Elgin Baylor: A Forgotten Legend

Los Angeles Lakers fans were hopeful their team would snag one of the top small forwards in free agency this off-season in a 2015 class that included LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, DeMarre Carrroll, and Tobias Harris.

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Instead, the front office ignored the position they were arguably the weakest at and set their sights on big men and guards.

With training camp opening later this month, the spotlight has shifted back to the small forward position, and recent reports have the Lakers closing in on a deal with a 35-year-old Metta World Peace.

One could argue that despite all of their championships, the Lakers have not had a true superstar at the three since the 1980s with Jamaal Wilkes and James Worthy leading the charge. Worthy and Wilkes are two of the greatest Lakers legends, and their jerseys hang from the rafters inside the Staples Center among the rest of the team’s all-time greats.

There is a forgotten jersey that hangs just the same, No. 22. He has since been relegated as a mere afterthought. With respect to every great NBA player who has ever stepped on a basketball court, Elgin Baylor is the greatest forgotten player to ever live.

Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t hold the Lakers franchise mark for points per game (27.4) in a career. Kobe Bryant never average 38.3 points in a single season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn’t grab 11, 463 rebounds, the most in Lakers history.

Wilt Chamberlain never averaged at least 34 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists in a single season. Jerry West doesn’t hold the NBA record for most points scored in an NBA Finals game with 61.

Sep 24, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Basketball Hall of Fame player Elgin Gay Baylor throws out the first pitch before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Giants 9-1 to clinch the NL West Division Championship. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor’s name is next to all of those marks.

His prime took place in the 1960s, decades before most of today’s fans were born. Make no mistake about it, Baylor is not just one of the greatest Lakers ever. He is one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Baylor was a once in a generation player and did things on the court that were before his time. Baylor’s game is reminiscent to that of today’s modern wing. Michael Jordan came before Bryant, and “Dr. J” Julius Erving came before Jordan. Baylor came before all of them.

He was the first to do many of the same things that got those trailblazers famous. Baylor hung in the air for days and was unstoppable driving to the basket. He was a prolific scorer and accomplished passer. At 6′ 5″ and 225 lbs, Baylor is unquestionably the greatest pound-for-pound rebounder of all time.

Baylor attended the College of Idaho his freshman year before transferring to Seattle University for the next two. He led the Chieftains (Redhawks) to the 1958 NCAA championship game but lost to the Kentucky Wildcats. It was the last time the school would get past the Sweet 16. Baylor averaged 31.3 points over his collegiate career and led the NCAA in rebounding his junior year.

Season	School	Conf	G	FG	FGA	FG%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	PTS
1955-56	Seattle	Ind	25	10.8	22.2	.488	8.0	10.0	.801	20.3	29.7
1956-57	Seattle	Ind	29	12.2	24.0	.506	8.2	10.6	.769	19.3	32.5

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CBB: View Original Table
Generated 9/16/2015.

The Minneapolis Lakers drafted Baylor No. 1 overall in the 1958 NBA Draft. The franchise was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Lakers owner Bob Short said as much had Baylor not joined the team.

Baylor became an instant NBA superstar. He averaged 24.9 points, 15 rebounds, and 4.1 assists en route to being named the 1959 NBA Rookie of the Year. Baylor also led the Lakers to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics after finishing last the year before.

Upon the team’s move to Los Angeles in 1960, Baylor averaged 34.8, 38.3, and 34 points over the next three seasons. On Nov. 15, 1960, Baylor scored 71 points and broke his previous NBA record (63) of most points scored in a single game. Baylor also averaged 19.8 rebounds that season, a feat exceeded by only five other players in NBA history and all of whom range from 6′ 8″ to 7′ 1″.

His scoring record stood until Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) scored 78 points in a triple overtime game against the Lakers on Dec. 8, 1961. The franchise mark stood for 46 years until Bryant decimated the Toronto Raptors for 81 on Jan. 22, 2006.

