Jerry West reveals that Kobe Bryant needed to play for the Grizzlies on “Podcast P with Paul George”.

We share highlights from this week’s episode of “Podcast P with Paul George”, offered by Wave Sports activities + Leisure, that includes an NBA legend each as a participant and an govt, the silhouette of the NBA brand, Jerry West.

On this week’s episode, Lakers Legend Jerry West sits down with PG and the fellows to share perception on why he selected to not be the primary million-dollar participant within the NBA.

West later talks about his particular relationship with the late Kobe Bryant, together with Kobe’s want to be on the Grizzlies and why Jerry discouraged him.

Later within the episode, the fellows give their opinions on Scottie Pippen’s feedback about Michael Jordan and who Jerry West shares who he would choose to be on the NBA brand if redesigned.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[3:26] JERRY WEST SAYS THE GAME IS SOFT NOW

“Um, [the three point line] makes [the game], I feel a tougher sport to teach. It emphasizes a special sort of participant. I feel crowds should get used to it. There’s some nights I am going and it is onerous for me to observe. On this sense, I would quite see any person make a wonderful move, go in and lay it up as an alternative of 4 on one, some man runs behind the three level line and shoots a 3. The sport is smooth that means as we speak. I do not prefer it. I do not suppose it makes for fairly basketball. And I feel, until you have got a fantastic, nice workforce late within the sport, you are gonna lose video games, you take factors off the board.”

[27:06] JERRY WEST ON HIS ABUSIVE FATHER

“I did not develop up the way in which I needed to develop up. Okay. All of our life, we’re subjected to our mother and father, they’re subjected to us. And I had a father who was very abusive towards me. Very. I had no inspiration however I used to be solitary. I used to be a solitary individual. And even once I was in highschool, I used to be receiving affords once I was a senior at East Financial institution Excessive Faculty, a tiny little faculty. I used to be receiving affords from the West Coast workforce. That by no means occurred to him, Paul, by no means. I used to be bashful… I am nonetheless bashful. And a variety of that has to do with what I noticed as a child that should not occur to any child. Interval. I do not suppose my father ever noticed me play a sport. I did not need him to see me play a sport. I didn’t need him to do it. But when I had an inspiration, it in all probability was my brother David who was killed in Korea within the Korean Struggle once I was what? 13? I used to be a scrawny little child and it was a life altering second for me. Life altering. I acquired much more quiet. I imply I might hardly converse to anybody, … the whole lot was sure or no, sir. Thanks, please. Just about the identical as we speak. I really like folks. I do not care who the hell you’re.”

[32:22] JERRY WEST ON LOSING HIS BROTHER, STRUGGLING WITH SELF-WORTH

“I went to Korea the place my brother was killed, the place he truly acquired killed. He by no means noticed me play, by no means noticed me play. He was deeply non secular… The day he acquired killed, modified my life perpetually. You thought I used to be quiet earlier than? I used to be actually quiet afterwards. And to enter– it was like comatose. I stated to myself, my God who’s, who’s gonna pay any consideration to me… The ironic factor for me and the way I modified is that once I was little, nobody needed me. Nobody, nobody. Once I was going to highschool my first couple of years, nobody needed me. After that, everybody needed me. And I am saying to myself, what distinction was in me when nobody needed me as a result of I had a ability that individuals needed to be round. I used to be livid. What was my self price? Did I’ve any self-worth? And I feel if we get judged by what folks say about us. And notably as we speak due to you guys who get a lot publicity. I used to like when folks have been writing nasty issues about me they usually have been very uncommon. OK, very uncommon. I used to find it irresistible, why they recognized who they are surely no matter, I might discuss to him as a press and also you guys, I assume are compelled to do this…I truly really feel sorry for my youngsters that they should put up with Jerry West being the brand. With Jerry West, , being [a] pretty massive a part of the NBA throughout my profession. I really feel sorry for them as a result of the expectation degree for them is to be like me, you may’t be like me as a result of primary, fully completely different. I am fully completely different than folks would ever know. And it is gonna keep that means.”

