Mr. Clutch, Jerry West, pushed Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals into overtime when he hit a 60-foot desperation shot at the buzzer. He scored two points (the three-point line had not yet been instated) and tied the game at 102. Despite this buzzer-beating performance, West missed all five of his shot attempts in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers lost 11-108 to the New York Knicks. record for the highest points per game average in a playoff series with 46.3. He was named to the NBA All-Star Team 14 times and was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996. In addition to his time with the Lakers, West was also the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team which won gold and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He was inducted into the hall of fame for his individual career in 1980. After his retirement, West became head coach of the Lakers and led the team to three consecutive playoffs and won NBA Executive of the Year twice (1995, 2004). He is currently an executive board member for the Los Angeles Clippers. His silhouette was later immortalized in the NBA logo.
Today in Sports History: April 29
LOS ANGELES, CA - 1987: Jerry West, General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, sits at his desk circa 1987 at The Forum in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1987 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)