Who was NBA legend Elgin Baylor?

Los Angeles Lakers player Elgin Baylor who died of natural causes at the age of 86 on Monday was famous for his passing, shooting and rebounding basketball skills. 

Baylor held an executive position in the Los Angeles Clippers and had joined in 1986, reported CNN. The Lakers retired his No. 22 jersey in 1983.

He was married to Elaine and died surrounded by his daughter, Krystal and wife. 

He was chosen as the top pick in the 1958 draft when the Lakers were based in Minneapolis. Even though Baylor was unable to win an NBA championship, in 1959 he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award and was a 10-time member of the All-NBA first team. 

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In 2006, he won the NBA Executive of the Year Award. He resigned in 2008 from his post and unsuccessfully tried to sue the team for age discrimination. 

The Lakers won a championship in the 1971-1972 season after Baylor retired because of injury after only nine games.

Elgin was enlisted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. His biography says, “the first athlete to play above the rim, paving the way for future leapers like Connie Hawkins, Julius Erving, and Michael Jordan.”

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He was in Phelps A.C.E. High School, Columbia and attended College of Idaho and Seattle University.  He was a star college player and led Seattle University to the 1958 NCAA Championship Game. He was also selected as the Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four. 

The 6ft 5 inch (1.96m) player finished his career with 23,149 points at an average of 27.4 per game, along with 11,463 rebounds (13.5), and 3,650 assists (4.3), reported AFP. 

Baylor remained in the NBA after his playing career, coaching the New Orleans Jazz from 1974-1979.