From the rivalries between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to that of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, the NBA is filled with storied rivalries that have captivated the fans for decades. However, amidst these fierce on-court battles, the NBA also has been a witness to genuine respect and camaraderie between these adversaries. One such example was the relationship between two point guards, one from the Los Angeles Lakers and the other from the Milwaukee Bucks. And recently, the latter has shared his fondest memory about this bond.

In the recent episode of the “All the Smoke” podcast, the cast welcomed Buck’s former player, Oscar Robertson, as their new guest. Matt Barnes brought up the topic of Jerry West and the 85-year-old was quick to add more to it. “Jerry was a good friend of mine. We met at the Olympic trials in Denver. It was quiet at the time but we got to talk with each other about different things,” said Robertson during the podcast. But that was not the end. The former point guard even went on to praise his former teammate and rival, defining him as one of the strongest players of their time.

Surprisingly, both of them played together only once in their lifetime as teammates in the National US Basketball team during the 1960 Rome Olympics. Their performance, along with the performances of other great players like Bob Boozer and Walt Bellamy, helped the US team to score an average of 42.4 points per game and win the gold medal.

After the Olympics, both the guards went on to face each other 87 times in the regular season and 7 times during the playoffs. Although West’s team bested the Cincinnati Royals (which was the team Robertson played at that time) 50 times during the season and 5 times during the playoffs, it didn’t affect their friendship. But was so special about their friendship? The answer is despite being on rival teams, they both had immense respect for each other. Jerry was a creative player because of his flawless jump shot, and Oscar valued what he brought to the game. “Jerry was a great basketball player. I was more of an inside player, penetrating. He was a tremendous shot,” said Oscar during an NBA Vault episode.

In an era where sports rivalries can sometimes turn bitter, the relationship between Oscar Robertson and Jerry West serves as a reminder of the power of sportsmanship and shared experiences. However, this isn’t the only big thing that the 85-year-old shared during the podcast.

One of the searing moments that Oscar Robertson had in his life

The recent episode of the “All The Smoke” podcast was mostly based on Robertson reminiscing about the events in his career, most of which were on the positive side. But the NBA veteran also shared about one of the incidents that he had with the KKK clan that had rocked his nerves at that time.

Robertson recounted that while he was playing in the Dixie Classics, which was an annual college basketball tournament, he had received a threat from the clan. “We were playing the Dixie Classics, and I got a telegram that said, ‘If you play, we’re going to shoot you.’ I handed it to the coach,” said Robertson during the podcast. At the time, the league was still developing and so were the college teams. On seeing Robertson’s great gameplay in the college league, the KKK might have been sure that he was going to end up playing for a team in the main league, and the clan was against it. Therefore, they had sent a note just to scare the point guard out of the sport.

However, during the podcast, the 85-year-old also revealed that he never thought much of the clan and was sure that they were not going to harm him. Robertson’s bravery and determination in the face of such threats serve as a testament to his character and commitment to equality. His story also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by black athletes during this period.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.