Jerry West: I won’t step foot in Boston

[@NeonKC]

wow that's crazy how he's still tormented by the losses. shows you just how passionate the guy is about the game of basketball!

[@TVTayhem]

I'm still mad about losing a pick up game that I was up 9-4 in two weeks ago and the guy who I gave it too threw up a stupid ass shot when we were at 9-9 and the opps point guard pull up on a 3

[@drevm7991]

DJ Academicz That's just ridiculous. His games meant something.

[@TheGateKeeper001]

What this demonstrates to me is the how something which is valueless (basketball/sport) has some ridiculous value placed upon it. Most of us wish loosing a game was as bad as it gets!

[@TheGateKeeper001]

Yeah, imagine if he (and other NBA elite) had that much passion about life, like feeding housing the homeless, educating kids in the projects, how about even being a dam father! Yep that much passion could change the world.

[@TheGateKeeper001]

Folks, IT IS A DAM GAME. The only value in sport is its entertainment value which by the way is value that is substantially overvalued. This is not to say that the relationships within the game are not significant, they are. What I am saying is I spent about 40 years playing a DAM game. What the hell do I possess to pass on to my kids? The same DAM worthless game. Dad can you teach me to do some plumbing, build a garage, do some electric work, perhaps take a walk in the woods and point out some wildlife or trees, maybe a little biology and chemistry. Nope, son/daughter all I can teach you about is what kind of sneakers to buy and the fundamentals of a worthless sport. So someday (and it is coming) when you can't buy or sell, when civilizations infrastructure comes crashing down, how will you eat, how will your family survive? Maybe someone will still pay to see grown people PLAY a kids game.

[@Jterry1301]

you can see on his face that those losses still really piss him off. Especially when he won MVP of the finals and his team was on the losing end.

[@alanamoore432]

veazy v - No, they didn’t give it to him to disrespect him, they gave it to him because he was “hands down” the best player, & it was obvious to everyone. It was actually a sign of respect to give him the award. But it doesn’t take away his pain though, & it’s hard for him to think about because he knows he should have won more championships, but didn’t get the assistance he needed from several of his teammates. So it’s painful memories.

[@supervegito8513]

Still the only player to win FMVP as a player on the losing team

[@shaokhan4421]

alana moore as I've been saying, the whole "goat" thing in a team sport is erroneous. Dude was the best player but doesn't win.

[@mahadragon]

I didn't realize he was MVP twice on the losing team in the Finals (against the Warriors and Celtics).

[@WestcountyWill]

@@mahadragon he wasn't. It was only against the Celtics in 1969.

[@Daz5Daz]

Wow...Jerry is so honest. He is one of the few who reveals the turmoil of those who are obsessed with winning. He speaks for Bill, Oscar, Kareem, Magic, Bird, McHale, Stockton, Jordon, Bryant and onwards.....

[@knottsspitkicker]

*Jordan

[@donaldguthrie6685]

Dumb fuck lol

[@folag]

He speaks for all those you listed, . . . except that those guys won.

[@rafikz77]

@@folag I don’t think you understood his comment

[@mayankrathi7333]

Jerry won as well ​@@folag

[@sundancereeves7920]

I'm from Boston and yes I'm a Celtic Fan but I Had the great fortune to see Mr West Play at the Garden .The man was a fearless competitor and in my opinion had the prettiest stop and pop fade away jumper of anyone who's played the game . He was a baaa'd dude and if they had a 3 point line back then he would had killed it !!!

[@slipnorris5882]

of course you would love him, your team always beat him

[@ibelieveicansoar]

I doubt anyone today could average 46.3 ppg in a playoff series without three pointers like Jerry once did. Not even Wilt ever did that.

[@l.cruces2223]

Never a bad thing when it's LA vs BOS in the finals.

[@sirpuper]

bro how old are you?

[@sundancereeves7920]

Yep I’m going on 67 years old , No denying that I’m Celtics fan , but many of those games between the rivalry were very tight and could have gone either way , talk about giving somebody high blood pressure! Celtics fan or not, the fact that this great athlete only won one championship is ridiculous , and he played along side the great Elgin Baylor for a good portion of his career. Later on Wilt joined the Lakers and West was able to get his first and only championship , however Elgin Baylor sat out most of that season and may have retired I’m not sure , so Elgin didn’t rightfully get his Championship ring although the team made sure he received one from all those years of playing in the trenches and building the Lakers brand at the time …

[@mickser101]

Jerry West is an NBA Legend. He went 1-8 in the Finals as a player but went 8-5 as an executive. 9 Rings is still pretty good

[@magst734]

mickser101 best gm ever. Man got Kobe and shaq.

