Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16, 1934) is a retired American
basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 13 seasons as a
forward in the
National Basketball Association (NBA) for the
Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in eight
NBA Finals. Baylor was a gifted shooter, strong
rebounder, and an accomplished passer. Renowned for his acrobatic maneuvers on the court, Baylor regularly dazzled Lakers fans with his trademark hanging
jump shots. The No. 1 draft pick in 1958, NBA Rookie of the Year in 1959, and an 11-time NBA All-Star, he is regarded as one of the game's all-time greatest players. In 1977, Baylor was inducted into the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.