Los Angeles Lakers legend Elgin Baylor is an all-time great and was a bit unlucky.
Elgin Baylor certainly ranks in the lists of the greatest basketball players, scorers, rebounders and also Los Angeles Lakers of all time.
He single-handedly saved the Los Angeles Lakers from a destiny of mediocrity and probably bankruptcy. The George Mikan days were long gone when he was drafted first overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958 and, as declared by then-owner Bob Short, without him the organization would have risked going bankrupt.
We are talking about one of the all-time greatest in the history of the league. For his career, he averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. In 11 out 14 seasons he had at least 24 points and 10 rebounds per game, and at his peak, he scored 38.3 points and 18.6 rebounds.
Unfortunately, in his long and illustrious career, Baylor retired without ever winning a championship, nor received an MVP. In those years, there were two other sacred monsters of the hardwood that would dominate the landscape of the MVP conversations; Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.
Elgin was the star that saw the relocation of the Lakers from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. Starting from the 1960-61 season he was joined by Jerry West and LA became regular of the NBA Finals, but always failed to win the coveted trophy.
In 1968, the Lakers managed to add Wilt Chamberlain to their All-Star duo, to form probably the first big three in the history of the NBA. Yet, they kept falling short in the finals.
Just two games into the 1970-71 season, an injury to his knee, which had been bothering him since 1964, put an abrupt end to Baylor’s season. He tried a comeback in 1972, but persistent knee issues forced him to retire after just nine games. His career finished in a much similar way James Worthy‘s career would end many years later.
Exactly that season the Lakers finally delivered the first championship to the city of Los Angeles and realized a record of 33 consecutive wins. Injuries deprived Baylor of the chance of winning the long-eluding ring after so many years of proud service in a purple and gold uniform, and be part of a historic team.
The Lakers would provide him a ring anyway for the contribution he gave to the franchise through the years to finally reach that accomplishment, but it would not be the certainly the same as if he had won it in his past finals appearances or at least being part of the team through the playoffs that year.
Elgin Baylor remains certainly one of the greatest and unlucky players of the history of the NBA, when, after getting so close to the victory for so many years, bad timing of his injuries caused him to lose the chance of closing his legendary career in an epic way.
At least, he was most deservedly inducted in the Hall of Fame and the Los Angeles Lakers honored him retiring his number and erecting his statue in Staples Center.