[@heya1988]

Greatest executive in Basketball history for sure.

[@FuShengAlex]

I don't care about his win-loss record....I care about how he played in those losses. He elevated his already impressive scoring in the playoffs. I will never criticize anyone for losing that plays at their regular level or elevated it in the playoffs......only players that decline. Shouldnt be faulted.

[@sarasonsalas3472]

As you can hear in the interview all that doesnt matter, all that he ever wanted was his just reward against the Celtics in the 60s....life is simply unfair, all that it could have taken was a lucky bounce of the ball and he would have won 2 more rings back then.😓

[@vincentanoe]

@@heya1988 I guess that you never heard of Red Auerbach.

[@protectedsouls415]

One of my favorite people ever in the NBA family

[@lloydkline7245]

ProtectedSouls4 my hero one of best jump shots ever

[@daddyappletv1967]

Jerry West is a winner. It’s hard for a winner not to win. Am proud of you JERRY WEST

[@divyadijay2709]

He was never a winner against the Celtics.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Jerry West was my favorite basketball player, Walt Hazzard was my second favorite. As I listen, I think the same way Jerry thinks, it was his fault, because as the best player on the team, I thought he should have found a way to win. Sometimes, I thought he'd try to take shots to win that shouldn't have been taken, or he just missed the shot. Yes, others could have made their shots, and the Lakers could have won. But they didn't. Games my team lost in baseball, and basketball, I remember when I made a mistake or error that lost the game (I never attempted a game winning shot, my teammates were smarter than that. Lol), but now I don't agonize over them. I empathize with West. Hopefully one day he will realize he did his best, it wasn't good enough to win, and concentrate on the future. A little bit of history on Walt Hazzard. Was part of 1 or 2 undefeated seasons at UCLA with Lee Alcindor, which the kids who played basketball that I knew when they made a shot, yelled AL CIN DOOR ! (I must have picked the right player, because I had sharp elbows, hence a hazard, I was never a loud talker, in any sport, always thinking too much) Hazzard changed his name to Mahdi Abdul Rahman, as he became a Muslim. Coached at UCLA as Hazzard. In Philadelphia, 1985, I think, a Muslim compound got attacked and some were killed, and at first it was reported whites did it, but it was a rival Muslim sect. Mahdi Abdul Rahman, his wife and their children, were members of the compound, but had gone somewhere that day. They were spared. I only found out about his involvement in the compound in the newspapers, when he passed last year or so.

[@gaborkiss650]

Everyone mocking how he is portrayed on Winning Time yet here is the man, speaking about how tormented he STILL is, 50 years later.

[@aparnarajesh]

I won't watched winning time agian

[@jordanofcod962]

​@@aparnarajeshgreatest show hbo has ever produced

[@blviking56]

Jerry is just to real

[@thunder8590]

Bill Russell went over after 69 loss and he saw Jerry crying. He hugged him and felt.bad

[@zerocal76]

Love this interview. I actually like how Jerry West is not letting go of the loss and the pain from them. He's that big of a competitor and he's that passionate. That's so rare today. All these freaking athletes today just want to be homies and vacation together.

[@wooge3199]

yo ...u got it....word

[@Jazz-gb9lp]

Theres nothing wrong with that cause at the end of the day people are paying to watch THEM play not you

[@PokemonTrainerVince]

@@Jazz-gb9lp You're an idiot. You didn't get his comment at all. Back in West's era players weren't buddy buddy with their opponents, which made things more competitive.

[@marcusjames9353]

Many of those players were friends outside of the game, but during the game, that went out the window. That is what's missing in today's NBA, no killer instinct amongst a lot of the stars.

[@Jazz-gb9lp]

SuperVince93 someone must have a miserable life, but to answer your point genius, look at his last sentence and see how it has negative feelings towards today's athletes. Literally nothing wrong with being friends off the court, for example, MJ and Charles were friends off the court, but did that make the game less competitive? No, now go check yourself fool

[@toogifted6491]

keep up the good work graham. For whatever reason athletes seem to open up to you on a real serious human emotional level that you wont get from an ESPN interview. Great work.

[@zerocal76]

Its bc the rest of the interviewers are just media that talk shit about you the minute they can. This guy Graham just wants to hear them talk and is genuinely interested about what they have to say, not just trying to "get a story"

[@drevm7991]

zerocal76 Nobody in the media is talking shit about Jerry West, I assure you. Just because some media members are bad, doesn't mean all or most of them are. ESPN is a business and so they cover and put out what gets ratings, which means that is what people want.

