RIP to the great Wes Unseld

[-Sammy-]

A hardwood legend has left us at the age of 74.



His career came and went before a lot of us were around, but he's a true all-timer: an NBA champion (and Finals MVP), one of only two rookies ever to win the RS MVP, and a hall-of-famer. He spent his entire career with Washington and is universally regarded as the franchise's all-time greatest player-- #1 with a bullet. He also spent 15 years with the franchise following his retirement, serving variously as the VP and the GM and serving seven seasons as the head coach.

Known for his defense, bone-crushing picks, and outlet passes off rebounds, he was sometimes compared to Bill Russell, and his whatever-it-takes approach helped him excel at a position he was undersized for and set a template that would find similarities in later greats such as Charles Barkley, Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Ben Wallace, and Kevin Love.

Some reading and viewing for those so inclined:

Hall-Of-Famer Wes Unseld Passes Away

NBA.com Legends profile

BBRef page

From 1968 to 1969, the Baltimore Bullets went from worst to first

Watch on YouTube

Rest easy, Wide U; thanks for the memories.

[KokoKaizer]

RIP Wes !

He was a great player !

[Frank Dux]

League MVP as a rookie. What an unbelievable accomplishment.

[Hellcrooner]

Rip.
one true unselfish, team first, blue collar loyal STAR.

Of course some dude born in 1998 is probaby thinking he should be removed from the hof.

[Drygon]

League MVP as a rookie. What an unbelievable accomplishment.

Eh, Wes Unseld is maybe the worst MVP Winner in NBA history

Go to 11:50 minute mark, Wilson Sy described it well about that

Watch on YouTube

[Message Boar]

RIP Wes Unseld, one of the best rebounders ever.

[-Sammy-]

League MVP as a rookie. What an unbelievable accomplishment.

Eh, Wes Unseld is the worst MVP Winner in NBA history

I disagree; that dishonor goes to either Steve Nash or Derrick Rose-- two of only three MVPs to never see the Finals; Unseld has a ring and a Finals MVP.

But understand that even if he is the worst MVP, he's still better than the majority of players in league history.

[Drygon]

Wilson Sy had Wes Unseld as No.1 for the most undeserving MVP winner

Reed was utterly robbed. Go to 8:10 minute mark

Watch on YouTube

[-Sammy-]

Wilson Sy had Wes Unseld as No.1 for the most undeserving MVP winner

Reed was utterly robbed. Go to 8:10 minute mark

Watch on YouTube

That's a fair take, but let's maybe table such discussion for another time. This thread should focus on the positive aspects of Unseld's legacy.

[montestewart]

Thanks for this Sammy.

Wes was the single most important reason I became a basketball fan and a Bullets fan. When I was younger, I played center when we were all about the same size and I was just thicker. I modeled my game after his game, setting picks, controlling the paint, muscling for rebounds. I rarely play anymore, but when I do, I still play the same way.

Wes was not Wilt, Clyde, Doctor J. There was nothing flashy or spectacular about him, on or off the court. He was a model for the less gifted among us, that with hard work and smart team play, there was a place for all kinds of players in this game. His game has a lot to do with why I like other fundamental and/or lunch bucket teams like the Spurs, 80s Celtics, both versions of the Pistons championship teams, and others.

The mutual friendship and loyalty between Wes Unseld and Bullets owner Abe Pollin was not really helpful to the team, but the faith Pollin kept placing in Unseld as coach and general manager was itself a testament to his character and willingness to serve his team.

Even after he no longer served any formal function with the team, he remained connected. At games, he would hobble out on his horrible knees and sit in a folding chair just below the section I sat in.

The only thing I have to compare to this is the deaths of Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, but they were not hometown heroes.

Wes Unseld was my hometown hero. Longtime Bullets fans will miss him greatly.

Edit to add: I am reminded that Willie Mays AND Hank Aaron are still with us, for which I am glad. Sorry Willie and Hank, stick around.

