NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME MEMBER

#44 Jerry West - G

Jerry West Career NBA Stats 1960-1974
G
FGA
FGM
FG%
PTS
PPG
3PTA
3PTM
3PT%
FTA
FTM
FT% AST
APG
REB
RPG
BLK
STL
932
19,032
9,016
47.4
25,192
27.0
0
0
0.0
8,801
7,160
81.4
6,238
6.7
5,366
5.8
23
81
 

 

Jerome ‘Jerry’ Alan West was born on May 28, 1938 in Cheylan, WV. He is the son of Howard Stewart and Cecil Sue West. Growing up, he was not able to play youth sports due to his small frame. However, that didn’t stop the future Hall of Famer from learning the game of basketball. West would practice for hours shooting at a makeshift rim, honing his shooting skills.

 

 

West attended East Bank High School. He didn’t get much playing time through his junior year. However, a growth spurt put West over the 6 foot mark and that paved the way for him to break through as a starter his senior year. West took advantage of his opportunity, setting a state high school for most points in a season and leading his team to a state high school championship. With major programs offering him scholarships, West decided to stay home and play college basketball for West Virginia.

 

Jerry West College Career Stats and Notes

West played for West Virginia from 1957-60. He averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds during his Mountaineers’ career. He led his team to the NCAA Tournament every year, including a Final Four appearance in 1959. Although they lost in the national championship game against Cal, West was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player. West was a 2-time Southern Conference Player of the Year and 2-time consensus First Team All-American selection.

 

Awards and Achievements
MVP
All-NBA

1st Team: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973

2nd Team: 1968, 1969

All-Star Selections
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 1973, 1974
Scoring Titles
1970
NBA Finals MVP
1969
Achievements

NBA Champion

1971-72

NBA All Star Game MVP

1972

NBA All Defensive First Team

1970, 1971, 1972, 1973

NBA All Defensive Second Team

1969

Member of NBA 35th Anniversary All Time Team

Member of NBA 50th Anniversary All Time Team

Member of NBA 75th Anniversary All Time Team

 

 

Jerry West NBA Career Stats and Notes

West was selected 2nd overall in the 1960 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers. He spent his entire NBA career with the franchise, retiring as a Los Angeles Laker in 1974. A 14-time All-Star selection, West was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.

 

Jerry West 1969 NBA Finals MVP

West, like his Hall of Fame teammate Elgin Baylor, had the misfortune of playing the dynasty Celtics in the NBA Finals for most of his career. When the 1969 NBA Finals came around, West’s Finals record was 0-5. The Lakers again would meet up with their arch rival Celtics for the crown once again. And just like the previous five tries the Lakers fell short, losing the series in seven games. West played magnificently, averaging 37.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Starting that season, the NBA decided to acknowledge the best player of the NBA Finals with the NBA Finals MVP award. Even thought the Celtics won and had deserving players, West was named the Finals MVP. He was the first to win the honor, and has been the only player from the losing team to do so.

 

 

List of Basketball Hall of Fame Members