One-title Wonders: 5 NBA Players whose legacy was impacted most by winning one championship

#3 Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson on averaging triple-doubles: “I guess when Magic came into the league and had a couple of these, they said it was a triple-double. So they went back into the archives and saw that I’d done it for quite a few years.” 🔊:https://t.co/ZyWXxhSVbO pic.twitter.com/lNwfdjKRjn

— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 29, 2021

Oscar Robertson, also known as “Big O,” was one of the most influential players of his generation. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1960 NBA Draft. He would lead the Royals to consecutive NBA Playoff appearances between 1962 to 1967. His 1961-62 season was the first time a player averaged a triple-double in a whole season.

Oscar Robertson came up short in his time with the Royals. Only making it as far as the Eastern Conference Finals twice, the Royals would lose to the Celtics each time. After losing to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals with Robertson averaging 31.8 points for that series in 1966, the Royals would fall short in the following season against the Sixers.

It was before the 1970-71 season that Robertson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. What was suspected to be a disintegrating relationship between franchise and player, Oscar would join the Bucks, playing alongside their star, Kareem Abdul Jabbar (then, Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.).

The Bucks would go on to have a 66-16 record for the 1970-71 season with a dominating postseason. The Bucks would sweep the Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards) and bring the franchise its first ring, and Oscar Robertson would solidify his legacy amongst the greatest to play the game.

Oscar Robertson had an NBA playoff average of 22.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists for his career.

Happy 81st birthday to the Big O, Oscar Robertson 🎈Man was the original triple-double king.🔹 12x All-Star🔹 NBA Champion🔹 11x All-NBA🔹 MVP🔹 Rookie of the Year🔹 Hall of Famerpic.twitter.com/kPixfPtYeH

— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) November 24, 2019

#4 Moses Malone

The Sixers are retiring the late Moses Malone’s number.-3x MVP-1983 Finals MVP-13x All-Star-9th in points-1st in off. rebounds-3rd in total reboundsOne of the NBA/ABA’s most underrated icons. pic.twitter.com/jpOgq4UxSn

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 11, 2019

Drafted by the Utah Stars of the ABA fresh out of high school, Moses Malone would go on to join the Houston Rockets after the ABA-NBA merger. He would lead the Rockets to the Eastern Conference Finals immediately upon joining where they would come up short against Julius Erving and the Sixers in 1977.

As the Rockets moved to the Western Conference in the 1980-81 season, Malone would lead the Rockets to the NBA Finals against Boston. Having lost that series and an early playoff exit the following season, Moses Malone joined the Sixers in the 1982-83 NBA season. Alongside Julius Erving, Darryl Dawkins and Maurice Cheeks, the Sixers swept LA in the 1983 Finals.

Malone helped bring a title to Philadelphia and Erving. He solidified his legacy as one of the greatest centers of all time. Malone was known as the “Chairman of the Boards” because of his rebounding prowess. He had an NBA Playoff average of 22.1 points and 13.8 rebounds.

#5 Jerry West

45 years ago today, Jerry West called it a career.The Logo was no joke.🔹 14x All-Star🔹 12x All-NBA🔹 NBA Champion🔹 Finals MVP🔹 Scoring Champion🔹 5x All-Defense🔹 Hall of Famer pic.twitter.com/GIzuUeA7La

— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) October 3, 2019

Jerry West was drafted by the LA Lakers in the 1960 NBA Draft. West was an explosive scorer, able to get to his spot and pull up for his shot in a flash. However, his greatest asset was his ability to perform in closing situations, earning him his nickname, “Mr. Clutch.”

West, alongside Elgin Baylor, was the All-Star duo of the Lakers. However, their title runs would always come up short. Stunted by the Boston Celtics in the 1962 NBA Finals, the loss would issue a rivalry that would last ages, but it would also begin a decade of disappointment for LA.

With a finals loss to Boston the following year in the 1962-63 season and four more losses over the course of the next six seasons, West’s hopes at winning a title were dwindling. Elgin Baylor also announced retirement midway through the 1970-71 season.

It was finally in the 1971-72 season where the Lakers would finally win. Having set an NBA record of a 33 game winning streak, Jerry West, alongside Wilt Chamberlain, would finally win an NBA title after beating the Knicks in five games.

Averaging 37.9 points per game in the 1969 Finals, Jerry West was the first NBA Finals MVP from the losing side. His career averages for the NBA Playoffs were 29.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists.

Jerry West’s unyielding tenacity and his late-game heroics also made him the silhouette behind the NBA logo.