55 Years Ago Today: Jerry West Sinks 60-foot Shot to Send Game 3 of NBA Finals Into Overtime

Photos: Cover photo: Jerry West during his executive career in 2015. Photo credit Stephen Dunn, 2015 Getty Images.

2) Los Angeles Laker guard Jerry West shoots over Dean Meminger of the New York Knicks. Photo credit Getty Images, NBAE.

The legendary Jerry West was known and is known for many things pertaining to his NBA career. First off, his silhouette is the league’s logo. He is the only player to win NBA Finals MVP from the losing team (1969; 53 points in Game 1, 40 points in Game 4, 39 in Game 5, 42 in Game 7). For that series, he averaged 37.9 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 49%. He possessed one of the quickest and most effective pull-up jump shots in league history. 

The season after his Finals MVP, the Lakers made the Finals again, this time losing to the New York Knicks in 7 games. For that series, West averaged 31.3 points and 7.7 assists on 45% shooting. In Game 3 of that series, he created one of his signature moments, on April 29, 1970. 

After Knick guard Walt Frazier found big man Dave DeBusschere at the free-throw line for a jump shot that gave the Knicks a two-point lead with three seconds remaining, Wilt Chamberlain inbounded to West. West, knowing the urgency, took three dribbles to the middle of the floor and lofted what appeared nothing more than a desperation attempt that would fall short or off target, as most attempts that are similar do.

West’s heave though, from 60-feet, hit nothing but net. 

“Two seconds, one second, West! Throws it up!….he makes it! West threw it up and makes it!” announced play-by-play commentator Chris Schenkel. 

The shot tied the game at 102, with the Knicks prevailing in overtime 111-108. For the game, West scored 34 points, second to Willis Reed’s 38. West also dished out 9 assists, playing 53 minutes. Chamberlain also played 53 minutes. 

West would get his title in 1972, leading a Laker team that won 69 games. In the ‘72 Finals, he averaged 19.8 points, 8.8 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. During that ‘71-‘72 season, West averaged 25.8 points with 9.7 assists (1st in the NBA), shooting 47.7% from the field. Backcourt mate Gail Goodrich averaged 25.9 points that season. 

West played 31 games in his final season of 1973-74, dealing with lower leg injuries that had affected him later in his career (in the ‘69 Finals, he played through a torn hamstring). West “couldn’t take what was going there anymore”, he told journalist Graham Besinger in 2015, alluding to the environment around the Laker organization. A poor relationship with Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke played a major role in West leaving the game. He went on to enjoy a successful executive career with the Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Golden State Warriors. He passed away in June 2024 at age 86. 

West was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and was named to the 35th, 50th, and 75th anniversary teams. 

One of the greatest players, let alone guards, to ever play the game. A supreme competitor. 

A special player with a special career moment on this date.