Season	Age	Tm	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	PTS
1960-61 ★	26	LAL	73	42.9	12.8	29.7	.430	9.3	11.8	.783	19.8	5.1	34.8
1961-62 ★	27	LAL	48	44.4	14.2	33.1	.428	9.9	13.1	.754	18.6	4.6	38.3
1962-63 ★	28	LAL	80	42.1	12.9	28.4	.453	8.3	9.9	.837	14.3	4.8	34.0
Career			846	40.0	10.3	23.8	.431	6.8	8.7	.780	13.5	4.3	27.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/16/2015.

Baylor is one of the most accomplished basketball players of all time. He was a two-time All American and named the Helms Foundation College Player of the Year in 1958. Baylor was also awarded the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in the 1958 NCAA Tournament.

He spent his 14-year career with the Lakers and was an 11-time NBA All-Star. He earned 10 All-NBA First Team selections and finished his career with more than 23,000 points. Baylor’s 13.5 career rebounding average is good for ninth all-time. He also dished out 3650 assists in his career (4.6).

There are several factors as to why Baylor is often overlooked in the debate of whom the greatest NBA players of all time are despite all that he has accomplished.

Baylor retired nearly 45 years ago and played in an era where there was no social media, no internet, and games were not regularly televised. He appeared in a remarkable eight NBA Finals, but his team lost seven of them to the 1960s Boston Celtics dynasty.

He was forced to retire nine games into the 1971-72 season when his ailing knees would not allow him to continue. The Lakers started their famous 33-game winning streak the following game and won their first NBA Championship in Los Angeles. Baylor received a ring following the season, but the history books do not recognize him as an NBA Champion.

It is impossible to talk about Baylor without mentioning West. They may have been the greatest one-two punch in NBA history. There have been plenty of Batman and Robin combinations throughout history, but they were equals. West was the calming presence, and Baylor was the magnetic superstar. West is revered by younger Lakers fans while Baylor is a mere historical figure.

Rk	Player	Season	Age	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	PTS
1	Elgin Baylor*	1966-67	32	70	38.7	10.2	23.7	.429	6.3	7.7	.813	12.8	3.1	26.6
2	Jerry West*	1966-67	28	66	40.5	9.8	21.0	.464	9.1	10.4	.878	5.9	6.8	28.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/16/2015.

West’s legend grew after Baylor retired. “The Logo” was the star of the 1971-72 team that won a NBA record 33 games in a row and brought the city its first NBA title. He went on to become the most successful executive of all time.

As the general manager, West helped assemble the Showtime Lakers who won five championships in the 1980s. He is also responsible for bringing in O’ Neal and trading for Bryant who would combine for another three titles. West firmly secured his position in the hearts and minds of Lakers fans forever.

May 3, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors executive board member Jerry West before game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 101-86. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor went on to coach the then-New Orleans Jazz in 1977, but the team didn’t improve in his two seasons. He later became a front office executive for the Los Angeles Clippers for 22 years. During his tenure, the Clippers amassed a 607-1153 record and had two winning seasons.

Baylor was the 2006 NBA Executive of the Year but resigned in October 2008. The last thing many people remember him for is the highly publicized employment discrimination lawsuit he filed against Donald Sterling in which his claims were rejected by a unanimous 12-0 vote.

Baylor turned 81 today and has since freed himself from his long-term ties to the “other” L.A. team. He’s started to reappear at important Lakers functions, and he’s taking his rightful place among the rest of the Lakers legends.

He will never receive the enduring adulation he deserves. Baylor is one of the greatest players in NBA history and arguably the best. He had the misfortune of running into the 1960s Boston Celtics dynasty who simply had a better team each time and never won a title despite his eight finals appearances.

Still, Baylor has few equals in the history of the league. Those who were fortunate enough to see him during his prime will never forget what he could do on a basketball court or how he changed the game forever.

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