Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:16 am Post subject: Elgin Baylor Legacy and Statue
Elgin Baylor is the most under-rated, overlooked super-star in NBA history.
Elgin Baylor. The league's first hang-time highlight machine. Based on what I've found to date, just over 2% of his career field goals exists in footage.
This is all of it put together in an attempt to show how he played the game of basketball, and why he's so underrated.
Today Baylor his gets his day in the sun!
Baylor played 14 seasons for the Lakers—in Minneapolis and in L.A.—and was the City of Angels' first basketball superstar. But his exploits have largely been lost to time, and the absence of his image in the Staples courtyard has only been felt by those old enough—and lucky enough—to witness his on-court wizardry.
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144461 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:01 am Post subject:
I am glad that he is getting a statue but I don’t remember watching him play. I remember as a kid getting an audio player that you could put in discs for each player and it would give their career highlights. I loved listening to Elgin’s. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
At what point does it become statue over-saturation?
1) Wayne Gretzky
2) Magic Johnson
3) Oscar De La Hoya
4) Chick Hearn
5) Jerry West
6) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
7) Luc Robitaille
8) Shaquille O'Neal
9) Bob Miller
10) Elgin Baylor
Kobe is next. Jerry Buss should get one, not sure why he hasn't gotten one yet.
They were debating on the radio if James Worthy should get one. I think Mychal Thompson said he should.
What's the number where it becomes too many statues?
How about this:
Quote:
The LA Clippers don’t have any representatives in statue form in front of the Staples Center, something Chris Paul hopes to correct someday.
CP3 says he “would love to have a statue” built once his playing days come to an end.
“I ain’t gonna lie to you, I haven’t drove by those statues yet,” Paul told The Undefeated late Tuesday night. “I don’t come in that way. No, I don’t come in that way. Where are they at, by the way? Are they in the front? We come in that back way. …
“I would love to have a statue. Love it. Absolutely. But there is a lot of work to be done before that’s the case. With those guys out there, you think about leaving a lasting imprint. It’s bigger than the game. All those guys out there have done that.”
Last edited by LongBeachPoly on Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:21 am; edited 1 time in total
Bob Miller has a statue? I must have missed that one. Staples is the sports complex of the world. There is plenty of room for statues. I definitely think Dr Buss should get one. I don't think Worthy should get one. _________________ Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.
At what point does it become statue over-saturation?
1) Wayne Gretzky
2) Magic Johnson
3) Oscar De La Hoya
4) Chick Hearn
5) Jerry West
6) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
7) Luc Robitaille
8) Shaquille O'Neal
9) Bob Miller
10) Elgin Baylor
Kobe is next. Jerry Buss should get one, not sure why he hasn't gotten one yet.
They were debating on the radio if James Worthy should get one. I think Mychal Thompson said he should.
What's the number where it becomes too many statues?
How about this:
Quote:
The LA Clippers don’t have any representatives in statue form in front of the Staples Center, something Chris Paul hopes to correct someday.
CP3 says he “would love to have a statue” built once his playing days come to an end.
“I ain’t gonna lie to you, I haven’t drove by those statues yet,” Paul told The Undefeated late Tuesday night. “I don’t come in that way. No, I don’t come in that way. Where are they at, by the way? Are they in the front? We come in that back way. …
“I would love to have a statue. Love it. Absolutely. But there is a lot of work to be done before that’s the case. With those guys out there, you think about leaving a lasting imprint. It’s bigger than the game. All those guys out there have done that.”
It's a testament to the greatness around that building and around that franchise. There's no such thing as "too many statues" when you have THAT much legacy and prestige. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
Bob Miller has a statue? I must have missed that one. Staples is the sports complex of the world. There is plenty of room for statues. I definitely think Dr Buss should get one. I don't think Worthy should get one.
Yup, that what it says here:
Quote:
On January 13, 2018 a ninth statue, of legendary Kings announcer Bob Miller, was unveiled.
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Elgin Baylor Legacy and Statue
pio2u wrote:
[b]Elgin Baylor is the most under-rated, overlooked super-star in NBA history.
