Season Review: 1960-61

PREVIOUS SEASON || NEXT SEASON

The NBA was changing rapidly. With the Lakers moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles before the season, the league became a bicoastal league for the first time.

Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain had each brought a special brand of excitement to the league with landmark NBA debuts. In 1960, two guards who would thrill NBA fans for the next 14 seasons and who would always be inextricably linked joined the league.

Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, both superb collegians, entered together after winning gold medals at the 1960 Olympics. Cincinnati's Robertson had a more immediate impact, averaging 30.5 ppg and leading the league with 9.7 assists per contest. With Chamberlain scoring 38.4 ppg and Baylor at 34.8 ppg, it marked the first time in NBA history that three players scored 30 ppg in the same season. West, on the other hand, came aboard just as the Lakers made their move and averaged 17.6 ppg as a rookie.

To the untrained eye, West appeared to be just a skinny kid from West Virginia when he came to the NBA. But the 6-foot-3 college forward learning to be a pro guard had a desire to be the best and skills that would allow him to get there. As a rookie, West played behind fellow West Virginia legend Hot Rod Hundley, but it was not long before West pleaded for and got more minutes.

"I knew I couldn't learn sitting on the bench," West said. "The only thing I could learn were bad habits. I had to get out there and get rid of those first-year jitters."

Chamberlain led the league in scoring at 38.4 and rebounding at 27.2, but Philadelphia would lose in the first round of the playoffs.

The schedule had been increased to 79 games, and Boston and St. Louis once again outclassed the competition with 57 and 51 victories, respectively. For the second straight season, St. Louis had to fight off the Lakers in a seven-game Western Division Finals to meet the Celtics, who cruised past Syracuse in five games.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, the well-balanced Celtics dismissed them in five games.

Eastern Division semifinals

Syracuse defeated Philadelphia (3-0)

Western Division semifinals

Los Angeles defeated Detroit (3-2)

Eastern Division finals

Boston defeated Syracuse (4-1)

Western Division finals

St. Louis defeated Los Angeles (4-3)

NBA Finals

Boston defeated St. Louis (4-1)

PPG -- Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors (38.4)
FG% -- Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors (.509)
FT% -- Bill Sharman, Boston Celtics (.921)
Assists -- Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals
Rebounds -- Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors (27.2)

Most Valuable Player -- Bill Russell, Boston Celtics
Rookie of the Year -- Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals
All-Star Game MVP -- Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals