Jerry West selected two teams he’d like to see play in a “dream game”.
Jerry West is one of the NBA’s greatest players. He’s iconically known to be the logo of the NBA, and his nickname was Mr. Clutch.
West knows a thing about talent, as he’s also had a successful career as an executive. So, when West picked players for his “dream game” we decided to take a look at which team would win.
In West’s memoir, West by West, the Logo named his dream game, separating star players into two teams: the Eastern team and the Western team.
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On the East, West chose Kobe Bryant, Julius Erving, Dwyane Wade, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Tim Duncan, Dennis Rodman, Steve Nash, and Charles Barkley. West even selected their coaches: Red Auerbach and his assistant, Phil Jackson.
For the West, the Logo chose Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor, LeBron James, Rick Barry, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, John Stockton, and West picked himself. As for the coaches, West chose Pat Riley and Gregg Popovich as his assistant.
These two teams would be powerhouses in the league. It is odd that West chose Michael Jordan on the West squad when MJ played his entire career in the East. Nonetheless, each of these teams would go 82-0 in the NBA unless they ran up against each other.
East Advantages
For the East team, their strengths would be on the inside. With Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain playing on the same side, it would be hard to score for any team. The East also has Tim Duncan, Charles Barkley, and Dennis Rodman, so it would be tough for the West to grab a rebound. This would give the East a great chance at winning.
Finally, the East has the advantage in the coaching department. Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson are the two greatest coaches in NBA history; there’s no debating that. If any coaching staff can have their team ready to play, it’s this one. But is their roster enough to handle the West?
West Advantages
The West might not be as strong on the inside as the East, but they are superior in every other facet. With Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and John Stockton, the West will pick apart the East’s perimeter defense.
Then, when you factor in Michael Jordan playing alongside Rick Barry, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon, this team looks unstoppable. Even with the power inside from the East, the West can hold their own with Shaq and Kareem.
If these two big men can keep Russell and Chamberlain busy, it will open up shots for Jordan to take over. This is a receipt for winning.
Who Would Win In West’s Dream Game?
The game would likely be close as the two teams showcase an enormous amount of talent. If we had to pick one winner, we’d have to go with the West team.
The reason for this is many, actually. For one, the West team has both Michael Jordan and LeBron James, which are the two top players mentioned in the GOAT debate.
The West squad also has Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is usually mentioned as the third-best player of all time. To top it all off, West chose to put himself on the West team. So, if West believes one team is superior, it’s likely he’d choose the team he’s playing on.
These two teams would be incredible to watch, and they’d give fans the best basketball we’ve ever seen. Still, if they played each other, one team would come out on top, and it would be the West.
Jerry West understands what talent is, and it’s no accident that Jordan and LeBron were picked on the same team West placed himself on. The East would win the series, which would likely go seven games.
In this dream matchup, West probably envisions the game going down to the last procession and West getting the ball for the last shot.
If this happened, West would make the shot to win the game and the series.
There’s a reason why West was nicknamed Mr. Clutch. Sadly, we’d never get a chance to see this game occur, but that’s what dreams are for, and this was Jerry West’s dream game.
