On the long list of NBA legends without a championship ring, you could make an argument that Elgin Baylor is without a doubt the most talented of the lot. As a 6'5" small forward, born into an era of Bill Russell's and Wilt Chamberlain's, Baylor still retired from his 14-year career with the knowledge that he changed the game of basketball forever.
As a student who struggled academically throughout high school, Baylor eluded the scouting reports of most division 1 universities - spending most of his time working at the local furniture store and playing pick-up basketball at the local gym. His skill set alone got him a scholarship to Seattle University after a year away from a college court. He immediately lit the NCAA scene alight, taking Seattle to an NCAA Finals appearance and making his stake for a shot at an NBA draft spot.
Despite overwhelming racism at the time, which included restrictions on the number of African-American players per team, Baylor was selected first overall by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958. This was a struggling side filled with old has-beens who had finished the previous season at the very bottom of the NBA ladder. Here, Baylor would perform his first legendary act as an NBA player.
In his rookie season, Baylor led the Lakers all the way to the NBA Finals, the greatest single-season turn around in NBA history. They ended up falling short to the dominant Boston Celtics, but Baylor's unimaginable triumph was rewarded with the Rookie of the Year award for the 1958-1959 season. Suddenly, LaMelo Ball's rookie year doesn't sound all that impressive, does it?
Baylor continued to go from strength to strength throughout his early years in the NBA, regularly occupying the top spots for scoring and rebounding. Remember, in a league that was currently dominated by 7-footers, it was completely unheard of to see a smaller guard replicate the performances of Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain. His scoring ability was put on full display against Wilt himself in the 1961 season when Baylor dropped 71 points on the Warriors - a Laker record that wouldn't be broken until Kobe Bryant's 81 in 2006.
However, this second act of NBA legend was overlooked by Baylor's third. During the 1961-1962 season, Baylor was conscripted to join the U.S Army Reserve and therefore couldn't play in the NBA on a regular basis and only allowed him to play 48 games out of the 82. No practice. No mid-week games. Baylor went on to put together his most productive season, averaging 39 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists - all whilst living in army barracks in Washington. This fairytale season would end with a heartbreaking game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics in the Finals. Baylor averaged 40 points and 17 rebounds throughout the series, including a 61 point and 22 rebound performance in game 5 - a record that stands to this day.
When Baylor retired in 1972, the game had changed. He turned a once vertical game into a horizontal one and is where the origin of today's run and gun offence first began. He was a true pioneer and a recognised NBA great that was born into an era of Celtic dominance, who if he ever managed to beat, it would have catapulted him to the top of the NBA All-Time list.
Elgin Baylor (Photo From Bleacher Report)
All hail Baylor !!
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