Elgin Baylor is a former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association. In 1977, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2006, he was entered into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Baylor is an 11-time NBA All-Star.
The Los Angeles Lakers retired Jersey No.22 in his honor. The Jersey Number was also retired by the Seattle Redhawks of Seattle University.
Player Profile and Personal Life
Elgin Gay Baylor was born on September 16, 1934, in Washington, D.C. in the United States. He died on March 22, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, he was 86. Baylor stood 196 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 102 kg. Two of his brothers played basketball too.
| Position | Small Forward |
| Height / weight | 1.96 m / 102 kg |
| Born | 16 Sep 1934 |
| Died | 22 Mar 2021 (86 years) |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
| Nickname | Rabbit |
| Team History | |
Los Angeles
|
1958 - 1971 |
Minneapolis Lakers
|
1958 |
He was known as an all-around player. Bill Russell referred to him as “the Godfather of hang time”. He is considered as of the best basketball players in the NBA. In addition, Baylor is also known for his jump shots and running hook shots.
High School and College Career
Baylor spent the first two years of his high school career at Phelps High School. He later attended Spingarn High School. Despite being one of the best players in high school, he did not receive scholarship offers and he also had trouble qualifying for schools because of how he did academically.
He later attended the College of Idaho but later moved to play for Seattle University. In 1958, he was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. In the same year, he was also named the Helms Foundation Player of the Year.
Professional Career
He was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers during the 1958 NBA Draft. He was the first overall pick of the draft. He ultimately helped save the franchise. He was named the 1959 Rookie of the Year. In the same year, he was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career.
The following year, in 1959, he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time. He would be named an All-Star again 10 more times. In 1959, he was also named the NBA All-Star Game MVP. He played with the Lakers from 1958 to 1972. When he retired, the Lakers also retired his Jersey No.22. The Seattle Redhawks would do the same later on.
In 1974, he became the assistant coach for the New Orleans Jazz. He became their full-time coach from 1976 to 1979 for the Jazz. In 1977, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He also served as an NBA executive and in 2006, he was named the NBA Executive of the Year.
Career Highlights
As a Player:
- 1959–1965, 1967–1970 - NBA All-Star
- 1959 - NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 1959–1965, 1967–1969 - All-NBA First Team
1959 - NBA Rookie of the Year
- NBA anniversary team (35th, 50th, 75th)
No. 22 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers
- 1958 - NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
- 1958 - Helms Foundation Player of the Year
- 1958 - Consensus first-team All-American
- 1957 - Consensus second-team All-American
1957 - NCAA season rebounds leader
- No. 22 retired by Seattle Redhawks
As Executive:
- 2006 - NBA Executive of the Year
Career Statistics
- Points - 23,149 (27.4 ppg)
- Rebounds - 11,463 (13.5 rpg)
Assists - 3,650 (4.3 apg)
- Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, 1977
- College Basketball Hall of Fame, 2006
Team History:
As a Coach:
- 1974–1976 - New Orleans Jazz (assistant)
- 1974 - New Orleans Jazz (interim)
- 1976–1979 - New Orleans Jazz
People Ask
How tall was Elgin Baylor?
He stood 196 cm or 6 feet and 5 inches tall.
What teams did Elgin Baylor play for?
He has played for the Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers. He played his entire career for the team from 1958–1972.
What team did Elgin Baylor coach?
He coached the New Orleans Jazz, now the Utah Jazz from 1974 to 1979.
