1. #1
    guitarjosh
    guitarjosh's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 12-25-07
    Posts: 5,462
    Betpoints: 9207

    Elgin Baylor dies at 86

    https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...baylor-dies-86

    Los Angeles Lakers star and former LA Clippers exec Elgin Baylor dies at 86
    11:40 AM PT
    ESPN

    Hall of Fame forward Elgin Baylor, who followed his illustrious playing career with a decades-long tenure as LA Clippers general manager, has died at the age of 86.

    Baylor died of natural causes Monday and was surrounded by his wife, Elaine, and his daughter, Krystal, the Los Angeles Lakers said in a statement.

    "Elgin was the love of my life and my best friend," Elaine said in the statement. "And like everyone else, I was in awe of his immense courage, dignity and the time he gave to all fans. At this time we ask that I and our family be allowed to mourn his passing in privacy."

    Considered one of basketball's greatest players, Baylor was an 11-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA selection during his 14 seasons with the Lakers from 1958 to 1971. He was the 1958-59 Rookie of the Year as well as the All-Star Game MVP that year. He averaged a double-double for his career, posting 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.

    With the Lakers, who moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960, Baylor made eight NBA Finals appearances but never won a title, losing seven-game series to the Boston Celtics on three occasions. He holds the single-game Finals scoring record with 61 points against the Celtics in 1962.

    "Elgin was THE superstar of his era -- his many accolades speak to that," Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "He was one of the few Lakers players whose career spanned from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. But more importantly he was a man of great integrity, even serving his country as a U.S. Army reservist, often playing for the Lakers only during his weekend pass. He is one of the all-time Lakers greats with his No. 22 jersey retired in the rafters and his statue standing guard in front of STAPLES Center. He will always be part of the Lakers legacy. On behalf of the entire Lakers family, I'd like to send my thoughts, prayers and condolences to Elaine and the Baylor family."

    His scoring highlights also included becoming the first player to score 70 points in a game, and going for 71 against the New York Knicks in November 1960. That stood as the Lakers' single-game record until Kobe Bryant scored 81 against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006.

    Baylor retired early in the 1971-72 season due to knee issues. He just missed on an NBA title, as the Lakers would go on to defeat the New York Knicks in five games in the Finals.

    After his playing career, Baylor coached the New Orleans Jazz for three seasons (1976-79) without a playoff appearance before stepping down.

    He then found a long-term home in the Clippers' front office, serving as general manager from 1986 to 2009, though the team made only two playoff appearances during his tenure. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2005-06, when the Clippers won 47 games and made the Western Conference semifinals.

    Baylor said he was forced out of his job because of age and racial discrimination, though he dropped racial discrimination claims against the Clippers as part of a lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed entirely in 2011.

    Baylor served as GM under owner Donald Sterling, who was banned from the NBA for life in 2014 after private recordings of him making racist comments were made public. Baylor said that he worked for Sterling because of limited job opportunities for former black players and the need to provide for his family.

    Baylor's college career included leading Seattle to its only Final Four appearance in 1958, when the team lost to Kentucky in the title game and Baylor was named Most Outstanding Player. After the season, the Lakers drafted Baylor first overall.

    It was actually the second time the Lakers had chosen Baylor in a draft. They picked him in the 14th round in 1956, but Baylor chose to continue playing in college at the time.

    Baylor, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, became the sixth person to be honored by the Lakers with a statue, which was unveiled in April 2018. The team previously retired his No. 22 jersey, in 1983.

  2. #2
    DiggityDaggityDo
    DiggityDaggityDo's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 11-30-08
    Posts: 82,770
    Betpoints: 32138

    Played for Minny Lakers and LA lakers

    RIP

  3. #3
    jjgold
    jjgold's Avatar Become A Pro!
    Join Date: 07-20-05
    Posts: 388,190
    Betpoints: 10

    Legend

  4. #4
    thezbar
    .lent
    thezbar's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 08-29-06
    Posts: 6,398
    Betpoints: 1580

    I met Elgin at The College of the Desert in the palm Springs area in 2004. The clippers were holding pre season practice at the time. Truly a Laker legend as he could hang in the air what seemed like forever. R.I.P.

  5. #5
    MinnesotaFats
    MinnesotaFats's Avatar Become A Pro!
    Join Date: 12-18-10
    Posts: 14,757
    Betpoints: 1664

    Might be the last of the Minneapolis Lakers...??

  6. #6
    King Mayan
    STFU AND SQUAT PUTO
    King Mayan's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 09-22-10
    Posts: 21,325
    Betpoints: 3679

    RIP big homie!

  7. #7
    gauchojake
    Have Some Asthma
    gauchojake's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 09-17-10
    Posts: 33,695
    Betpoints: 12975

    RIP

    One of my favorite stories is when all the Jim Rome clones called him to remind him when the draft was.

  8. #8
    JIBBBY
    JIBBBY's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 12-10-09
    Posts: 82,935
    Betpoints: 11558

    He was old, can't live forever. See ya Elgy. Next....

  9. #9
    Buckandadime
    Act as if
    Buckandadime's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 04-21-15
    Posts: 8,819
    Betpoints: 2365

    Not many know this but the man was an Army Reservist called into active duty during the 61-62 season..
    RIP Mr. Baylor..

  10. #10
    Kami40
    Dogs Win Everyday!!!
    Kami40's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 10-21-20
    Posts: 1,749
    Betpoints: 91162

    He is a Guardian Angel now God Bless him & his Family!!!

  11. #11
    Chi_archie
    GASPING FOR AIR
    Chi_archie's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 07-22-08
    Posts: 63,130
    Betpoints: 2260

    vaccine claims another

  12. #12
    Thrilla
    Goater a Legend
    Thrilla's Avatar Become A Pro!
    Join Date: 03-10-15
    Posts: 13,811
    Betpoints: 17711

    R.I.P. sir

  13. #13
    pablo222
    pablo222's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 01-03-19
    Posts: 8,798
    Betpoints: 25242

    RIP. All time great

  14. #14
    clockwise1965
    clockwise1965's Avatar Become A Pro!
    Join Date: 10-01-13
    Posts: 6,751
    Betpoints: 18366

    Great player. Rip

  15. #15
    gauchojake
    Have Some Asthma
    gauchojake's Avatar SBR PRO
    Join Date: 09-17-10
    Posts: 33,695
    Betpoints: 12975

    Quote Originally Posted by gauchojake View Post
    RIP

    One of my favorite stories is when all the Jim Rome clones called him to remind him when the draft was.
    https://www.stucknut.com/takebox/id/dde

Top