1960-61 From Olimpic victory to victory in NBA.
1960-61 From Olimpic victory to victory in NBA.
The NBA was changing very fast. Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain had
brought a lot of excitement to the league with their NBA debut seasons. They
would do that for the next 14 years. and who would always be inextricably linked
joined the league. Oskar Robertson and Jerry West also joined the league after
winning an olimpic medal. Robertson scored an average of 30.5 ppg and had 9.7
assists, Chamberlain scoring 38.4 ppg and Baylor at 34.8 ppg. The first time in
NBA history three players scored 30 ppg each in the same season. West as a
rookie averaged 17.6 ppg.
The schedule had been increased to 79 games, and Boston and St. Louis once
again outplayed the competition, winning 57 and 51 victories, respectively. For
the second time in a row, St. Louis had to fight off the Lakers in a seven-game
series. The Celtics defeated Syracuse in five games- they won in such a style
over St. Louis in the Finals.
During that time, Jerry West's talent started to get polished. At first,
considered just a kid, he bacame a leading player for his team. "I knew I
couldn't learn sitting on the bench. Well, maybe besides bad habits. I had to
get out there and get rid of the rookie jitters."
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