Ranking the top 50 players in NBA history…
Baylor, one of the game’s greatest forwards, played 14 seasons with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers from 1958 to 1971.
Drafted No. 1 overall in 1958, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1959, averaging 24.9 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Over his career, Baylor’s production was undeniable. He averaged 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in 846 games.
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He led the Lakers to eight NBA Finals appearances but tragically never won a championship.
Baylor was also an 11-time NBA All-Star and earned 10 All-NBA First Team selections. His notable achievements include scoring 71 points in a game in 1960, a record at the time, and setting a still-standing NBA Finals record with 61 points in a 1962 game.
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After fighting through knee injuries in his later years, Baylor retired in 1971 after an Achilles tendon rupture.
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Baylor’s legacy includes induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, recognition on the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and inclusion on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
He also holds the Lakers’ franchise record for most career rebounds with 11,463.
Featured image via Darryl Norenberg/USA TODAY Sports