JAKARTA - Former Minneapolis Hall of Fame and Los Angeles Lakers Elgin Baylor, considered one of the greatest forwards of all time has passed away at the age of 86.
Washington DC-born Baylor was the National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie of The Year in 1959. He spent 14 seasons with the Lakers and is considered to be one of the greatest players.
Elgin Baylor: Forever part of our Lakers Family. pic.twitter.com/zcRhVUSSmx
- Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 22, 2021
Although he is not as tall as any other player, Baylor holds the record for most individual points in a single NBA match, scoring 61 points against arch-rivals the Lakers, the Boston Celtics, in 1962.
"Elgin is the love of my life and my best friend. And like everyone else, I admire his extraordinary courage, his dignity, and the time he gives to all fans", said his wife, Elaine, quoted by Antara from Reuters on Tuesday.
Baylor's number 22 shirt hangs from the ceiling of the LA Lakers headquarters at Staples Center Stadium. The NBA All-Star 11 this time is also immortalized in a statue outside the stadium.
An all-time great. Rest in peace Elgin 💛💜
- Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 22, 2021
"Elgin was a superstar of his time, many of his awards show that", said Lakers owner Jeanie Buss.
"He's one of the few Lakers players whose career spans from Minneapolis to Los Angeles", added Buss.
"But more importantly, he was a man of high integrity, even serving his country as a US Army reserve, often playing for the Lakers only during his weekend vacations".
The Lakers moved to Los Angeles ahead of the 1960-1961 season and became one of the league's dominant teams, led by Baylor and Hall of Fame guard Jerry West. However, the club failed in eight NBA Finals during Baylor's tenure, including seven defeats to the Celtics.
After retiring, Baylor coached New Orleans Jazz before working as general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers for 22 years.
"RIP to the first NBA flyer, Lakers legend, and Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor", wrote the former Lakers guard and former Magic Johnson team president on Twitter.
"Before Michael Jordan did amazing things in the air, there was Elgin Baylor".
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Baylor set the direction for the modern league, as one of the first "superstar players", and even more so.
Tonight at 6 PM we'll be airing Elgin Baylor's @Lakers statue unveiling at STAPLES Center from April 2018. pic.twitter.com/1yre2R55Us
- Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 22, 2021
"He was a prominent activist during the height of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and an influential voice among his fellow players", said Silver.
The NBA Players Association (NBPA) said he was instrumental in forming the union.
"We are forever grateful for his courage and contribution", said NBPA.
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