[KokoKaizer]

Thanks for this Sammy.

Wes was the single most important reason I became a basketball fan and a Bullets fan. When I was younger, I played center when we were all about the same size and I was just thicker. I modeled my game after his game, setting picks, controlling the paint, muscling for rebounds. I rarely play anymore, but when I do, I still play the same way.

Wes was not Wilt, Clyde, Doctor J. There was nothing flashy or spectacular about him, on or off the court. He was a model for the less gifted among us, that with hard work and smart team play, there was a place for all kinds of players in this game. His game has a lot to do with why I like other fundamental and/or lunch bucket teams like the Spurs, 80s Celtics, both versions of the Pistons championship teams, and others.

The mutual friendship and loyalty between Wes Unseld and Bullets owner Abe Pollin was not really helpful to the team, but the faith Pollin kept placing in Unseld as coach and general manager was itself a testament to his character and willingness to serve his team.

Even after he no longer served any formal function with the team, he remained connected. At games, he would hobble out on his horrible knees and sit in a folding chair just below the section I sat in.

The only thing I have to compare to this is the deaths of Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, but they were not hometown heroes.

Wes Unseld was my hometown hero. Longtime Bullets fans will miss him greatly.

Great post here.

[montestewart]

Re the “undeserving” MVP discussion, I think some people are too attached to numerical analysis of what makes an MVP. I like The Bill James analysis that there is no single determining factor; stats, team success, improvement in team, perceived value to the team, perceived value among opponents and the press, playing above one’s own level, even likability, are among factors that may contribute to a player becoming MVP.

I can easily see Unseld not having gotten the MVP, but most of these retrospective analyses generally ignore such extraneous factors in favor of a pure statistical approach. I know Red Auerbach loved Unseld’s game.

[xdrta+]

The only thing I have to compare to this is the deaths of Willie Mays...

Not yet. Willie turned 89 last month.

[montestewart]

The only thing I have to compare to this is the deaths of Willie Mays...

Not yet. Willie turned 89 last month.

My bad, those three are my sports hero triumvirate, and I’m not thinking straight today. Thanks for correction

[FAH1223]

Re the “undeserving” MVP discussion, I think some people are too attached to numerical analysis of what makes an MVP. I like The Bill James analysis that there is no single determining factor; stats, team success, improvement in team, perceived value to the team, perceived value among opponents and the press, playing above one’s own level, even likability, are among factors that may contribute to a player becoming MVP.

I can easily see Unseld not having gotten the MVP, but most of these retrospective analyses generally ignore such extraneous factors in favor of a pure statistical approach. I know Red Auerbach loved Unseld’s game.

I think the biggest thing is Unseld was the soul of the Bullets from Day 1 and transformed the franchise immediately.

Once he retired, the glory era was gone and the franchise attempted to fill in the gap by signing stars past their prime to still compete for the postseason rather than build for another championship.

One of the GOATs! My dad came to the US as a teenager and told me about those NBA Finals series he watched between the Sonics and Bullets.

[The Box Office]

RIP Wes Unseld. He has a name that will never be duplicated.

[FAH1223]

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[RoundMoundOfRebound]

RIP Wes Unseld

[xdrta+]

The only thing I have to compare to this is the deaths of Willie Mays...

Not yet. Willie turned 89 last month.

My bad, those three are my sports hero triumvirate, and I’m not thinking straight today. Thanks for correction

Unseld was a force. As a Warrior fan I was at the Finals in 1975 (on a $6 ticket) and Unseld worried me more than Hayes or any others. He was unstoppable on the boards and going to the basket.

[Ruzious]

So lucky to have grown up with Wes Unseld and Lew Alcindor as my favorite players - the toughest player ever and perhaps the most talented player ever. Unseld used to practice his outlet passes by throwing full court passes off the backboard. His knees were shot in his last few seasons, but he played through the pain game in and game out - never cracking a smile. He refused to let Abe Pollin or his teammates down. Hopefully, he's cracking smile after smile now.