The player who invented modern basketball — Elgin Baylor's mid-air improvisation, body control and creativity created the template that Julius Erving and Michael Jordan later perfected.
Elgin Baylor invented modern basketball. Playing for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers from 1958 to 1971, his ability to improvise mid-air, hang in the air longer than physics seemed to allow, and create scoring opportunities from impossible angles was completely without precedent. He averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game for his career. He never won an NBA Championship.
Michael Jordan cited Baylor — not Dr J — as the original innovator of above-the-rim creative basketball. Baylor was doing it two decades before Jordan was born.
Did You Know?Career Honours
- 11x All-NBA First Team
- 11x All-Star
- Rookie of the Year 1959