Throughout the course of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> history, just a handful of players have been able to leave a permanent mark on the game. We’re talking about the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Jordans</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> of the game.



Of course, the San Antonio Spurs hope that first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama will join that list once it’s all said and done. But he’s just walking his first steps in the league.



However, even if he has yet to make his professional debut, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> legend Jerry West believes that the French star has a similar game to Bill Russell, which is a lot to say.



<h2>Jerry West Compares Victor Wembanyama To Bill Russell</h2>



“You rarely see someone that combines his brain and his ability,” West started. “Just watching him play, it’s an easy game for him to play, very easy and it never looks like he is working. If you watch really great players, it never looks like they’re working hard.”



“When you watch him defensively, he ruins games. He reminds me a little bit of a bigger Bill Russell with a big reach, coming from everywhere— any offensive player is gonna have to be really cautious about where he is because he’s gonna mess up some offenses that’s for sure,” West concluded.




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Well, if Wemby is able to win just one third of the championships Russell won, then he’ll already have a better career than most of his colleagues. Hopefully, he’ll stay healthy and live up to that unimaginable potential.

Draymond Green reveals the one thing Victor Wembanyama is already elite at

Victor Wembanyama gets big advice from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Jerry West makes astonishing Victor Wembanyama comparison - Bolavip US

Jerry West makes astonishing Victor Wembanyama comparison

miniaturas

One of the most popular debates in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> world is whether <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> or <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan">Michael Jordan</a> is the greatest of all times (GOAT). While many believe no one will ever surpass the Chicago Bulls icon, others claim the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> star already did.



But of course, answering this question is never an easy task. We’re talking about different eras and different players, who played for different teams. After all, everyone will have their own opinion on who they liked the most.



That’s why Jerry West doesn’t even want to talk about it. ‘Mr. Clutch’ believes comparing two great basketball players such as LeBron and MJ is a waste of time, when we should praise both of them.



<h2>Jerry West says it’s ridiculous to compare LeBron and MJ</h2>



“Guys, this is the most ridiculous conversation you’ll ever have,” West said in an appearance on Podcast P with Paul George presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, as quoted by ClutchPoints. “…There’s different eras, different changes. Athletes today, their athletic ability should be better. They should be better shooters.



“… But face it, they’re copycats. You put the other guy who got the same kind of skill, he’ll look like he’s trying to mimic the great guy. I don’t buy into this goat stuff. My god. There’s a lot of smelly goats around, I know that.”


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West has seen both of them, just like he’s seen many other legendary players. Therefore, if he says this is a pointless debate, maybe he’s right.

Jordan, LeBron, Kareem? Charles Barkley makes shocking choice for GOAT

Charles Barkley explains why LeBron James will never be the GOAT over Michael Jordan

Lakers legend weighs in on LeBron James-Michael Jordan GOAT debate - Bolavip US

Lakers legend weighs in on LeBron James-Michael Jordan GOAT debate

For most of their history, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-clippers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Clippers</a> have been bottom-feeders, mostly living in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> shadow. Up to this day, they haven’t even made the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Finals.



But this team has made great strides over the past decade or so. They’ve become perennial contenders, and Steve Ballmer has gone the extra mile to try and get them over the hump.



However, this team can never seem to catch a break, as it showed with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kawhi-leonard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kawhi Leonard’s</a> injury in the playoffs. That’s why Jerry West — who’s worked there as a consultant since 2017 — can’t help but think they’re just jinxed.



<h2>Jerry West Blames God For The Clippers’ Shortcomings</h2>



“We’ve had two chances here with the Clippers, two chances,” West told Paul George on Podcast P. “And for whatever reason, the big guy in the sky didn’t want us to get there.”



“Injuries. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” continued West. “In my whole life, two players of the caliber of you and Kawhi can’t play half the season. I mean, it’s crazy. You look at Kawhi’s body, I mean, how can he ever get hurt? I feel so badly for him. It drives me crazy. He didn’t have a chance, and he works his fanny off. (…) You go home, and you say to yourself, ‘My gosh, it’s almost like there’s a jinx somewhere’.”



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"It&apos;s almost like there&apos;s a jinx somewhere." Hall of Famer and Clippers special consultant Jerry West on the franchise&apos;s injury woes <a href="https://t.co/pKr9XEgF4p">pic.twitter.com/pKr9XEgF4p</a>— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastPShow/status/1668742609144270848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Truth be told, it’s hard to find another explanation. It happened during the Lob City era, and it’s happening all over again this time. Will they ever get rid of this bad mojo?

