This halftime show for Game 6 of the 1987 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers verses the Boston Celtics features CBS’ Brent Musburger’s interview with two NBA legends of the game in Oscar Robertson and Jerry West……as they analyze the 1st half of play…..and then provide thoughts on what needs to be done in the 2nd half to win the game.
Oscar Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed “The Big O”….is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks…..as the 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), 205 lb (93 kg) point guard was a 12-time All-Star….11-time member of the All-NBA Team….and one-time winner of the MVP award in 14 professional seasons. In 1962, he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. In the 1970–71 NBA season, he was a key player on the team that brought the Bucks their only NBA title.
The Big O is a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee….having been inducted in 1980 for his individual career….and in 2010 as a member of the 1960 United States men’s Olympic basketball team and president of the National Basketball Players Association. He also was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. The United States Basketball Writers Association renamed their College Player of the Year Award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor in 1998….and he was one of five people chosen to represent the inaugural National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2006. He was ranked as the 36th best American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN.
Jerry West (born May 28, 1938) is an American basketball executive and former player….who played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His nicknames included Mr. Clutch….for his ability to make a big play in a clutch situation, such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks….with another of his other notable nickname being The Logo, which is in reference to his silhouette being incorporated into the NBA logo…..plus many called him Mr. Outside, in reference to his perimeter play with the Los Angeles Lakers….along with Zeke from Cabin Creek, for the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia.
West played the small forward position early in his career….as he was a standout at East Bank High School and at West Virginia University….where he led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game…..while earning the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honor despite the loss. He then embarked on a 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers….and was the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team….a squad that was inducted as a unit into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
West’s NBA career was highly successful…..while playing the guard position….where he was voted 12 times into the All-NBA 1st and 2nd Teams….was elected into the NBA All-Star Team 14 times….and was chosen as the All-Star MVP in 1972….which was the same year that he won the only NBA title of his career.
West still holds the NBA record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. He was also a member of the first five NBA All-Defensive Teams with one 2nd team, followed by four 1st teams….which were introduced into the league when he was 32 years old…..and while having played in nine NBA Finals….he is also the only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team (1969). West was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996.
We at ImaSportsphile are delighted to have this video with two of the greatest basketball players to ever take the court talking “hoops” with legendary sportscaster Brent Musburger….as we consider this clip to be another “nugget of gold” in our treasure chest of vintage memories.
