YouTube Gold: Jerry West’s Jump Shot Was A Marvel

Yahoo Sports16h ago2 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Jerry West, a legendary player for the Los Angeles Lakers, was known for his remarkable jump shot. His unique shooting style, characterized by a quick release and minimal follow-through, set him apart as an offensive artist in the NBA.

Key points

Jerry West played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was known for his quick release jump shot.
West's playing style led to numerous injuries.
He is considered one of the best GMs in NBA history.

Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks

INGLEWOOD, CA - 1971: Jerry West #44 of the Los Angeles Lakers takes the jump shot during an NBA game against the New York Knicks circa 1971 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Martin Mills/Getty Images) | Getty Images Before he became one the best two GMs in NBA history (along with Red Auerbach), Jerry West had a brilliant career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a lean 6-4 guard who punished his body constantly by driving to the lane against massive defenders. Do a search on his injuries sometime. His ankles and feet were constant victims, and there are photos of him playing with a mask over his broken nose. He was really tough. But his calling card was a beautiful jump shot. This video breaks his shot down in various ways, but the most interesting thing to us is his release. Today, most players extend their hand/wrist through the shot. You see photos of players with the ball on the way to the basket and what you usually see is the follow-through. A great example of this is Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot against Georgetown in 1982. He has an immaculate follow-through (scroll down just a bit). What you’ll notice in this video of West is that he doesn’t really have a follow-through. He flicks his shot. His goal is to release as quickly as possible, and it works. We’ve noticed in a lot of older videos that the players from the 1960s and 1970s tend to do this as well, so you have to think that at one point, shooting was taught this way. Whatever. It worked brilliantly for West, who remains an archetype of an offensive artist. * to find Blue Healer Auctions* || **

Q&A

What made Jerry West's jump shot unique compared to modern players?

Jerry West's jump shot was notable for its quick release and lack of a traditional follow-through, contrasting with the extended follow-through seen in many modern players.

How did Jerry West's playing style impact his career and injuries?

West's aggressive playing style, which involved driving to the basket against larger defenders, led to numerous injuries, particularly to his ankles and feet.

What is Jerry West's legacy in the NBA beyond his playing career?

Beyond his playing career, Jerry West is recognized as one of the best general managers in NBA history, contributing significantly to team success.

YouTube Gold: Jerry West’s Jump Shot Was A Marvel

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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