Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by Mathew Diekhake

Elgin Baylor - Los Angeles LakersHere’s a full profile of Elgin Baylor, one of the most iconic players in NBA history:

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Elgin Gay Baylor
  • Nickname: Baylor, Mr. Inside, Rabbit
  • Nationality: American
  • DOB: Born on September 16, 1934; died: March 22, 2021 (aged 86)
  • Hometown: Washington, D.C.

Physical Attributes:

  • Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
  • Weight: 225 lb (102 kg)
  • Wingspan: Estimated around 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) (Though official data on wingspan isn’t readily available, based on his frame and era)
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Jersey Number: #22 (retired by the Los Angeles Lakers)

Basketball Career:

  • Honors: Lakers Legend
  • Position: Small Forward
  • High School: Spingarn High School (Washington, D.C.)
  • College:
    • College of Idaho (1954–1955)
    • Seattle University (1956–1958)
  • NBA Draft: 1958 NBA Draft, round 1, 1st overall, selected by the Minneapolis Lakers
  • Teams Played For: Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1958–1971)
  • Accolades:
    • NBA Career Achievements:
      • 11× NBA All-Star (1959–1965, 1967–1970)
      • 10× All-NBA Team:
      • First Team: 1959–1965, 1967–1969
      • Second Team: 1970
      • NBA All-Star Game MVP (1959)
      • NBA Rookie of the Year (1959)
    • Other Career Highlights:
      • NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
      • NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996)
      • Career Points Per Game Average: 27.4 PPG (Third all-time upon retirement)
      • Career Rebounds Per Game Average: 13.5 RPG
      • Scored 71 points in a game (1960) — one of the highest single-game scoring outputs in NBA history.
      • Baylor holds the record for the most points scored in an NBA Finals game: 61 points in Game 5 of the 1962 Finals.

Personal Life:

  • Championship Rings: 0 NBA Championships (Baylor retired early in the 1971-1972 season, just before the Lakers won that year’s title)
  • Kids: Elgin Baylor had three children:
    • Alan Baylor
    • Alison Baylor
    • Krystal Baylor
  • Siblings: Elgin Baylor had two brothers:
    • Sal Baylor
    • Kermit Baylor

Baylor was known for his incredible combination of size, strength, agility, and finesse, which allowed him to dominate as a scorer and rebounder. His impact on the game, especially as an early pioneer of high-flying, acrobatic play, continues to resonate throughout NBA history.