(Ep052) Paul Westhead: Playing Magic Johnson at Center, The Legacy of Hank Gathers, and the Impact of The Speed Game
Sometimes coaches dream up the best basketball schemes in the most unlikely locations, like when Steve Kerr and Bruce Fraser plotted out the Golden State Warriors’ motion-driven system at an airport wine bar. In the case of Paul Westhead’s speed game - a devastating combo of continual fast break offense and pressing defense - it all came together when he coached Puerto Rico players during summers off from his main role at LaSalle University in the 70s.
Westhead was later named head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after his friend Jack McKinney fell off his bike and sustained a TBI. After making some inspired adjustments following Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Finals injury, Westhead guided the Lakers to the NBA title in six games against Dr. J’s Sixers, with Magic Johnson winning MVP in his rookie season. Westhead went on to perfect his “shoot in 5 seconds or less” approach - aka “The System” at Loyola Marymount University, where the duo of Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble hung 122 points per game on their opponents.
In this episode, Paul shares:
How his college coach Dr. Jack Ramsay helped him get into coaching
Why he played Magic at center in the Finals
How Puerto Rico basketball and Old Dominion coach Sonny Allen shaped The System
Why he’s always promised to blow his new team’s socks off
What legacy Hank Gathers left and why he still remembers the free throw Bo Kimble took in his honor
Learn more about Paul’s basketball journey in his book Speed Game: My Fast Times in Basketball and follow him on Twitter.
