Top Five Shooting Guards in NBA History
Best Shooting Guards in NBA History: Number 4
Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers (1960 – 1974)
Jerry West was the first superstar to emerge from the shooting guard position in NBA History. Previously, centers such as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, and point guards such as Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson, had dominated the NBA’s individual accolades. All of that changed with West’s arrival in Los Angeles during the summer of 1960.
West was quickly dubbed “Mr. Clutch” due to his knack for connecting on timely jump shots late in the game. Unfortunately, his pairing with star forward Elgin Baylor was not enough to get him past the pesky Boston Celtics. West and the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Celtics in the NBA Finals six times during the 1960s.
In 1968, the Lakers acquired superstar center Wilt Chamberlain and an NBA title seemed inevitable. However, the team would go on to lose the championship round to the Boston Celtics in 1969 and the New York Knicks in 1970. Finally, in 1972, the team finally overcame their past and won the NBA championship.
West was named an All-Star every year of his career, and retired with an average of 27 points per game. Having played in an era before the introduction of the 3-point line, one can only imagine how good West would have been in a time when outside shooting is as valuable as it is today. Regardless of the era he played in, Mr. Clutch is one of the best shooting guards to grace fans with his presence on the hardwood.