[@zerocal76]

I didn't say anyone was doing that about jerry west. They do it for all the athletes who arent saints and might screw up now and then

[@migonzz]

It's funny too, so many people love to make fun of Graham for his eagerness to listen and let them continue talking lol

[@tabibnialawfirm]

Terrific interviewer. Asks insightful questions and then gets out of the way and listens without interrupting.

[@chocktaebolanca757]

Cy Tab You can’t fool us Graham we know it’s you with your other account

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Lol

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Dear Jerry, you NEVER let anyone down. ALL of the kids, and I, in the neighborhood LOVED you and the Lakers. When I listened to you being interviewed by Chick, I hung on every word. You are special. Most of the time, the best team does win, but I do agree with you that the Lakers were in fact the best team in 1969, which made it more of a heartbreaker that we lost. But you made up for it in 1972 when the Lakers one the ring. I was at game two of the 69 Finals, in which you scored 41, Hondo 43, and Elgin saved the day that night with 32 and 20, including the Lakers last 12 points. Anyway, all things considered, you are the greatest Laker of all time. Signed, a lifelong Jerry West fan

[@watchmanonthewall14]

*won*

[@freebee8656]

Even after many years, you can see him getting angrier as he starts talking about it. Winning the game means so much to this man.

[@CarlosFernandez-r8o]

They invented the MVP award for the playoffs to give to West. He played so great,they had to give him something. 53 points in game one. 42 points,12 assists,10 rebounds in game 7.

[@alphamaleallure]

I am a big Celtics fan. That said ,West was and is true class one of the best to ever play the game.

[@senseichess8688]

Well said

[@angusdog22]

I hate that he's with the clippers now but Jerry West is a legend. He's really the greatest Laker of all time. What he did on and off the court together will never be duplicated. A real tortured genius.

[@speedy4530]

Just watching winning time, really shows a lot

[@chazo22]

One of the greatest players of all time, intense driven guy left everything he had on the court. Respected as one of the best by anyone who played with or against him.

[@lev887]

A great man. An incredible player. Purest jump shooter, and arch I've ever seen.

[@VictorVonDoom.]

All these players today that just care about the money and when they lose don't care the next day should watch this!!! Dude is still hurt after losing in the finals 40+ years later

[@lamardogmatic3864]

Nigga life goes on. 40 years later and you still that hot about it? That's just stressful to yourself lol

[@josecarranza7555]

I'm a big Jerry West fan but he should get over it, and see it as a game now. Since then, he was the architect GM of the Lakers dynasties in the 80's and 2000's bringing in Shaq & Kobe. Jerry West has 9 rings, one as a player and 8 as GM/executive.

[@TRJ2241987]

He should be upset, nobody ever mentions him in 'Greatest Player of All Time' talks, despite the fact he is still 5th All-Time in NBA history for PPG average, in between LeBron James and Kevin Durant, despite the fact he never played a single NBA game with a 3 point line.

[@thebeasters]

@@lamardogmatic3864 Don't let it control your life, but let it keep the fire burning

[@leesmithreviews7179]

I disagree with that assessment. The amount of work these dudes put in to being great is incredible. I think it's a very small minority among players. The great players want to be known as champions and the lesser players want to just stay in the league if possible. But you're right that in the case of Jerry and guys like him, it's a different level. Really it's an unhealthy obsession. And you see it all these years later. His face is almost like he just lost. Wow.

[@reluctyupp85]

"Winning Time" is on point with it's portrayal of Jerry West

[@chucknola484]

I was thinking the same thing. He carries a deep rooted bitterness with him and the series has done a good job representing that. It’s a damn shame he carries that dead weight around. He has so much to be proud of. He was one of the best players of his era hell of a player and he was even better in his front office role for the Lakers helping them win 8 titles and winning executive of the year twice. I had no idea he has been living with this much guilt and self pity.

[@ANTHONY0808able]

Totally agree, these videos are popping up because of Winning Time. They portray West as half a loon and my goodness they are correctly portraying him. Despite this man's greatness and successes he is a sad case. Jeez.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

West is suing them for false representation, defamation of character. I hope he wins.

[@dylanhendricks25]

LOL HES SUING THE MAKERS OF THE SHOW FOR FALSE REPRESENTATION

[@alejandrosuarez5452]

How would you know?

[@leogeorge]

You could see the genuine passion for those things to still bring back bad memories today.

[@goodfellabeats]

When you don't have millions of dollars, social media, clout, clubs, and media attention to drive you, you actually care about basketball so much that you losses stay with you. This is a real hooper.

[@September2004]

Losing 6 Finals in that decade. Quite a few Game 7’s. It’s amazing how many of those Game 7’s were so close.

