Basketball
purists sum up Elgin
Baylor's game with one
word: "unstoppable."
Baylor was an innovative
offensive force never
before seen. Baylor
could dominate opponents
with piercing drives to
the hoop or
springboard-like jump
shots. He had a strong
first step, and he used
it creatively. The 6'5"
Baylor possessed
tremendous body control
and could suspend
himself in air, causing
many to say he was "the
man with a thousand
moves." Baylor was an
offensive machine as
both a collegian and
professional. In
1957-58, Baylor scored
32.5 ppg, grabbed 559
rebounds-second and
third respectively in
the nation-and led
Seattle University to
the NCAA championship
game. Despite losing to
Kentucky, Baylor earned
tournament MVP honors.
Although he had another
year of eligibility
remaining, Baylor turned
pro in 1958, embarking
on a phenomenal 14-year
career...Elgin
Baylor for Your Event
His impact was felt
immediately, as he
captured 1959 Rookie of
the Year honors (24.9
ppg) and ignited the
rebirth of the then
struggling Minneapolis
Lakers, who moved to Los
Angeles in 1960. Baylor,
who played in 11 NBA
All-Star games, scored
23,149 points in only
846 games (27.4 ppg).
Baylor's best offensive
season was 1961-62, when
he averaged 38.3 ppg.
Overall, Baylor averaged
30 points or more three
times during his career.
On Dec. 11, 1960, Baylor
became the first player
in NBA history to break
the 70-point barrier
after he torched the New
York Knicks for 71
points. Baylor, who
teamed with Jerry West
to form one of the most
feared scoring duos in
the NBA, was named
All-NBA First Team 10
times. Due to nagging
knee injuries, Baylor
retired nine games into
the 1971-72 season.
Ironically, the Lakers
won the NBA championship
that year, an
achievement that eluded
Baylor in his
distinguished career.
Baylor was selected to
the NBA's 35th
Anniversary Team in
1980.
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