NBA Draft: 30 greatest draft picks in league history
20. . Shooting Guard. West Virginia Mountaineers, 1960 (No. 2). Jerry West. 9. player
Greatest NBA Draft picks in league history: Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers
Before Jerry West was one of the greatest executives in the history of the league, before he was “The Logo” and before he was “Mr. Clutch” for the Los Angeles Lakers and before he won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, he was a country boy from West Virginia shooting hoops on a basket nailed to his neighbor’s shed.
He was so beloved by his local high school East Bank High School that on the anniversary of their state title they changed their name to “West Bank High School” to honor his time there.
West attended West Virginia University and was one of the best guards in the country, earning numerous awards including a Final Four Most Outstanding Player award, even though his team lost in the finals. In the 1960 NBA Draft, he went No. 2 overall to the then-Minneapolis Lakers, who shortly moved to Los Angeles before West played his first game.
In an era where many guards were offensively minded, West was a two-way force for a Lakers team that became a perennial contender. West and Elgin Baylor became a combo that few teams could stop.
Over his 14-year career, West would make 12 All-NBA teams, including 10 nods to the First Team, and was an NBA All-Star in all 14 seasons. He was the rare player to be recognized for his offense (scoring title in 1970) and defense (five-time All-Defensive selection).
West’s nickname was “Mr. Clutch” despite a 1-8 record in the NBA Finals. He played so well on both ends of the court that his fellow players and fans revered him, despite not racking up titles.
In 1969, he was the only player to win NBA Finals MVP, despite being on the losing team. In 1965, West set the record for highest scoring average in a series (46.3), a record not broken since. One title, an entire career of elite play and a legacy that is respected the league over.