Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor was basketball's first high-flyer — a 6'5" forward who played above the rim decades before it became common, inventing a style of acrobatic, hang-time basketball that influenced every wing player who followed. His 1961-62 season, in which he averaged 38.3 points and 18.6 rebounds per game, remains one of the most dominant statistical seasons in history, and he did it while serving in the United States Army Reserve, often flying in on weekends to play games.

Baylor's Finals scoring record of 61 points in Game 5 of the 1962 Finals stood for decades. He was an 11-time All-Star and a 10-time All-NBA selection whose combination of scoring, rebounding, and athleticism was revolutionary for his era. He could post up smaller players, drive past bigger ones, and finish with a creativity that made him impossible to prepare for.

The great tragedy of Baylor's career is that he never won a championship, reaching the Finals eight times with the Lakers and losing every series. In a cruel twist, the Lakers finally won a title in 1972 — the season Baylor retired nine games in due to knee injuries. His on-court brilliance deserved at least one ring, and his influence on the modern game is incalculable.