[@Don-md6wn]

I don't think there's ever been a more competitive player in any sport than Jerry West. In the 1969 Finals where he won that "meaningless" Finals MVP he says he didn't deserve because his team lost, he averaged 38 points and had a triple double (42 points, 12 assists, 13 rebounds) in game 7 while playing with a pulled hamstring that he had suffered in Game 5.

[@Lootroq]

That's why I'm so disappointed in Chris Paul. I think he's afraid of losing to the point of bowing out due to any kind of injury, particularity telling was this year's Game 7 of the Finals where it's possible this might be his last shot and he just sat out. Shoot something in your leg, pop some pills and get on the damn court!

[@migonzz]

@@Lootroq do you have that same kind of energy?

[@Lootroq]

@@migonzz What do you mean? Nothing has changed my mind about what I said

[@RiruKrypto_]

@@Lootroq ever had the kinds of injury Chris Paul had? I bet he would of played and he knows his body well and didn't want to risk having a bigger injury. Look at Durant and Klay, they gotten big injuries for the sake of trying to become 3peat champions.

[@jiggac6456]

He only won one ring as a player - 1972 with Wilt Chamberlain leading the way.. Never seen a "more" competitive player in any sport? You must have not watched sports since the 1960s then if you really believe that statement... He wasn't even the most competitive basketball player in the 1960s - Bill Russell was (and he has the rings to prove it)....

[@ricknash2212]

Jerry West... Such a quiet, reflective, astute human being. Truly a superstar and champion. HE is the NBA LOGO!! Not to mention a helluva GM

[@fwest524]

Jerry, I modeled my game after you, Scottie Pippin and "The Hondo." I grew up in the 90's and watching old video of you made me fierce 🏀 Love you Mr. West

[@PokemonTrainerVince]

@Arthur Anderson You a bitch.

[@nicolosito]

One of the greatest players and finest men in sports history.

[@BugzMoney_18]

Maybe this is where “winning time “ got the idea to make this man a crazy angry man dude still to this day can’t let it go😂😂

[@pankow2893]

Ask a clear, open, fair question; wait quietly, respectfully for a complete and thoughtful answer. Amazing process. So very rare.

[@anthonybatulis6516]

Just an old school legend.

[@Bey11ktb]

This is where winning time got the character of Jerry west from

[@rlh289]

This guy is a real champion

[@jdhjimbo]

I always enjoy Graham's interviewing style. I watch his show every Sunday night at midnight. West was one of the greatest, and as a GM, even better. The Lakers are now the kings of the NBA, while Boston had that title when West played.

[@Beezygames45]

he really loves the game. that’s nothing but love for the game. i love it

[@markbataitis4851]

My all time favorite guard, super player. I copied his jump shot when I played, watched him over and over, tapes and so forth, until I got it down. It worked great for me! Love Jerry!!

[@rondoisbeast999]

Nobody deserves the honor of being “the Logo” more than Jerry West. The definition of a legend

[@chilldoc9638]

Yes there's plenty of players who deserve it more

[@senseichess8688]

Your right

[@sirpuper]

kobe deserves it modt

[@angelorollo3350]

What a tremendous athlete and honest, humble person! He deserves to be the model of the NBA logo!

[@michaeldiaz1750]

This hit different after winning time

[@Wild_Western]

This is one athlete I wish I had a chance to see in person. Not just for his ability and commitment to the game and team, but passion for the City of Angeles and its fan base.

[@pooleboyjr]

winning time seems a lil more accurate after watching this.. this man used the word “tormented”

[@rafikz77]

Agreed

[@anthonypetrozzelli5429]

As a die hard Boston Celtic fan growing up as a boy in Boston, I had great respect for the Lakers then and I consider Jerry West team one of greatest Laker teams of all time. He was such a great player. I sadden that he feels that way. There is no shame losing to Bill Russell and the Celtics. I consider West one of the greatest Lakers.

[@maplebear6527]

Graham, you are hands down the best interviewer i've ever seen do his thing. Most people would think you just let them talk, which IS part of your method. However, you get people to OPEN UP! People have opened up to you about things that they never have with anyone else. I think it's partly because you don't do what MOST media pricks do, and take clips and twist what they said. You don't sensationalize it, you just listen. And you make them feel comfortable. I'm loving what you do man and KEEP GOING!! You are going to be the Michael Jordan of sports interviewing.

[@GrahamBensinger]

Thank you for the kind words, glad you enjoy watching! -AD

[@maplebear6527]

@@GrahamBensinger Thanks for the content!

[@bowhunter928]

Wow, the honesty and pain in his face when he talks about the game 7 loss.