Jerry West reveals the only reason why the Clippers will never win a ring - Bolavip US

Jerry West reveals the only reason why the Clippers will never win a ring

Jerry West is one of the most emblematic players in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-finals-2021-all-finals-mvp-by-year-20210701-0004.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a>, not only because of what he did and won during his pro career, but also because West is the silhouette of the NBA logo. But among other important things, West is one of the few executives with eight <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/steve-kerrs-championships-how-many-rings-does-the-warriors-coach-have-won-20220619-0033.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">championships</a>.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be forever grateful to West for everything he did during his executive career with the team, especially the ‘recruiting’ of two players who were key to the franchise, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
During his executive career with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-2022-2023-when-does-the-next-season-start-20220617-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, Jerry West won eight NBA Championship rings (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2015, 2017) and was named NBA Executive of the Year twice (1995, 2004). .
<h2>Who is the best NBA player of all-time according to Jerry West?</h2>
During an event with the league, a reporter asked Jerry West who was the best <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/The-25-NBA-teams-with-most-fans-20200423-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA player</a> of all-time to which West said: “…To me he epitomizes what I think is great in a basketball player. Someone who can play both ends of the court. His teams wins. In the last quarter, he’s going to be there…” Jerry West referring to Michael Jordan as the best of all-time.
Jerry West is currently an executive board member of the Los Angeles Clippers since 2017, before that job he had the same role but for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-2022-who-signed-the-best-offseason-agreement-so-far-20220706-0010.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> thus winning his 8th NBA Championship as executive.
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Watch the video here: <a href="http://streamable.com/13koky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://streamable.com/13koky</a>

Jerry West revealed his favorite NBA player of all-time

Jerry West revealed his favorite NBA player of all-time - Bolavip US

Throughout <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/25-incredible-NBA-records-unlikely-to-be-broken-20200430-0001.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA history</a>, we’ve seen multiple superstars win MVPs, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-players-with-the-most-scoring-titles-20210223-0001.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scoring Titles</a>, lead the league in assists,and whatnot. But some of them were <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Ringless-NBA-teams-that-havent-won-a-championship-yet-20200730-0001.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">never able to win a championship</a>, let alone a Finals MVP award.
Being named Finals MVP is one of the biggest honors any basketball player could ever dream of. It means you outplayed all your opposition and put your team on your back when it mattered the most.
But there have been a couple of times in history that we’ve seen some head-scratching winners for this prestigious award. That’s why today, we’re going to let you know about the three worst NBA <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-finals-mvp-complete-list-of-all-most-valuable-players-by-year-20220614-0037.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finals MVPs</a> of all time.
<h2>The Worst NBA Finals MVPs Ever</h2>
<h3>3. Jerry West – 1969</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220615_BUS_193199_jerry_west.jpg_631782975_5b8db3e7.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Jerry West- Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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To be fair, Jerry West’s numbers in the 1969 NBA Finals were impressive even by his standards. He averaged 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 43.9 minutes per game. However, that wasn’t enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship.
West and the Lakers lost in seven games to the Boston Celtics, becoming the first and only Finals MVP on a losing team. It was quite unfair to John Havlicek, who averaged 28.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game and actually won the chip.
<h3>2. Kawhi Leonard – 2014</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220615_BUS_193199_kawhi_leonard.jpg_631782975_96382542.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Kawhi Leonard- Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Kawhi Leonard was anunknown player back in 2014. He took his game up a notch in the playoffs and especially in the NBA Finals, where he was in charge of guarding LeBron James. He averaged 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks.
Leonard didn’t lead the San Antonio Spurs in any category but blocks in that series, yet he won Finals MVP for his great defense on James. The catch? LeBron actually averaged 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 57/51/79, so it’s not like he locked him up at all.
<h3>1. Andre Iguodala – 2015</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220615_BUS_193199_andre_iguodala.jpg_631782975_e9e6eabe.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Andre Iguodala – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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For years, people have criticized Stephen Curry for ‘letting’ Andre Iguodala win Finals MVP over him in 2015. Iguodala averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game and was also called to guard LeBron James in that series.
Somehow, someway, and despite not leading his team in any regular or advanced stat, Iguodala’s ‘lockdown defense’ on James granted him the award. But James averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game so… make this make sense, please.

