A true figure in the NBA of the 1960s and early 1970s, Jerry West was renowned for his ability to raise his level of play in the most important moments. The proof, he was nicknamed “Mister Clutch”, and the NBA created a trophy in his name in 2023 to reward the most clutch player in the League. Jerry West has never lived up to his reputation more than during Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals. Flashback.
That year, the Lakers faced the New York Knicks for the supreme title. Jerry West is finally hoping to win his first championship ring, having lost six times in the NBA Finals so far, including once against the Celtics in 1969 when he was elected MVP of the series… in defeat.
West is then at the top of his game. He remains on what is probably his best career season, with more than 31 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists on average. Second in the MVP race, elected to both the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team, Jerry has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. His All-Star teammate Elgin Baylor is starting to age while the monster Wilt Chamberlain – injured and not at 100% – is no longer as dominant as in his best years.
West must therefore multiply against the Knicks. He scored 33 points in Game 1, 34 in Game 2 in an offensive leadership role. The series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 in Los Angeles. We know to what extent this kind of meeting can represent a turning point in a series, even more so in the NBA Finals.
Led by Jerry, the Lakers dominated the first half but the Knicks reacted in the second. The 14 point lead that Los Angeles had at the break went up in smoke. Worse, in the final moments of the match, New York went ahead 102-100 on a shot by Dave DeBusschere near the free throw line. With only three seconds left, the Lakers seem doomed, especially since they no longer have a timeout. Bottom line: it would take a miracle for Los Angeles to survive in this game.
That’s good, Jerry West is a miracle worker.
RIP Jerry West
Here are the TOP 5 Jerry West moments of ALL TIME
1. Buzzer-beater in Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals: Legendary 60-foot shot to tie the game at the buzzer ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/KBPdcrlEAV
— Daily Athlete (@idailyathlete) https://twitter.com/idailyathlete/status/1800888919476809865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Jerry West receives the ball from Wilt Chamberlain before sending up a prayer of his own half. This bomb, with a range of 18 meters, ends its trajectory in the basket, thus blowing up the Inglewood Forum.
“HEY MAKES IT! HEY MAKES IT! OVER HALF-COURT!”
If Jerry had planted this shot ten years later, he would have given the Lakers victory. But as the 3-point line was not introduced until 1979 in the NBA, this miraculous shot was only worth two points, and the two teams thus found themselves tied before playing overtime. But no matter what happens behind it, this is already one of the greatest moments in NBA Finals history.
“After my basket, I turned around and sprinted back to my side, aiming to avoid a long pass. I was under the basket when he shot from his own half, and ‘BOOM’ it went in. I fell on my ass.” – Dave DeBusschere, Knicks player
Never really attracted to the spotlight and not liking to put the spotlight on himself, Jerry West would simply explain years later: “I was given the ball, I shot from one end of the field to the other, and it turns out the shot went in.” As if it were an ordinary action, an action like any other.
The overtime scenario perhaps explains why Jerry never wanted to dwell on this incredible shot. Because during the extra period, West will not be able to make an impact, mainly due to a hand injury. It was the Knicks who ended up winning by three small points, to achieve a victory which served as a turning point in this final which was won 4-3 by New York.
This shot is perhaps the shot that best symbolizes Jerry West’s career.
Jerry West’s career is that of a genius of the game who sublimated his basketball in the greatest moments. But his career was also marked by enormous disappointments, notably in the NBA Finals. Despite all his greatness, despite the clutchitude that characterized him, despite his incredible individual performances, Jerry often cried over disappointments. This Game 3 against the Knicks, and more generally these 1970 NBA Finals, clearly represents one of the greatest of his career.
Jerry West will console himself in 1972 with his first and only NBA title. But paradoxically, his greatest moment in his career was this miraculous shot… in defeat.