[@richiemooa]

This guy, wow. Kobe sounds just like The Logo. What amazing dedication and perseverance.

[@johnnyreed8537]

Despite losing to Boston so many times, Jerry West is definitely a winner. A lot of players are obsessed with fame and fortune and are not hurt this way. You have to be a great player to win MVP honors from the losing team. I'm glad he finally won one but he would have gotten more satisfaction in beating Boston...

[@Mustapha1963]

Adding insult to injury: West and the Lakers played Bill Russell and the Celtics in the 1968-69 Finals. Elgin Baylor was injured, and I can't remember if he played only a little and then ineffectively or did not play at all in the series. West did all that a man can humanly do, averaging over 40 ppg against Boston. But it was not enough. West was voted Finals MVP- the only time in League history a player from the losing teak was so honored. His reward for winning MVP was a car. A >>GREEN

[@SpartanLeonidas1821]

This guy IS Basketball! 🙌🏻

[@tomp4925]

I can understand. As a Jerry West and Laker fan in the 60's they were heartbreaking losses to the Celtics.

[@40yearoldman]

This shows one of the great things about basketball. There are no more victories. If you have a quintuple double and lose, you just got a workout.

[@samgunz1]

I fuck with Mr. West... passionate player 💯

[@michaelnivens6267]

great Interview with the greatest guard of all time

[@jbs8892]

I was kid during those loses and I'm still tormented, too!

[@granthoops]

It’s admirable how much of a responsibility jerry felt for losing a team game despite his extraordinary efforts and individual impact.

[@tdog1983-v6c]

Wow. This guys like 80 and he doesn’t let it go

[@boogieloo1831]

True warrior. That's the nature of a competitor - wanting to win at all costs. Respect.

[@teddy1234599]

Boogie Loo, but Jerry West NEVER had the attitude of "winning at all costs". He cut no corners; slighted no foe; even when he was often the #1 Lakers player, he never hogged the ball or shots. He ALWAYS played the game the right way; the TEAM-FIRST way. Heck, if he'd been more of a "wanting to win at all costs" type of guy; the Lakers may well have won a couple of those down-to-the-wire last Finals games.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

@@teddy1234599 I thought Jerry took too many shots, when he should have passed and gotten in a position to receive a pass for a better shot. If he had made his shots to win a playoff series against the Celtics half the time, I wouldn't say it. Lol He suffered a broken nose 8 times. Took being a hard nosed player seriously, too seriously, it seems. 🙄

[@LegitPlays777]

Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain one of my favorite duos

[@doublem1975x]

They hated each other.

[@greasergreg785]

Shaq and Kobe are one of the best duos of all time and they hated each other during that time. Wilt and West is one of the best duos of all time.

[@senseichess8688]

@@greasergreg785 they were and so was Russell and havlicek

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Chamberlain was supposed to bring them a championship in the late 60s, he didn't. That's why I rate Russell over Chamberlain. The 60s championships, Russell 8, Wilt 1. Wilt dominated, except against Russell.

[@ronbonora7872]

A true legend and all time great player!

[@wardellholder8203]

Mr WEST, YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS EVER. AFTER HEARING YOU TALK OF YOUR LOSES TO BOSTON I SAW HOW MUCH YOU LOVED THIS GAME " AND THE HEART YOU HAVE " YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY RESPECT " FROM AND THE L A FANS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A CHANCE OF BEING A PART OF YOUR LIFE. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

[@donoakman1507]

One of top 10 ever to play..never gets credit for how great he was

[@georgebrown2175]

A great ball player and obviously a great person.

[@bg357wg]

Ironically, he’s had the most success after retiring as a player...quite the opposite of what happened to MJ whose success mostly derived from what he did as a player

[@brae1090]

Just Some Guy With No Mustache Bruh what are you talking about MJ is literally a billionaire. His shoe sales make billions each year. (Nike makes that money not him, but it’s his brand and he definitely has stock in it or gets a cut) MJ is a bad owner but to say jerry west has been more successful is just ignorant of the facts dog

[@johnmarquette9899]

Brae10 jordan was already rich when he retired but success in the next chapter after retirement goes to Jerry they both got into nba management and jerry has made himself the goat executive a team builder.he helped built the show time lakers, the kobe shaq lakers and the warriors current dynasty, now he’s building something big with the clippers that’s 35 years of success right there. Jordan became a billionaire of his shoe deals cause of his name. His job right now is a shitty executive his career in management is shit .

