Jerry West Quotes
The 3-point line has changed the game so much. The day of the big man, unless you're extraordinary good, is not numbered, but certainly you gotta be a lot more versatile to play the game today. You gotta be able to really run up and down the court.
Jerry West
Quotes to Explore
The league is changing, and we don't have many back-to-the-basket players. We now have a game that requires skill and versatility. A lot of that is about being able to think. It makes all the difference in the world to have a player in there with a high basketball IQ who can make the right decision.
Jerry West
Some guys lay their fannies out there every night - they play the game at such a high level, and they give so much that, frankly, they don't get credit for it. And I think it's tragic sometimes.
Jerry West
The advent of so much dribbling has created a different kind of player, and it starts at a very early age. We have so many gifted ball handlers. Everything is pick-and-roll. Unless he's a catch-and-shoot guy, a player is going to put it on the floor and attack. Kevin Durant is a wonderful ball handler.
Jerry West
I've always been someone who has been very driven. I think my circumstances, how I grew up, hard work and work ethic are absolutely vital to any success that people might have, regardless of what they might be doing.
Jerry West
Fear of failure, it's the greatest motivational tool. It drives me and drives me and drives me.
Jerry West
We talk about players of yesteryear, guys who could play or couldn't play, and I think it's ridiculous to try to even compare people... The things that you can do in basketball today that you couldn't even do then... you can carry the ball; you walk all over the place.
Jerry West
Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.
Jerry West
I think, at the end of the day, when you hear the same voice all the time, it goes in one ear and out the other when you're a player.
Jerry West
I hate to say it's not a Laker but Michael Jordan. He's been the greatest player I've ever seen. And I'm probably a harsh judge of talent in the sense that I admire players that are really good defensive players and really good offensive players.
Jerry West
I like to keep people guessing.
Jerry West
Even though I felt, at times, 'My goodness, you're among the upper echelon,' there is still a huge void there. A huge void. It is about self-esteem. That's a thing that has always been a real complex part of my life.
Jerry West
Kevin Garnett was a great player, but he wasn't Kobe Bryant.
Jerry West
Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't.
Jerry West
Everyone always says you have to be on the best team, the team that wins. Oh, no, no, no. I disagree with that.
Jerry West
There's always two or three players I like, and why I like them, I can't tell you. There's just something about them I think would be great on a team.
Jerry West
You have to win games by scoring points, of course, so that's important. But when you're having nights against a good defensive team, you have to win in a different manner. You have to win a defensive-type game.
Jerry West
For some reason, I always wanted to work in an environment where things weren't so good. I'm no messiah, but I always wanted to try and make a difference where a team hadn't prospered.
Jerry West
A lot of people would be happy that they got through a long career and had a chance to play as many times in the finals. To me, I wanted to win for the franchise and for the people. And when you can't do that, it's devastating, particularly for someone like me.
Jerry West
