Comparing Alton Ford and Jerry West Head to Head

This is as close as it gets. Alton Ford and Jerry West split the statistical categories evenly — 2 apiece — making this one of the most genuinely contested SF comparisons in NBA history. When the numbers are this balanced, the debate comes down to which statistics matter most to you.

Jerry West's Points Per Game of 27.0 compared to Alton Ford's 2.5 represents a 980% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Alton Ford falls 82% below the career average of 13.9 in this category while Jerry West exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Jerry West's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Field Goal %, where Alton Ford posts 50.7% against Jerry West's 47.4% — a gap of just 7%. Jerry West can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 2-2 tally suggests. In any debate, Field Goal % is the statistical ammunition for the Jerry West side.

The forward position in professional basketball demands versatility — the ability to score, rebound and defend at an elite level. The most decorated forwards in NBA history have excelled across multiple statistical categories.

With categories split evenly, this comparison ultimately comes down to which statistics matter most to you. Jerry West claims the tiebreaker through Points Per Game advantage — a 980% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NBA debate.