[@str8koptv901]

John Marquette mj is running a million things same thing manic told lakers he said I’m a businessman first I have a million other things to do is that cool with you and the lakers said yea we know Michael is Michael Jordan that dude is not worrying about what some sorry ass players can’t do not his job to teach them to play ball they should already know they just suck

[@johnmarquette9899]

STR8KOP TV that’s bad an ideal gm is someone who solely focuses on that gm role. Doing multiple things isn’t the best recipe for success not everyone is Elon musk that dude runs 4-5 billion dollar businesses. That definitely explains why mj and magic haven’t/ weren’t successful as basketball executives/management.

[@kendrick7385]

John Marquette that's the point of what these other guys are saying though, you can say Jordan and magic were complete shit as a gm especially in comparison to jerry west but they've had success aside from that

[@_Maxten]

see he gets it. nothing matters if you dont get the dub

[@johnford5568]

Problem is you don't have control over it.

[@andreingramakadjscrewrip7372]

@@johnford5568 In West's case, he IS right that they should've won two Finals. The Lakers almost came back from a 1-3 deficit in the 1966 Fins before losing Game 7 and infamously lost Game 7 in the 1969 Finals

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Maxten, True.

[@daddyho6543]

Jerry West, was the first professional basketball player, that I became a fan of. After, Dr. J.

[@tobiaschaparro2372]

Jerry West is the best example of a player that didn't do much winning, and yet was just an absolute winner by heart. I guess he was just beat by the best winner of all time.

[@alleninseattle2003]

I learned this a long time ago. You forget the wins very quickly, but the losses stay with you forever. It does not matter the sport or the level.

[@eboooo]

uncle jerry I'll always love you man

[@alejandrogomez4804]

That's a cool story, this Man is serious about his basketball. Jerry (The Logo) West is "Class Personified".

[@senseichess8688]

Yes

[@willz_billz1166]

Much respect to Mr West...

[@ChillTownHoops]

“How long did it take you to get over losin the world series in 1997? I’ll tell you when I get over it.” -Mike Hargrove Cleveland Indians 2017

[@donyoung7874]

That still pains me.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Me, too.

[@richardalmaraz2533]

To me Mr Clutch was the best player ever and a true gentleman

[@bowsershark]

Richard Almaraz If he was Mr clutch how did those 2 series in question get away?

[@lloydkline7245]

Richard Almaraz he a winner off the court and on the court one of the best jump shot ever

[@FuShengAlex]

@@bowsershark gimme a break. What more was he supposed to do individually in 1969?

[@bowsershark]

@slip satch It just proves how good/great BILL Russell is and how valuable and significant those Russell next tier dynastic teams are to history. To beat a incredibly driven man like team West, Russell and crew were certainty a monster squad. We take nothing from him as a great player. But, damn those Russell led dudes were awesome.

[@coachwane]

@@FuShengAlex Play as a PG

[@skullzonyt9955]

Wow never really heard him speak before but this gave me a lot of respect for him.

[@TheHolloway22]

Winning time is spot on. See why he’s upset

[@gdobie1west988]

My all time favorite basketball player, nothing but class. You can read more about Jerry West----"West By West My Charmed, Tormented Life by Jerry West and Jonathan Coleman. Jerry West The Life And Legend of a Basketball Icon by Roland Lazenby. Both are excellent. One of the greatest.

[@haywoodj5463]

Passion, Love & Pain. I just want to shake Mr.West's hand one day.

[@Maal7432]

You can see it in his eyes still that he’s devastated. Wow. Wish his Lakers could’ve beaten Boston!!

[@ralphfurley123]

So intense, so focused, and so determined!!! There is a side of me that admires him, but there another side that feels sorry for him!!! He doesn’t seem to appreciate what he accomplished but rather dwells on his failures!!! Is he the very definition of a “perfectionist”? Winning to him is the only thing that matters!!! To me, Jerry West is a Hall of Famer, a very successful executive, and a legend of the game!!! But he seems to view his career as missed opportunities!!! Mr. West, thanks for giving it your all and then some!!! God bless!!! ☮️🖖🏽

[@juliuscaesar894]

no matter what happens and where he works...that man bleeds purple and gold

[@rayspruce1]

The GREAT Jerry West!! TALK THAT TALK!🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Celtics fan here. Great respect for Jerry West in spite of his being a lifelong Laker. That *will to win* was a quality that all the greats of that era had.

[@masel4036]

That era was pure trash lmao

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

@@masel4036 you’re laughing your ass off but the joke’s on you. Guess you never heard of John Havlicek. Now it’s my turn to lmao

[@russellmclatchey4162]

Mr. West: You are, and will always be, a winner.

[@chriskelley4530]

Jerry is a straight competitor. Respect

[@Angelthedog]

A tortured man. A nice, reflective man, but tortured despite all the winning. That's the lesson he has for us.

