R.I.P. Jerry West, 86

When the Lakers played the Knicks for the title in 1973, they practiced at Alumni Hall. In those days, students were allowed to sit in the stands and watch practice (which I often did as a graduate student at that time). I saw West throw up shots along an arc that was beyond what would have been a 3 point line with a team manger rebounding for him. He effortlessly made about 90% of them. I was in awe of his shooting ability and now wonder how many points he would have scored in his career had the 3 point line been in effect during tenure as a player.

An absolute all time great player!!!
 
Last edited:
Heck of a player. Funny story…. When the Lakers played the Knicks in the 70 NBA championship, I was a freshman at St. John’s. I was playing hoops with some friends at Alumni Hall between classes when we were told to leave cause the Knicks were coming in to practice. While my friends left, I hid under the bleachers and watched the practice…. Reed, (who didn’t practice much) Frazier etc.

After they left, I was on my way out when their opponents, the Lakers arrived with West, Chamberlain etc. Needless to say, I cut the rest of my classes that day and was in basketball heaven.
There was one instance when the ball went into the stands and West retrieved it and as it ran up the stands to get it, he saw me peering out from beneath. I looked at him and said please don’t say anything and he just smiled and went about his business.

I noticed that Mark Redmen about had a similar experience in 73. I wish at the time, the school let us stay in the gym. 😎👍
 
Growing up he was a favorite of mine and along with Gail Goodrich got me to like the NBA, but then Clyde and Dick Barnett stole my heart away.

I remember him hitting a 3/4 quarter-court shot at the end of a quarter against my Knicks.

Rest In Peace, Mr. NBA logo, and a great player.
 
MainMan said:
One of the best wins in program history.

That night in 1960 when Joe Lapchick, Tony Jackson, LeRoy Ellis, Ivan Kovac and company beat Jerry West and #5 West Virginia.

West put up 32 pts and 13 rebounds at the Garden.

WVUStats - Men's Basketball - Feb 11, 1960

www.wvustats.com www.wvustats.com

View attachment 2988
Click to expand...
And that year Satch and teammates under STJ alum and Lapchick disciple Lou Rossini beat West and WVU to go to the Final Four. The story at NYU about the fight is that Cal Ramsey came out of the stands and put Satch under the scorer's table in order to protect him, even though it was supposedly a Satch elbow on a breakaway that may have started the fight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top