"HE'S THE ONE PLAYER I WOULD PAY TO SEE" - WHEN JERRY WEST CHOSE ANOTHER MICHIGAN STATE PLAYER OVER MAGIC JOHNSON
Jerry West's legendary status in NBA history is inextricably linked to the LA Lakers organization. His contributions span multiple roles as a player; he led the team to a championship in 1972 and won the Finals MVP in 1969; as a general manager, he architected the foundations of the 'Showtime' era.
Many considered Magic Johnson, with his flamboyant playing style, to be The Logo's true successor at point guard, especially with his playmaking and rebounding prowess.
However, despite the close connection with the Purple and Gold and Johnson in particular, he threw a curveball. When asked which player he would pay to watch, West picked another Michigan State player, which differed from his expected choice of Lakers' protege.
Jerry West on George Gervin
By the end of the 1981-82 season, Magic had already cemented himself as one of the best players in the association. Not only did he lead the Purple and Gold to a championship in 1980 and won the Finals MVP honor, but he also had an All-NBA Second Team selection and All-Star nod against his name.
Moreover, his playing style bore striking similarities to Jerry's, particularly in his ability to secure rebounds and start fast breaks, be it with his no-look passes or coast-to-coast drives.
However, during his interview with the Los Angeles Times, when asked which player he would be willing to pay to witness playing, West gave the ultimate compliment to George Gervin, who had just won his fourth scoring title.
"He's the one player I would pay to see," West told the Los Angeles Times in 1982 as quoted by NBA.com.
Ice Man was perceived as 'unstoppable'
Whether 'Iceman' was facing a double or triple team, it was never difficult for him to leave defenders trailing or to change directions mid-air to score. Put simply, he made the most challenging shots seem as if they were as easy as shooting uncontested layups. Furthermore, it wasn't just about attempting; Gervin even made those tough shots, as evidenced by his knocking more than half of his 19.4 field goal attempts per game.
Interestingly, while Gervin's scoring prowess was undeniable, demonstrated by his scoring averaging 28.3 points per game over his first seven seasons in the NBA, his playing style never received the same level of appreciation as that of Magic or perhaps Michael Jordan in the eyes of fans. Nevertheless, many knew how lethal and unstoppable GG was in the NBA realm.
"You don't stop George Gervin. You just hope that his arm gets tired after 40 shots," NBA coach Dick Motta admitted in 1982. "I believe the guy can score when he wants to. I wonder if he gets bored out there."
It may surprise modern fans to learn that West admitted to willingly paying to watch another talent over Magic. However, this was a testament to the kind of acclaim Gervin had garnered through his playing style.
2024-07-05T10:36:22Z dg43tfdfdgfd