30 best shots in NBA Playoffs history
By John Buhler
12. Jerry West hits the longest two of all-time versus New York Knicks: 1970 NBA Finals, Game 3
To be the logo of a professional sports league, you had to have been tremendous during your professional career. Jerry West is the logo for the NBA as the superstar shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1960s and 1970s.
West may have only won one NBA Championship in 1972, but his greatest moment on the hardwood came in Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals versus the New York Knicks. New York forward Dave DeBusschere hit made a jumper to give the Knicks a two-point lead with three seconds left in the game.
Down 102-100 and no timeouts left, West took the in-bounds pass from Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain and started to push the ball up the court. Roughly 60 feet away from the basket, West would throw up a prayer. It was answered as West hit his signature basket to force overtime.
New York would go on to win the game due to West spraining his ankle in that overtime period. Just getting there was an unbelievable feat for the Lakers. Had three-pointers been part of the game at that time, Los Angeles would have won the game and possibly the best-of-seven series.
New York would win the pivotal Game 7 in the famous Willis Reed Game. Two years later would West finally be an NBA Champion. The Lakers would defeat the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the 1972 NBA Finals.