Andre Iguodala and the worst NBA Finals MVPs

Andre Iguodala and the worst NBA Finals MVPs - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/kyrie-irvings-attitude-isnt-good-for-the-game-says-richard-jefferson-20220419-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA fans</a> from all over the world were eagerly waiting for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-insider-slams-winning-time-and-its-portrayal-of-jerry-west-20220310-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HBO’s </a><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-insider-slams-winning-time-and-its-portrayal-of-jerry-west-20220310-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Winning Time’</a> to premiere. The show is focused on the ‘Showtime’ <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-tracy-mcgrady-says-lamelo-ball-should-join-the-lakers-20220419-0010.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, telling the story of how the franchise rose to stardom.
And, while ratings have been there and some exaggeration was to be expected, it seems like those who were actually there in real-life haven’t been much of a fan. In fact, Magic Johnson even said that he wasn’t looking forward to watching it at all.
Now, Lakers legends <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/kareem-abdul-jabbar-says-lebron-james-should-be-embarrassed-by-some-of-his-actions-20220404-0006.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</a> and Jerry West—both depicted in the TV show— have spoken up and expressed their criticism, ripping ‘Winning Time’ for its ‘bland characterization’ and inaccurate story-telling.
<h2>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Rips HBO’s ‘Winning Time’</h2>
“I’ll start with the bland characterization. The characters are crude stick-figure representations that resemble real people the way Lego Hans Solo resembles Harrison Ford.Each character is reduced to a single bold trait as if the writers were afraid anything more complex would tax the viewers’ comprehension,” Kareem wrote on his Substack.
The legendary big man went on to state that the show features ‘caricatures, not characters’ and ‘amusement park portraits’ when describing him, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, and late Lakers owner Jerry Buss:
“Jerry Buss is Egomaniac Entrepreneur, Jerry West is Crazed Coach, Magic Johnson is Sexual Simpleton, I’m Pompous Prick. They are caricatures, not characters,” Kareem added.“Amusement park portraits that emphasize one physical feature to amplify your appearance—but never touching the essence. “
“The result of using caricatures instead of fully developed characters is that the plot becomes frenetic melodrama, sensationalized invented moments to excite the senses but reveal nothing deeper,” he concluded. “It’s as if he strung together a bunch of flashing colored lights and told us, ‘This is the spirit of Christmas.&apos;”

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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220420_BUS_188997_kareem_abdul-jabbar.jpg_631782975_f64164ba.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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<h2>Jerry West Demands An Apology</h2>
Needless to say, Mr. Clutch himself wasn’t a fan of how he was portrayed in the show, either. According to Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN, West’slawyers have even demanded a retraction and apology from the show:
“Former Los Angeles Lakers executive Jerry West demanded a retraction and an apology for what he called ‘a baseless and malicious assault’ on his character in the HBO series ‘Winning Time,’ in a letter sent Tuesday evening by his legal team to the network and producer Adam McKay, which was obtained by ESPN,” reported Shelbourne.
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="397" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:397" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220420_BUS_188997_jerry_west.jpg_631782975_ac65adf6.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=397" width="740" height="397"></figure><figcaption> Jerry West – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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It’s one thing to spice things up to draw more viewership, it even makes sense. But why would you alter the story that much, especially when the people you talk about are alive and well and can fact-check everything?

HBO's 'Winning Time' draws harsh remarks from Lakers legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West

HBO's 'Winning Time' draws harsh remarks from Lakers legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West - Bolavip US

