Where would Jerry West be on the list with a 3 point line?

rzzzzz · Post #1 » by **rzzzzz** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 12:17 pm

I remember a couple of game 7s where the Lakers came up just a little short while Jerry was tossing them in from way downtown. What would a chunk more of points and a couple more rings have done for his rep?

Heej · Post #2 » by **Heej** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 12:24 pm

He'd be ranked higher than Kobe

chilluminati · Post #3 » by **chilluminati** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 12:25 pm

I'm sure it would have emboldened his greatness during his era, maybe a few more titles?

Outside of West it changes basketball as a whole quite a bit. It would have made comparing eras easier due to taking more changed variables out of the picture. if the 3pt line started earlier, it would have progressed basketball to it's current state much faster, potentially changing all possible timelines of NBA history.

AbeVigodaLive · Post #4 » by **AbeVigodaLive** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 12:51 pm

Where would Wilt Chamberlain be with a three point line?

In his autobiography, Wilt Chamberlain claimed he beat Jerry West in long-range shooting contests EVERY time. Yes... Wilt was a 45% free throw shooter at the time... but why would he lie?*

* Wilt always lied. His autobiography is a wonderful read full of crazy talk from him like when he had a reverse dunk from the top of the key in college... in a game.

dlts20 · Post #5 » by **dlts20** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 1:06 pm

I would still have Wade's peak as the 2nd greatest sg ever

rzzzzz · Post #6 » by **rzzzzz** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 2:33 pm

dlts20 wrote:I would still have Wade's peak as the 2nd greatest sg ever

Wade was a warrior. There’s no doubt about that.

CharityStripe34 · Post #7 » by **CharityStripe34** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 2:35 pm

West would've benefitted quite a bit. Super versatile scorer, great defender and long-distance shooter. He'd be an awesome "big" 6'5" SG.

70sFan · Post #8 » by **70sFan** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 5:07 pm

West is top 15 player ever as it is. He didn't need the three point line to succeed, which shows how special he was.

Fencer reregistered · Post #9 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 5:15 pm

He might well be over Robertson as the #2 PG.

(And yes. West was a PG. Cousy called him a PG. West was usually the Lakers' top assist man. Etc.)

NZB2323 · Post #10 » by **NZB2323** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 5:28 pm

Pretty damn high. In the 1965 playoffs West averaged 41 points on 57.2 TS% as he carried his team to the Finals. Also, if there was more 3 point shooting there would be more room for West to do his logo drive to the basket. If his team was able to get a stretch 5 they could move Bill Russell away from protecting the rim, like teams do to Rudy Gobert.

But he’s top 15 even without it. I don’t know if he’d move to top 12, top 10, or top 5, but it would definitely help him.

Joao Saraiva · Post #11 » by **Joao Saraiva** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 5:41 pm

Maybe higher... maybe lower... who knows? Teams would also view that as more of a threat, and maybe defend it more agressively.

What we can say is that if people judge players from previous eras with suspicion they should consider West high in the ranks cause his game was waaay ahead his time.

lonzo_pelota · Post #12 » by **lonzo_pelota** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 7:15 pm

Never forget, Dwight howard shot 53% from 3 this season, if only he had not waited 17seasons to work on his shooting prowess.

Jerry is very much still alive, someone email him and just ask him.

Post #13 » by **HomoSapien** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 7:42 pm

lonzo_pelota wrote:Jerry is very much still alive, someone email him and just ask him.

Obligatory:

Watch on YouTube

Post #14 » by **HomoSapien** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 7:42 pm

lonzo_pelota wrote:Jerry is very much still alive, someone email him and just ask him.

Obligatory:

Watch on YouTube

Post #15 » by **HomoSapien** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 7:42 pm

lonzo_pelota wrote:Jerry is very much still alive, someone email him and just ask him.

Obligatory:

Watch on YouTube

Post #16 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 7:46 pm

lonzo_pelota wrote:Never forget, Dwight howard shot 53% from 3 this season, if only he had not waited 17seasons to work on his shooting prowess.

LOL

Gotta love that 8/15 season.

Johnny Tomala · Post #17 » by **Johnny Tomala** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 10:08 pm

dlts20 wrote:I would still have Wade's peak as the 2nd greatest sg ever

West was PG.

Curmudgeon · Post #18 » by **Curmudgeon** » Fri Jun 3, 2022 10:37 pm

Where would Sam Jones have been on the list? How about Tom Gola?

lonzo_pelota · Post #19 » by **lonzo_pelota** » Sat Jun 4, 2022 3:34 am

tsherkin wrote:
lonzo_pelota wrote:Never forget, Dwight howard shot 53% from 3 this season, if only he had not waited 17seasons to work on his shooting prowess.

LOL

Gotta love that 8/15 season.

even vegas didnt see that coming

Post #20 » by **og15** » Sat Jun 4, 2022 4:42 am

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Where would Wilt Chamberlain be with a three point line?

In his autobiography, Wilt Chamberlain claimed he beat Jerry West in long-range shooting contests EVERY time. Yes... Wilt was a 45% free throw shooter at the time... but why would he lie?*

* Wilt always lied. His autobiography is a wonderful read full of crazy talk from him like when he had a reverse dunk from the top of the key in college... in a game.

Wilt didn't lie, he just stretched the truth and added a little color and flavor to it.