[@everquintanilla1663]

thank you jerry west for everything you did for the lakers. your the best player to ever play the lakers. best guard to play in the nba.

[@tj-yb1pc]

Thank you Jerry I dont know much about you but I really respect you for just being honest ,,that's one of the biggest things thats missing in sports say what you really feel,,,I hate when things are sugarcoated,,,when players tell you what you want to hear or give you the corporate answer,,,its like the ying and yang you. You can have sportsmanship but you also want to see the other side ,,,the pain,,,anger,,,disappointment,,,

[@jeffrey3498]

Jerry, as great as he was, just couldn't seem to take solace in all the blessings that were bestowed upon him, despite losses in just basketball games. It seems Jerry won the game of life.

[@Fan4club]

We have to find the happiness in the journey of competing - not just winning. I know great players remember the losses play by play - but I hope everyone finds the peace in bringing their best to the game (& helping bring others to the highest level - Like Kobe) totally free from being tormented by losses.

[@taliesen1953]

I grew up a Celtic fan in Boston... but I loved West. Had his poster in my room.

[@johnyang2]

My goodness! What an intense individual! What a burden to carry at an old age!

[@vanxl9]

Jerry West is simply the best.

[@r3d5ive87]

I see a lot of comments about how awesome his attitude is. I actually find it sad. There is so much more to life than this.

[@Oregon-airguns]

The things I love the most, have always brought me the most pain. God damn!! That’s soo fucking true!!! You’re not alone jerry west! You’re not alone.

[@melvinpruitt3907]

A true competitor who always wanted to win each and every time he stepped on the hardwood. I called him Superman when I was a kid,not just because of his obvious greatness as a player. But because he looked like actor George Reeves who played Superman in the 50's series.The adventures of Superman. Jerry West,the (Logo)

[@jujurawks]

Proof that only winning matters. Not stats

[@teddy1234599]

This is not proof; as much as I've loved West since he joined Baylor on the Lakers (they've always been my two favorite players). Jerry's attitude is PROOF of the ATTITUDE that "only winning matters." Winning is FAR from the only thing that matters (in sports or anything else). Only in the US (and I'm a born-and-raised American myself) ... only in the US could the ideological "monstrosity" of "only winning matters" become the national identity / meme. (The top imperialist country dominating and living off of 100 foreign countries and their billions of laborers - can easily spread the idea that being first is, supposedly, the only thing that matters. Great TEAM-work and sportsmanship matter far more than winning for MORAL PEOPLE; for people who care about others and our species generally. This reminds me of the All-Time Great marathoner, "Boston Billy" Rodgers. One year, out of some 10,000 marathoners, he finished SECOND at the Boston Marathon. The reporters asked him, "Why did you lose?" And he answered, "I lost because ...." What utter nonsense. You can't "LOSE" when you beat some 10,000 highly-qualified marathoners; only to finish 2nd. You win glory and prize money and endorsements and respect from fellow marathoners. Finishing second (whether out of 10,000 people in an individual sport; or out of 30-32 teams in a team sport) is NOT losing. For example, the Buffalo Bills run of FOUR CONSECUTIVE SUPER-BOWL appearances was one of THE greatest WINNING runs in all of NFL-AFL history - they surely were winners (dominating half the League for 4 consecutive years).

[@michaelalbertson7457]

@@teddy1234599 I'm a Christian and I like to win. I'm a Vikings fan, and they also lost 4 Super Bowls. They are not winners, but losers, 0-4. The Bills are losers, 0-4. Not the players, the team. The players don't like it, but they accept it, it's their profession. I think many fans, non sensically really, I was one of them, take losing too hard. But I take losing more graciously these days, life is more important. God is good to me.

[@teddy1234599]

@@michaelalbertson7457 About "making it to the SuperBowl, but then losing there makes you a LOSER" - I couldn't disagree more. Finishing 2nd best out of 32 NFL teams is being a WINNER. I bet you anything that if you ASK THE PLAYERS INVOLVED, every single one of them would "vote" to WIN in the Conference Finals, thus making it to the SuperBowl, than LOSING in the Conference Finals. btw, I was a New York Nets fan when they first were born. Their horrible amount of losing CURED me of taking losing too hard, cause it was just too brutal otherwise ... lol About "God is good to me." - I couldn't disagree more here either: there is NO GOD (only incorrect illusions of ones existing, that were 100% created by humans).

