beginnings in college, to press the parquet floors. But, while growing of 15 cm a blow, and its savage will bear their fruits near his trainer. He becomes a star of the college, gaining even the title of the State. Its dream to play in the university of West Virginia, close to at his place, is carried out then. After a first difficult year on the bench, it explodes finally. It leads its university finally Final Furnace NCAA in 1959, which constitutes the best result of this one.

In 1960, it is selected for the Olympic Games of summer of 1960. It gains there the gold medal within a team of very strong academic (10 of the 12 players will play in NBA) who dominates the tournament like only the Dream TEAM of 1992, but with the high-speed motorboats of the NBA, will do it in the future.

Draft E by the Lakers of Mineapolis which move for Los Angeles, it starts carefully, not appearing in the five of departure. But its strength of character offers this place to him as of the semi-season. It will be also invited to the All Star Range.

It loses the final of 1962 against the Boston Celtics. That reproduces in 1965, in 1969 where in spite of the defeat, it becomes MVP final (single case in the history of the league) against same Celtics, in 1970 against the New York Knicks.

In 1964 - 1965, they become with its fellow-member Elgin Baylor the first two players to reach 2 000 points in one season. After the departure of this one, he also thinks of stopping. But the team is tested and more homogeneous. Lakers then carry out a season 1971 - 1972 impressive with 69 victories (including 33 consecutive, unequalled record), record which will be beaten only by the Chicago bulldozers of Michael Jordan in 1996. The title so much desired is reached against the New York Knicks. The following season, its statistics drop and it loses its last chance of title against of Knicks revanchists. It finishes its career the following year.

Later, it will integrate the Hall Off Famed and its shirt will be withdrawn.

Successive clubs

Player

1957-1960 : University of West Virginia (NCAA)
1960-1974:

Trainer

1976-1979 :

Prize list

Olympic champion in 1960
Champion NBA in 1972
Vice champion NBA in 1962,1965,1969,1970,1973

Anecdote

One says that it is its silhouette which appears on the logo of NBA. He is today the manager of the Memphis Grizzlies.

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