RIP Wes Unseld

[Kingspoint]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Unseld

[Kingspoint]

https://66.media.tumblr.com/1c68581afede5031f1ced54e9ca7fa3b/tumblr_o1f4gwi14r1sbxj8ao1_400.jpg

[North]

RIP Wes. You were one of the greatest ever. This is sad news.

You played the real game before the 30% three point shot and the Michael Jordan steps and palming turned the NBA into a circus act.

[Kingspoint]

RIP Wes. You were one of the greatest ever. This is sad news.

You played the real game before the 30% three point shot and the Michael Jordan steps and palming turned the NBA into a circus act.

Yes...when basketball was a contact sport (see Jerry Sloan, RIP). Jerry West broke his nose seven times.

[North]

Here is some more on Unseld. I was in the stands at a non-Baltimore venue, for seasons, watching him play.

Unseld was unique.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2020/06/02/wes-unseld-nba-and-louisville-legend-remarkable-every-way/3124873001/

He was one of the NBA's top 50 all-time players.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Greatest_Players_in_NBA_History


Heh - in high school, I played against another member on that list...Bob Lanier. Bob went to Bennett HS...the team would carry around a portable record player with a 45 of "Sweet Georgia Brown" that they played before games.

They murdered us! :D

In college, I tried out but I wasn't good enough. Coulda played with the late NBA ironman Randy Smith.

[Assembly Hall]

RIP Wes

[RichRed]

This is sad for me. My earliest memory as a Bullets fan is asking my mom and dad to stay up to watch the 1978 NBA Finals. I remember thinking the Sonics were going to win because the two teams took turns winning the first 6 games, and game 7 was Seattle's turn. But nope, the Bullets managed to win it on the road.

Wes was a rebounding machine, an immovable force. I loved those guys: Unseld, Bobby Dandridge (who played at nearby Norfolk State), Elvin Hayes (my favorite), Kevin Grevey, Mitch Kupchak, Greg Ballard, etc.

Sorry to see you go, Big Wes.

[Kingspoint]

This is sad for me. My earliest memory as a Bullets fan is asking my mom and dad to stay up to watch the 1978 NBA Finals. I remember thinking the Sonics were going to win because the two teams took turns winning the first 6 games, and game 7 was Seattle's turn. But nope, the Bullets managed to win it on the road.

Wes was a rebounding machine, an immovable force. I loved those guys: Unseld, Bobby Dandridge (who played at nearby Norfolk State), Elvin Hayes (my favorite), Kevin Grevey, Mitch Kupchak, Greg Ballard, etc.

Sorry to see you go, Big Wes.

Phil Chenier was the best of them all (just my opinion...Hayes and Unseld would be ranked ahead of him by most).

[Roy Tucker]

King of the outlet pass.

[Kingspoint]

King of the outlet pass.

That would be Mr. Walton.

[Roy Tucker]

That would be Mr. Walton.

Ahh yeah, he was one of the best passing big men I had seen.

[cumberlandreds]

Ahh yeah, he was one of the best passing big men I had seen.

Walton and Unseld were 1 and 1A as far as passing ability. You couldn't go wrong with either. Unseld had an ultra wide body and could get position underneath like no other. He was also a great teamleader on those good Bullet teams in the 70's. RIP Wes Unseld.

[Boston Red]

Unseld averaged 18.9 rebounds per game for Peck Hickman and John Dromo at Louisville. That's pretty astounding.

[Boston Red]

Here's an interesting note from the Louisville Courier-Journal. Apparently Westley's high school coach is still alive (he's 88). Check out his review of Wes as a freshman at Louisville Seneca!

“Westley wasn’t a basketball player as a freshman,” said Bob Mulcahy, who was Unseld’s head coach and now lives in Henderson, Ky., at the age of 88. “Westley had the heart and the mind and wanted to be a basketball player. … We didn’t win a game all year when he was a freshman. We had a perfect year.”

Seneca teammate Tom Duggins said Unseld "couldn't dribble the length of the court without losing the ball" as a freshman.

As a senior, Unseld averaged 24 points and 22 rebounds, was Mr. Basketball in Kentucky and an All-American.

[M2]

I feel it would criminal not to mention Wes Unseld's hair game. I think his hair could box out opponents all by itself.

[Revering4Blue]

Phil Chenier was the best of them all (just my opinion...Hayes and Unseld would be ranked ahead of him by most).

I'm glad that you mentioned Phil Chenier, as he was well on his way to a hall-of-fame career before crippling injuries came into play. In fact, he wasn't really healthy at all during the Bullets' late '70's run. A healthy Chenier very likely extends the window of contention for that Bullets core until '83 or so.

[Revering4Blue]

This is sad for me. My earliest memory as a Bullets fan is asking my mom and dad to stay up to watch the 1978 NBA Finals. I remember thinking the Sonics were going to win because the two teams took turns winning the first 6 games, and game 7 was Seattle's turn. But nope, the Bullets managed to win it on the road.

Wes was a rebounding machine, an immovable force. I loved those guys: Unseld, Bobby Dandridge (who played at nearby Norfolk State), Elvin Hayes (my favorite), Kevin Grevey, Mitch Kupchak, Greg Ballard, etc.

Sorry to see you go, Big Wes.

IMHO, that's still one of the best NBA Finals series ever. At the same time, it's also sad to know that several players from both teams are no longer with us:

Sonics - Dennis Johnson, John Johnson and Marvin Webster

Bullets - Greg Ballard and now, Wes Unseld

R.I.P

[Betterread]

That would be Mr. Walton.

No. Kevin Love.

[M2]

No. Kevin Love.

Now, THAT, is a hot take. I'm not even saying it's wrong, but it is muy caliente.

[Kingspoint]

No. Kevin Love.

Where do you think Love learned it? He grew up in Portland and saw all of Walton's highlights. Love is the best since Walton.

[Kingspoint]

I feel it would criminal not to mention Wes Unseld's hair game. I think his hair could box out opponents all by itself.

It was the first thing I thought of posting when I saw he passed. Was going to do the '74 Topps, but went with the one from the year I first saw him play.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/712XTqGgbdL._AC_SY445_.jpg

[M2]

Where do you think Love learned it? He grew up in Portland and saw all of Walton's highlights. Love is the best since Walton.

I'm going to guess he picked up more from watching Arvydas Sabonis in his youth.

[Betterread]

In the late 60s, early 70s Willis Reed vrs Wes Unseld was a great matchup. Two of the best undersized big men ever and they met in the playoffs about every year.

[dabvu2498]

Where do you think Love learned it? He grew up in Portland and saw all of Walton's highlights. Love is the best since Walton.

Errrrr... Kevin Love’s middle name is Wesley, named after Mr. Unseld, who was teammates with Kevin’s daddy.

[Boston Red]

Someone should have told Kevin's dad that Unseld's name was Westley.

[RichRed]

It was the first thing I thought of posting when I saw he passed. Was going to do the '74 Topps, but went with the one from the year I first saw him play.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/712XTqGgbdL._AC_SY445_.jpg

Even on a basketball card, he had that “Try me, I dare you” look. I loved that guy.

[Kingspoint]

Errrrr... Kevin Love’s middle name is Wesley, named after Mr. Unseld, who was teammates with Kevin’s daddy.

But, if you lived in Portland, Walton's outlet passes were implanted in your mind, not Unseld's.