[@michaelalbertson7457]

@@teddy1234599 How did the first humans get here? They appeared suddenly? Oh, wait, the Big Bang, oh, yeah, that's how we got there. Lol. Logic says a God made us. The Bible says nature shows us God is the Creator. Even when I was an atheist, I could see the logic of God as a Creator, when someone pointed it out to me. As for losing, most teams I really liked lost more often, in baseball, football and basketball, when I was young, and it actually took me 3 days to talk about much after the losses in a really big game, I was crushed. When I got to about 18, I stopped watching most games. I would find out the scores, I couldn't stand the pressure of thinking they'd lose anymore. Still can't watch most games, so many commercials, and I have things I'd rather do, like post comments on videos. Lol I will never agree 2nd place is winning. The only time I'm sympathetic to 2nd place is in the Olympics, as I like silver better gold, color wise. So Finland in hockey is very successful, lots of silver medals ! Lol. But they ruined it this year, they won in the finals ! They only got a gold medal ! What a disappointment ! Lol We entertain ourselves with personal opinions and preferences, but winning is winning, and the winner always wins the championship game. Did the loser have a good season, oh, yeah, but look at the winner in the books, it wasn't them. The coaches only say that because they don't want the players to get discouraged, or the fans either. But they are all disappointed to an extent on the losing side. The winners are always jubilant when they win, except the selfish player who didn't have a good series, or didn't get the ball enough, and other various reasons to be unhappy about.

[@teddy1234599]

@@michaelalbertson7457 1) GOD: Logic does NOT say "a God made us. Given DNA, and the fact that we have almost identical DNA to Bonobos (98.6%) - logic says an all-powerful God would make us decidedly more distinct from all other species - there'd be no reason whatsoever for "him" to make us so similar (and quite similar to multiple other species); on the contrary, he could make us however he'd please - and we could have a completely unique make-up ("befitting" our supposedly UNIQUE, made-in-God's image). Heck, come to think of it, why didn't "he" make us as INVISIBLE as "he" is??? 2) "WINNING IS EVERYTHING, FINISHING 2ND IS LOSING": I've raced several dozens of official marathons in my "career". I never finished (close to) 1st in any of them. I DID finish 16th in one that had multiple-thousands competing. When I finished, I KNEW that I was a winner - that last 10K was just brutal on rolling slightly-upwards hills in a very hot son. But then, IMO, every last finisher, of the multi-thousands, was a winner. And, again, if one were to ask the PLAYERS THEMSELVES, in team sports, whether they'd rather make it to the "finals" or lose in an earlier round, 100% of them, ALL OF THEM would chose to make it to the "Finals" rather than not. Let's take two particular players (my two all-time favorites, btw): Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. They are universally considered ALL-Time Greats, despite the fact that they both lost EIGHT NBA FINALS! Imagine, for just a moment, that those 8 years they had lost in the Conference Finals and NOT made the Finals. Baylor would've never made a single Finals and that'd DEFINITELY be held against him! Similarly, West would be viewed much LESS favorably - in fact, instead of being UNIVERSALLY considered all-time greats, they'd be near-universally considered BELOW that level. On a much-broader perspective, i VIEW this "winning is all that matters" viewpoint as a terrible attitude (and attribute it particularly to so many of us having grown up within the world's #1 super-power - it's bred into our way of thinking! For me, this cursing most effort as "being in a losing cause"; AND DOWNPLAYS TEAM-WORK, which, IMO, is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than winning titles - HOW you "play" is, imo, much more important than the results you might achieve (quite often simply beyond one's control).

[@TrueProphit]

If the damn coach would had put Wilt back in.

[@SidJustice1]

True Prophit, right? I never understood that, either.

[@TrueProphit]

SidJustice1 he was trying to downplay Wilt he told him we can win the thing with you.

[@casualfandestroyer2503]

@@TrueProphit they were playing better without him. He had already missed 9 free throws and you know how he is in foul trouble

[@michaelnivens6267]

Wilt was not the defensive player Russell was and he was a poor free throw shooter and yes In late 60s and early 70s I was a Laker fan

[@michaelalbertson7457]

@@michaelnivens6267 And Wilt didn't want to foul out of a game for the first time, I think. But the free throws were a problem.

[@markwoldin162]

They say his book is just full of bitterness and self-hatred period And yet to watch and play was a study in elegant and perfectionism. Fascinating.

[@Mateo.7777]

You can still hear the pain in his voice. Can't imagine how he was in the off season after losing. Would not be fun to be around him in the summer.

[@buffalobob2890]

High class man!

[@letsgomets07]

Man it’s crazy like a non pro athlete can forget things over time, but a pro athlete like Jerry says and you can hear it he hasn’t let those losses go. But that makes what sports so great. I have flag football loses like that obviously nothing like nba finals.