The long-awaited show about the Showtime <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/jalen-rose-explains-why-the-los-angeles-lakers-were-a-bad-fit-for-russell-westbrook--20220308-0010.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> is finally here. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/offside/hbo-house-of-dragon-when-is-the-release-date-for-the-games-of-thrones-spin-off-20220307-0026.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HBO’s</a> ‘Winning Time’ is supposed to be a huge hit even among non-<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/shaq-explains-why-ja-morant-is-the-best-player-in-the-nba-20220309-0009.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> watchers, featuring a star-studded cast and centered in one of the most iconic moments in sports history.
Nonetheless, as entertaining as the show may seem, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stated that they weren’t looking forward to it, leading some people to think that it may not be exactly accurate.
That seems to be the case early on its debut season, as NBA insider Marc Stein recently pointed out that its portrayal of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/jerry-wests-feud-with-the-los-angeles-lakers-intensifies-says-hell-never-forgive-them-20220204-0009.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers legend Jerry West</a>, his temper, and some of the anecdotes aren’texactly true.
<h2>Marc Stein Rips HBO’s ‘Winning Time’ Over Portrayal Of Jerry West</h2>
(Transcript via Marc Stein)
“Jerry West’s old office at The Fabulous Forum did not have windows to hurl objects through in anger. None of the Forum’s basketball offices did.
West also, to my knowledge, did not keep his 1969 NBA Finals MVP trophy in that office. That scene Sunday night when he supposedly chucked it through glass in frustration because the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Magic Johnson over Sidney Moncrief? Total fabrication.
I’m likewise told West never played golf in a foursome with eventual Lakers owner Jerry Buss and then-Lakers general manager Bill Sharman. Even if he had, I’m quite confident that West — ever the gentleman in public — never would have broken a golf club over his knee or storm away from a putt to engage in a curse-filled shouting match with the regal Sharman.”
 
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<h2>Critics Say The Show Isn’t Historically Accurate</h2>
Critics seemingly have the same opinion as Stein. Apparently, the show doesn’t exactly stick to the facts and, albeit entertaining to watch, doesn’t represent what truly happened during the Showtime era:
“Winning Time is a watchable show that doesn’t seem to have any other compelling reason to exist other than to be watched,” Cinema Blend reported. “Its tone is broadly comedic, but it’s not actually very funny; it’s a show about basketball that’s really a show about America, or capitalism, or guys who f*ck, or something. It’s a show about one of the most interesting subjects I can imagine that seems to fundamentally misunderstand what actually makes that subject interesting.”
West has opened up about how mistreated he’s felt by the Lakers over the past couple of years, so maybe this doesn’t exactly come as a surprise to him. Hopefully, his portrayal on the show won’t stain his nearly-unmatchedlegacy.

NBA insider slams HBO's 'Winning Time' and its portrayal of Jerry West

NBA insider slams HBO's 'Winning Time' and its portrayal of Jerry West - Bolavip US

You can’t write the history of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-knicks-could-try-and-trade-for-russell-westbrook-20220131-0011.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> without mentioning <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-or-kobe-bryant-lakers-legend-jerry-west-made-his-choice-20210910-0038.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jerry West</a> multiple times. Not only was he one of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/kevin-durant-and-the-highest-scoring-games-in-nba-playoffs-history-20210616-0007.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greatest players</a> in franchise history but he also served as a coach and executive during the organization’s most successful tenure.
One could argue that someone like West should have a privileged spot in the franchise until the day he leaves this Earth. However, it seems like ‘The Logo‘ is no longer welcome on the premises.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, the legendary shooting guard opened up on how poorly the organization has treated him since <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/jerry-west-goes-at-jeanie-buss-for-not-including-him-in-the-lakers-top-5-all-time-20210515-0003.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeanie Buss</a> took over, stating that he doesn’t even have a relationship with them anymore.
<h2>Jerry West Says He Has A Horrible Relationship With The Lakers</h2>
“One disappointing thing (about my career) is that my relationship with the Lakers is horrible,” West said. “I still don’t know why. And at the end of the day, when I look back, I say, ‘Well, maybe I should have played somewhere else instead of with the Lakers, where someone would have at least appreciated how much you give, how much you cared.’”
 
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<h2>The Lakers Stripped West’s Lifetime Season Tickets</h2>
West has had some run-offs with the team over the past couple of years. His son Ryan was dismissed from his scouting position allegedly because of his ties to his father, and they even stripped the lifetime season tickets Jerry Buss gave him:
“It was a cold phone text to my wife,” The Logo said. “No one had the nerve to call me, but that’s how petty they are, OK? And I love the Lakers, OK? I love to see them do well. It’s great for basketball. I’m proud of everything that happened when I was there. I’m proud of everything that happened when I wasn’t there — the positives.”
“But sometimes you feel like you’re discarded, like a piece of trash,” West added.”And there’s a couple of people over there — not Jeanie — but there’s a couple of people over there that, uh … I don’t get it. I don’t. … I always had a great relationship with Jeanie — at least I thought I did. I don’t know where it is now.”
<h2>West Says It’s Too Late To Make Amends</h2>
West was also offended when Jeanie Buss snubbed him from the Lakers’ all-time starting five, even choosing LeBron James ahead of him. Now, he feels like it’s just too late for reconciliation:
“No, it’s too late; it’s too late,” West concluded. “I don’t need to do that, OK? I really don’t need (it). It’s just (bothersome) how people change so much. And I don’t understand it, but it’s fine. It’s fine.”
It’s likely that will never know the details of what caused this rift. But legends deserve respect and Jerry West is one of the first people responsible for making the Lakers the world-class organization they’re nowadays.

