Elgin Baylor, the Hall of Fame star who spent 14 years playing for the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers, has died at 86. The Lakers released a statement about his death, which was from natural causes.
Baylor is a vital player in the history of the NBA. Athletic and quick, his trademark hanging jump shot was part of the movement that took the NBA off the ground and lifted it into the air, where it's stayed ever since.
A Washington, DC native, Baylor was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1958. That was when the Lakers were based in Minneapolis, which changed before the 1960-61 season. Over his 14-year career, which he spent entirely with the Lakers, Baylor was an All-Star 11 times, was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times, and was the Rookie of the Year in 1959. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss called him "THE superstar of his era."
Baylor was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, and his No. 22 has been retired by the Lakers. The Lakers went beyond just retiring his jersey, though. Baylor and his signature hanging jump shot were immortalized in an amazing statue outside the Staples Center in 2018.
This story will be updated.
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