Pretty much all the pre-70s stars other than Wilt, Russell, West and Oscar bring a shrug from people. In that regard, Baylor stands with Bob Pettit, Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes, George Mikan, and the other guys who built the league in the early days.
I know what Baylor accomplished, and appreciate his place in basketball history, but I feel zero emotional connection to him. It's nice he's getting a statue, but I can't say I really care one way or the other about it. I remember him more for all his grief as a Clippers GM and the silly lawsuit he launched for being underpaid after he was fired.
It's on Spectrum but no live streams on lakers.com _________________ Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.
At what point does it become statue over-saturation?
1) Wayne Gretzky
2) Magic Johnson
3) Oscar De La Hoya
4) Chick Hearn
5) Jerry West
6) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
7) Luc Robitaille
8) Shaquille O'Neal
9) Bob Miller
10) Elgin Baylor
Kobe is next. Jerry Buss should get one, not sure why he hasn't gotten one yet.
They were debating on the radio if James Worthy should get one. I think Mychal Thompson said he should.
What's the number where it becomes too many statues?
How about this:
Quote:
The LA Clippers don’t have any representatives in statue form in front of the Staples Center, something Chris Paul hopes to correct someday.
CP3 says he “would love to have a statue” built once his playing days come to an end.
“I ain’t gonna lie to you, I haven’t drove by those statues yet,” Paul told The Undefeated late Tuesday night. “I don’t come in that way. No, I don’t come in that way. Where are they at, by the way? Are they in the front? We come in that back way. …
“I would love to have a statue. Love it. Absolutely. But there is a lot of work to be done before that’s the case. With those guys out there, you think about leaving a lasting imprint. It’s bigger than the game. All those guys out there have done that.”
It's a testament to the greatness around that building and around that franchise. There's no such thing as "too many statues" when you have THAT much legacy and prestige.
concur - we’re blessed with such greatness - I saw Elgin play prior to his retirement the year West, Chamberlain and Stumpie ripped off 33 games in a row and took the chip.
I wonder if any Laker fans under 30 give a damn about Elgin?
I'm pretty sure no here under 55 actually saw him play, so I just question the relevance...
And most just think of him as the Clippers GM for like 20 years... _________________ “Always remember... Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.”
A wonderful honor and long overdue. And that is one nice statue!
As Stu Lantz correctly touched on yesterday, the Lakers never would have survived in Minneapolis, much less made it to Los Angeles, if they had not been able to sign Baylor to a $20,000 rookie contract, a massive sum in the NBA of 1958.
Minneapolis (and first LA) Lakers owner Bob Short later recalled of signing Baylor, "If he had turned me down then, I would have been out of business. The club would have gone bankrupt."
It was nice to see the great Bill Russell at the ceremony as well. It's inspiring how much love and respect there is from Baylor and West for a man that caused them so much pain in their playing careers, and I believe Russell feels the same way about them.
I had the pleasure as a kid to see Baylor play in person a handful of times and while he was slowing down by that point, it was thrilling for me to see him out there.
It was good that the Lakers finally got around to honoring Elg in this fashion, correcting an oversight that had been lingering for a while.
Thanks to one of the great Lakers, and one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Can't wait to read his new autobiography.
I never really spent much time watching his highlights. After watching the links in this thread, it looks like he was the Lebron of his era. The do-it-all forward who was a physical presence. He's the guy that Lebron should be compared to, not MJ or Magic.
It's weird watching some of those highlights because it looks like someone dropped a modern player on the court with those other guys who move like robots. Way ahead of his time. It's easy to see how he saved the Lakers from bankruptcy.
I wonder if any Laker fans under 30 give a damn about Elgin?
I'm pretty sure no here under 55 actually saw him play, so I just question the relevance...
And most just think of him as the Clippers GM for like 20 years...
i used to wonder if the lakers gave a damn about him. its not about age when you see youths in chamberlain and west jerseys but never baylor. i dont think they ever even released baylor throwbacks.
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