ELGINBAYLOR
LOS ANGELES LAKERSElgin Baylor — 11× All-Star, pioneer of above-the-rim basketball. Career stats, bio and legacy of the Lakers legend who never won a title despite eight Finals trips.
11×ALL-STAR
Elgin Baylor biography — NBA career story, legacy, championships, awards and personal background.
Career timeline, milestones, and place among all-time greats.
Before Julius Erving, before Michael Jordan, there was Elgin Baylor — the player widely credited with inventing hang-time and above-the-rim basketball. Born September 16, 1934, in Washington, D.C. Died March 22, 2021, in Los Angeles, at age 86. Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm).
He led Seattle University to the 1958 NCAA championship game, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors despite the loss. Drafted 1st overall by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958, he won Rookie of the Year and moved with the franchise to Los Angeles in 1960, playing his entire 14-season career there.
Baylor averaged a career-high 38.3 points in the 1961–62 season — while serving as a weekend U.S. Army reservist, unable to practice with the team all year. His 61-point game in the 1962 NBA Finals remains a Finals scoring record. An 11-time All-Star and 10-time All-NBA First Team selection, he played alongside Jerry West and later Wilt Chamberlain but never won an NBA championship, losing in the Finals eight times.
Career totals: 23,149 points (27.4 ppg), 11,463 rebounds (13.5 rpg), 3,650 assists (4.3 apg).
His No. 22 was retired by the Lakers. Named to the NBA's 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Elgin Baylor quick facts — Height 6'5. 27.4 PPG career average.
Height, weight, draft year, and years in the league.
Elgin Baylor awards and honors — championships, MVPs, All-Star selections and Hall of Fame recognition.
Major individual and team accolades with seasons won.
11x
10x
Elgin Baylor career statistics summary — 27.4 PPG career average.
Regular-season averages and totals across the full NBA career.
Elgin Baylor career highs — best single-game performances in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Personal records with dates and opponents.
vs NYK
vs PHW
vs LAL
vs NYK
vs LAL
Elgin Baylor advanced stats — PER, win shares, BPM and overall impact metrics.
Impact measured beyond traditional box score statistics.
Elgin Baylor playoff stats — postseason points, rebounds, assists and games played.
Postseason production across every playoff run.
Elgin Baylor All-Star Game stats — appearances, minutes and showcase performance.
Mid-season exhibition stats across every All-Star selection.
→Elgin Baylor NBA transactions — trades, signings and team changes by date.
Team moves and dates across every NBA stop.
FAQ about Elgin Baylor — rings, MVP awards, career stats, height.
Answers to the most searched questions about championships and career honors.
Elgin Baylor averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists per game in the regular season.
Players similar to Elgin Baylor — statistical peers by position, peak seasons and career arc.
All-time comparisons with the closest playing profile.
NoteThe club shown in the profile isn't necessarily the player's last team, but the one he's most associated with and that defined his career. See the full team history in the Transactions section.