<P> In the 1970--71 NBA season, the Lakers resigned Gail Goodrich, who came back from the Phoenix Suns after playing for L.A. until 1968 . At age 32, West averaged 27.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 9.5 assists, and helped the Lakers win 46 games and make the 1971 NBA Playoffs . After losing Elgin Baylor to an Achilles tendon rupture that effectively ended his career, West himself injured his knee and was out for the season; the short - handed Lakers lost the Western Conference Finals in five games to the championship - bound Milwaukee Bucks . The Milwaukee Bucks featured freshly crowned Most Valuable Player Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul - Jabbar) and veteran Hall - of - Fame guard Oscar Robertson . </P> <P> Prior to the 1971--72 NBA season, West was smarting from his frequent injuries and losses and considered retirement . The Lakers hired former Celtics star guard and future Hall - of - Fame coach Bill Sharman as head coach . Although injured captain Elgin Baylor ended his career, the Lakers had a season for the ages . The team was powered by Sharman's emphasis on tough defense and fast break offense, and L.A. embarked on an unprecedented 33 game win streak, en route to a then - record 69 wins in the regular season . West himself contributed with 25.8 points and led the league with a career - high 9.7 assists per game . He was named All - Star, All - NBA and All - Defense First Teamer and voted 1972 All - Star Game MVP . </P> <P> In the post-season, the Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls in a four - game sweep, then went on to face the Milwaukee Bucks, and defeated them in six games . In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers again met the New York Knicks . Although West suffered a terrible shooting slump during Games 1 and 2, the Lakers tied the series at one win each, and in Game 3, he scored 21 points and helped L.A. win Game 3 . In this game, he now had scored 4,002 playoff points, which set an all - time NBA record . After winning Game 4 due to a superb outing from Wilt Chamberlain, West scored 23 points in Game 5, and he won the game and their first - ever NBA title . West conceded that he had played a terrible series, and credited the team for the success . Years later he said "I played terrible basketball in the Finals, and we won...It was particularly frustrating because I was playing so poorly that the team overcame me . Maybe that's what a team is all about ." </P> <P> Having vanquished this long - time bane, West entered his 13th NBA year . In the 1972--73 NBA season, the main scoring role was taken by Goodrich, and West was now a playmaker instead of a scorer . However, West averaged 22.8 points, but also averaged 8.8 assists per game, and again was a First Teamer in the All - Star, All - NBA, and All - Defense Teams . The Lakers won 60 games and reached the 1973 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks . In Game 1 West scored 24 points before fouling out with three minutes left and L.A. won Game 1 with 115--112 . However, the Knicks took Games 2 and 3, and West strained both of his hamstrings: in Game 4, the shorthanded Lakers were no match for New York, and in Game 5, the valiant, but injured West and Hairston had miserable games, and despite Chamberlain scoring 23 points and grabbing 21 rebounds, the Lakers lost 102--93 and the series . </P>

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