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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 greatest individual Game 7 performances of all time

By Jordanna Clark

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates as the Lakers defeat the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates as the Lakers defeat the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 17, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers, Elgin Baylor
(Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Harold & Carole Pump Foundation ) /

No. 5: Elgin Baylor – Western Division Finals

The No. 1 pick in the 1958 NBA draft is up next at No. 5. Elgin Baylor led Los Angeles to a 115-100 Western Division Finals win over the St. Louis Hawks in 1963. Baylor led the team with 35 points off of 14-for-28 shooting, brought down 15 rebounds and added seven assists in 40 minutes of play. Elgin, known for his ability as a shooter, led the league with 424 points in the 1963 playoffs.

Unfortunately, Baylor’s heroics in Game 7 wasn’t enough to take down the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. He failed to win a championship during the eight times that he led his team to the finals and that’s because his career coincided with Boston’s domination. The Celtics won 10 titles between 1959 to 1968, with the Philadelphia 76ers taking home the trophy in 1967. Still, the legacy that Elgin left behind remains.

Jerry West, fellow Los Angeles legend and Baylor’s longtime teammate, had this to say about Elgin back in 1992: ““He was one of the most spectacular shooters the game has ever known. I hear people talking about forwards today and I haven’t seen many that can compare with him.”

The purple and gold’s run in the 1963 postseason is considered to be the last time that Baylor performed at an exceptional level. He dealt with a knee injury entering the 1963-64 season and was never quite the same. If only his phenomenal performance 58 years ago would’ve resulted in what he deserved – an NBA Championship.

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