Jerry West Looks Back at the Record-Setting 1971-72 Lakers

Jerry WestThe 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers were a star studded team and one that will forever be remembered for its 33 game winning streak.

The record has stood for over 40 years, but there is a chance that the ’72 Lakers will be dethroned by the Miami Heat this season. Miami is currently riding a 24-game winning streak and although it has to win 10 more games in order to beat the record, the possibility is there.

Looking ahead, the Heat only have two or three tough matchups on their schedule, something that scares the members of the 1971-72 Lakers team.

—- Check out this wallpaper featuring the legends of Lakers basketball! —-

Lakers legend Jerry West spoke to the AP and he talked about the team and what it accomplished that year. The roster was led by West, Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich, and along with the 33-game winning streak, those three men guided the team to a championship that very season.

“We had one of those teams that comes along every once in a while,” West said. “The only bad thing about it is we were really too old to be able to sustain it. But it was easy. And when we lost, it was like, ‘I can’t believe we lost.’ It was like two-and-a-half months. It was a very special time.”

At the time the Lakers beat the record, no one expected any other team to come close to challenging the mark. Before the 1971-72 Lakers, the record for most consecutive wins was 20 set by the Milwaukee Bucks, something the Lakers crushed by stringing together 33 victories.

The Heat continued their streak in Cleveland on Wednesday against the Cavaliers. The Cavs are once again in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference and had no Kyrie Irving in the lineup. After a rally in the second half, the Heat went on to capture their 24th consecutive victory.

West also joined ESPN on Wednesday to talk about the Heat’s current streak, and his thoughts on their ability to possibly match the Lakers’ record.

httpvhd://youtu.be/I9xsLxCynr4

You May Also Like

Lakers News: Anthony Davis Dealing With Knee Sprain But Says There’s ‘No Chance’ He Doesn’t Play In Game 4

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers have a 2-1 series lead on the Phoenix Suns and are seemingly getting better with each game…

LeBron James Advises Young Core Avoid Social Media Amid Ongoing Lakers Trade Rumors

While LeBron James has been the subject of speculation when it comes to free agency and purported roster wishes, he’s not experienced what the Los Angeles…

Lakers News: Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma Prepared To Face Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons And 76ers

The last game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers was a brilliant, fun showcase of the NBA’s…

Lakers News: D’Angelo Russell Remembers Advice Metta World Peace Gave Him Last Year

Before last season the Los Angeles Lakers signed veteran forward Metta World Peace to a training camp contract for potentially his season stint with the organization…