Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor: The Man Who Changed the Game

High School

Elgin Baylor was born on September 16, 1934, in Washington, D.C. Initially, he started playing basketball at 14. Although he grew up near a D.C. city recreation center, African Americans were banned from using the facilities, and Baylor had limited access to basketball courts as a child. He had two basketball-playing brothers, Sal and Kermit.

Despite the challenges he faced, Baylor quickly became one of the best basketball players in his city. He attended Phelps Vocational High School, where he led the team to two city championships. Baylor was also named to the All-American team twice.

College

As a result, Baylor received scholarship offers from several colleges, but he chose to attend the College of Idaho. Elgin played for the Coyotes for one season, averaging 36.1 points per game. After his freshman year, Baylor transferred to Seattle University, where he played for the Chieftains for two seasons.

Baylor was a dominant player at Seattle University. He led the Chieftains to the NCAA Tournament in both of his seasons there. In his senior year, Baylor averaged 37.8 points per game, which is the highest single-season scoring average in NCAA history. He was also named the NCAA Player of the Year.

NBA

The Minneapolis Lakers selected Baylor with the first overall pick in the 1958 NBA draft. He quickly became one of the best players in the league. In his rookie season, Baylor averaged 24.9 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and the NBA All-NBA First Team.

As expected, Baylor continued to be a dominant player for the Lakers throughout his career. He was named to the NBA All-Star Game 11 times and the NBA All-NBA First Team 10 times. Baylor also led the Lakers to the NBA Finals eight times, but they were unable to win a championship.

Moreover, Baylor was known for his athleticism, his scoring ability, and his rebounding. He was also a very good passer and defender. Baylor was a revolutionary player who helped to change the game of basketball. He was one of the first players to use his athleticism and size to score from anywhere on the court.

Legacy

Elgin Baylor is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was a dominant player who helped to change the game. Baylor was also a pioneer for African Americans in the NBA. He was one of the first African American players to become a superstar in the league.

Baylor was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. He is also a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team and the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.