Jerry West's feud with the Los Angeles Lakers intensifies, says he'll never forgive them

Jerry West's feud with the Los Angeles Lakers intensifies, says he'll never forgive them - Bolavip US

For decades, people have debated who the best player in <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> history is. Some claim it’s Bill Russell, some say it’s Michael Jordan. But most younger fans tend to lean towards either <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/kobe-bryant-t127173" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kobe Bryant</a> and <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/lebron-james-t92259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James.</a>
James and Bryant dominated the past couple of decades and, even though we never had the chance to watch them against each other in the NBA Finals, both had strong arguments to be considered the GOAT of their generation.
That’s why it was kind of surprising to seeLakers legend Jerry West of all people say that LeBron James was a far superior player to Kobe Bryant during an interview in 2011, stating that he’d rather start a franchise with The King.
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<h2>Lakers Legend Jerry West Chose LeBron James Over Kobe Bryant</h2>
“Well, to me, it’s a no-brainer, It’s LeBron James,” West said. “He plays like he’s the wildcard player. He plays four—he can play four positions if you ask him to do so. And his ability to get everyone involved in the game is just remarkable for someone his age. I also think that if you look at basketball today, it’s not always the big guys who win for you. It’s like, in the mid-inside guys. LeBron James is a big guy, I mean, he’s 6’8’’, 260, incredible skill… I don’t know if he’s the greatest athlete that I’ve ever seen play professional basketball.”
This comes as a bit of a surprise as West was the one who traded for Kobe back in 1996. Moreover, he was a mentor and a close friend of Kobe’s throughout his entire career in the Association.
 
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At the end of the day, they didn’t even play in the same position so maybe there’s no point in comparing them. In reality, you couldn’t go wrong with any of them if you wanted to start a franchise.

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LeBron James or Kobe Bryant? Lakers legend Jerry West made his choice

LeBron James or Kobe Bryant? Lakers legend Jerry West made his choice - Bolavip US

Last night, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/kevin-durant-t139314" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Durant </a>just gave us one of the most beautiful masterpieces in<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> NBA</a> playoff history, logging 49 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 4 three-pointers to lead the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/brooklyn-nets-t99901" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brooklyn Nets </a>to a huge win over the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/milwaukee-bucks-t100207" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milwaukee Bucks.</a>
According to some of his doubters, his legacy was on the line, so he responded with the best game of his career. Not only did he play all 48 minutes but he also got the first-ever 45+ point, 15+ rebound triple-double in playoffs history.
However, as impressive as his performance was, he didn’t even make the cut of the highest-scoring performances in NBA history last night, although he does have a 50-point game in the playoffs. That’s why today, we’re going to let you know who did crack the list, including former greats such as <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/michael-jordan-t85627" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Jordan</a> and Wilt Chamberlain.
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<h2>Highest Scoring Performances In NBA Playoff History</h2>
<h3>50 Points:</h3>
+ Jayson Tatum + Karl Malone + Dominique Wilkins + Damian Lillard + Dirk Nowitzki + Bob Cousy + Bob Pettit + Vince Carter + Kobe Bryant + Bob McAdoo + Billy Cunningham + Kevin Durant + Jamal Murray (x2) + Wilt Chamberlain (x2) + Michael Jordan (x2)

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<h3>51 Points:</h3>
+ Sam Jones + Ray Allen + Sleepy Floyd + Donovan Mitchell + Russell Westbrook + LeBron James

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<h3>52 Points:</h3>
+ Jerry West + Allen Iverson

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<h3>53 Points:</h3>
+ Wilt Chamberlain + Isaiah Thomas + Jerry West

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<h3>54 Points:</h3>
+ Allen Iverson + John Havlicek + Michael Jordan

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<h3>55 Points:</h3>
+ Damian Lillard + Rick Barry + Michael Jordan (x3)

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<h3>56 Points:</h3>
+ Charles Barkley + Wilt Chamberlain + Michael Jordan

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<h3>57 Points:</h3>
+ Donovan Mitchell

