Elgin Gay Baylor was an American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He was born on 16th September 1934, in Washington, D.C., United States. He has passed away at the age of 86 years.
CAREER
Elgin with his 6 feet 5 inches tall imposing frame and muscular and athletism started his career with the Seattle University. His subsequent heroics in helping the team to the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship final in 1958 drew the attention of the NBA scouts.
Elgin was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers with the first overall pick of the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. Elgin turned the fortune of the Minneapolis Lakers by taking the team to the NBA finals during the 1958-59 seasons, where they were conquered by the Boston Celtics.
He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in the process.
Baylor’s 14-year-long professional career was interrupted during the 1961-62 season when as a United States Army Reservist. He was ironically named as one of the greatest NBA players who failed to win a single NBA Championship during his playing days.
He retired during the mid-1971-72 season due to a persistent knee problem and when finally Lakers went on to win the NBA championship in that very season.
Elgin began his coaching career a short while after his retirement. He was soon promoted to head coach after being hired as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Jazz in 1974. He left the job after the conclusion of 1978-79 seasons without much success.
He was appointed as the Vice President of basketball operations by the Los Angeles Clippers where he served the post for 22 long years and resigned in October 2008 at the age of 74. In 2006, he was declared as the NBA Executive of the Year.
FAMILY LIFE
Baylor married Ruby Saunder on June 22, 1958, together they have two children. They divorced during the year 1974.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977 and was an elected member of the All-NBA First Team 10 times out of his 14 seasons of playing days.
DEATH
Elgin Baylor has died of natural causes in Los Angeles at the age of 86 on the date 22 March 2021.
His wife, Elaine, and daughter, Krystal, were at his side when he passed away peacefully, the Lakers announced.
NET WORTH
He is estimated at a net worth of $10 million.
