Elgin Baylor
Inducted:
1977
Player Stats
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Born
September 16, 1934
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died
March 22, 2021
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Position
Small forward
College
College of Idaho (1954–1955)
Seattle (1956–1958)
Elgin Baylor was the NBA's first true aerial artist, a 6'5" forward whose acrobatic playing style transformed the game from a horizontal sport to a vertical one. Known for his incredible "hang time," body control, and creative finishes, Baylor was the bridge between the foundational era and the high-flying age of Julius Erving and Michael Jordan. As the cornerstone of the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers, he was credited with single-handedly saving the franchise from bankruptcy upon his arrival in 1958.
Baylor was a double-double machine who once scored 71 points in a game and still holds the NBA Finals record for most points in a single game (61 points). Despite his individual brilliance, he famously retired just nine games into the 1971–72 season—the same year the Lakers finally broke through to win the championship. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Baylor's Awards & Honor
- 11× NBA All-Star (1959–1965, 1967–1970)
- NBA All-Star Game co-MVP[a] (1959)
- 10× All-NBA First Team (1959–1965, 1967–1969)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1959)
- NBA anniversary team (35th, 50th, 75th)
- 22 retired by Los Angeles Lakers
- NCAA final Four Most Outstanding Player (1958)
NBA Records
- Scored 71 points in a single NBA game
- Averaged 38.3 points per game during the 1961–62 season
- First forward to consistently dominate as a primary scorer and rebounder
NBA Teams
Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers (1958–1971)
NBA Draft
1958: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Minneapolis Lakers
Number Worn
22
NBA Stats
Season Played:
14 (1958–1972)
Game Played:
846
Points:
23,149 (27.4 ppg)
Rebounds:
11,463 (13.5 rpg)
Assists:
3,650 (4.3 apg)
Field Goal %:
43.1%
Free Throw %:
78.0%
Point Per Game:
27.4