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<h3>61 Points:</h3>
+ Elgin Baylor

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<h3>63 Points:</h3>
+ Michael Jordan

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Kevin Durant and the highest scoring games in NBA playoffs history

Kevin Durant and the highest scoring games in NBA playoffs history - Bolavip US

The<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/los-angeles-lakers-t101482" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a> are the winningest franchise in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> history. With 17 titles, they’re tied with the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/boston-celtics-t101837" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Boston Celtics </a>at the top of that list, and no other franchise has ever won more than 10 trophies.
And, while it’s obvious that players like Kobe Byrant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Magic Johnson should get most of the credit for that success, you can’t talk about Lakers history without discussing Jerry West’s impact and legacy.
That’s why the legendary shooting guard was so offended when Lakers owner Jeanie Buss left him out of the top-5 best players in franchise history, going as far as to include <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/lebron-james-t92259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James</a> ahead of him:
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“You have start with Kareem. And Kobe. And LeBron… Magic might be number one. No, Kareem. I don’t know. It’s so hard. Does he (Phil Jackson) count as a Laker? Then Phil,” Buss said on All The Smoke.
<h2>Jerry West Claps Back At Jeanie Buss Over Top-5 Laker list</h2>
West was clearly disgusted by the fact that Buss chose a coach and a player that’s only been around for 3 years before him, who spent his entire playing career with the organization before also serving as an executive:
“I saw the other day Jeanie Buss made a statement, the five most important Lakers, one of the most offensive things I’ve ever heard in my life. I was there a lot of times, had a lot of success,” West told Peter Vescey on the Hoop Du Jour Podcast. “Be curious to know if they would have had that success if I hadn’t been there.”
“And I don’t ever take credit for stuff, I don’t. When I was around, maybe I was just a good luck charm. But I do know, that when this thing fell apart, there was a lot of years where they weren’t very good,” he added.

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Jerry West was such a big deal in the NBA that the league – unofficially – made him the logo. He’s the only player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP award despite being on the losing team, and he was the one who pulled the trigger to trade for Kobe Bryant.

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So, yeah, even if younger fans may not know much about him, he definitely deserves a privileged spot in Los Angeles Lakers history. Hopefully, Buss will at least give him a call to apologize.

Jerry West goes at Jeanie Buss for not including him in the Lakers’ top 5 all-time

Jerry West goes at Jeanie Buss for not including him in the Lakers’ top 5 all-time - Bolavip US

It seems like the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/los-angeles-clippers-t96054" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Clippers</a> just can’t catch a break. After completely melting down in the playoffs, now they’ve become the team everybody’s talking about in the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a>, but not for the best reasons.
Firstit was their chemistry. Then, it was about Doc Rivers, later it was all Paul George’s fault. Now, the story with the Clippers is that a man named Johnny Wilkes is suing Jerry West for $2.5 million thanks to his help in convincing Kawhi Leonard to sign with them.
The NBA even started an investigation about the matter, with the Clippers being fully cooperative, according to the reports. Now, however, Wilkes reached out to TMZ with a voice mail allegedly from Jerry West thanking him for helping him Kawhi and bashing the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/los-angeles-lakers-t101482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, who also tried to sign him last summer.

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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Jerry West “voicemail”
 Sounds like him, yes? <a href="https://t.co/cst7cyok4M">pic.twitter.com/cst7cyok4M</a>
 — John Ledesma (@JohnnyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnnyNBA/status/1339981005512466436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2020</a> </blockquote></div>
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<h2>TMZ Leaks Audio Of Jerry West Calling The Lakers Were A Sh*tshow</h2>
“Hey there, this is Jerry calling. I really want to thank you a lot for trying to help. I heard this morning that everyone over in the Lakers camp thinks they’re gonna get him. I just find it hard to believe that he would want to go to that sh*t show where he would not even be (…) wouldn’t even get his name in the paper and he wouldn’t be the face of the franchise that’s for sure,” said the message.
Kawhi Leonard said that he wasn’t convinced by anybody to join the Clippers nonetheless, while the franchise stated that the lawsuit is baseless and full of inaccuracies. Then again, that does sound like West’s voice.

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Whether West made that call or not is not for us to tell. At the end of the day, bashing your city rivals isn’t against the rules or the NBA’s CBA. Still, this isn’t the kind of attention the Clippers need right now, especially with the Lakers fresh off winning yet another title.