[41:54] JERRY WEST COULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST MILLION DOLLAR PLAYER, WHY HE TURNED IT DOWN

JW: “So I performed the primary 28 video games [that] season and I tore a groin and it was actually tough then. It was extra like a soccer damage…. And since the proprietor stated I did it on objective [and that] II did not need to play. [He] would not say it to me. He stated to his pals and other people, ‘I can not consider he would do that to me.’ So the following yr it is time for a coaching camp and he known as me in they usually made me a suggestion. I might have been the primary million greenback participant. The primary. What was my response? Hell, no, I am not taking part in. I am not taking part in.”

PG: “So it wasn’t concerning the cash for you?”

JW: “No, it was private. Do not mislead me. Simply inform me the reality.”

[51:21] JERRY WEST ON THE TWO MOST DISAPPOINTING TIMES IN HIS CAREER

JW: “Essentially the most disappointing factor ever [was] that I did not win probably the most worthwhile participant award we performed on the West Coast. Nobody noticed us play. Will Chamberlain, Elton Baylor missed virtually the entire season one time. I imply tons of video games. And I had the best season I’ve ever had, in each side, I had the best season.”

PG: “Was this 1972?”

JW: “[19]69 perhaps [19]69. It was like the sport was really easy mentally for me to play. I knew no matter you are gonna do. I would be ready on you. However it’s a present, it is a reward. And that in all probability for me was in all probability some of the disappointing instances. The opposite one that also bothers me to this present day is all of the instances, within the NBA finals and [I] solely win as soon as. That was like, I needed to give up once I was 28 years outdated, I did not need to play anymore. It was torture. I felt I let town and other people within the metropolis down and but each time I look, I performed higher within the playoffs and I did within the common season.”

[1:04:045] KOBE BRYANT WANTED TO PLAY IN MEMPHIS

“He grew to become a free agent. Okay? And he known as me and his agent then was Rob Pelinka. And so I met them in Orange County in a resort room and he stated he needed to return to Memphis and play basketball. And I checked out him, I stated, are you kidding me? And he stated no, and I stated, Kobe, no, no. You understand, it is simply you belong someplace out right here. And although he would have by no means performed there, I simply need to reassure him that do not really feel like you have got any obligation with me or the Grizzlies to play right here and since he would have by no means performed there, it wasn’t gonna occur.”

[1:13:02] JERRY WEST ON SCOTTIE PIPPEN’S COMMENTS ON MICHAEL JORDAN

“Properly, clearly I do know Michael properly, however I do not know Scottie that properly, I do not. However he is at all times been very nice and really good to me. And as I say, I admired him tremendously as a participant. He acquired higher yearly. He wasn’t, any person that simply fell off a cliff. He was a very good participant and no matter occurs in relationships and when, notably should you have a look at a workforce and you’d suppose that these guys like that will have probably the most particular relationship on the earth. I simply have not understood that.”

PG: “Proper. I feel that is the place the brand new media, I feel, , folks that hear about what Scottie is saying about Michael. I feel that is in all probability probably the most disappointing half about it’s, is that workforce and the way particular and the bonds. I feel it will simply be straightforward for Scottie to present MJ a name and resolve issues between one another than to assault him by [the] media.”

JW: “Possibly any person would not settle for the decision.”

PG: “However that is one factor, that is one factor,the road may not work at this level. However I do agree. I am an enormous fan of Scottie Pippen, he paved the way in which for any person like me.”

[1:20:03] JERRY WEST WOULD NOT PICK A REPLACEMENT FOR THE NBA LOGO

PG: “Hypothetically if Adam Silver gave you the chance to select who must be the following brand–”

JW: “I might by no means try this. It is disrespectful to different gamers. Do you have got any thought what the brand was about? It was about advertising and marketing. I feel the late Walter Kennedy – the league facet began to develop and that is once they determined to start out attempting to market the league and that factor has been round perpetually. To me, you want that nobody knew it was. My youngsters say to me however I do not need them to alter it as a result of they know who it’s. These issues do not imply a lot to me. This is what my response is. If that is me, I am flattered. That is at all times my response. I by no means discuss it.”