LOS ANGELES – Elgin Baylor soared through the 1960s with a high-scoring, high-flying artistry that that became the model for the modern basketball player.
With a silky-smooth jumper and fluid athleticism, Baylor played a major role in revolutionizing basketball from a ground-bound sport into an aerial show.
Baylor’s second career as a personnel executive for 22 1/2 years with the woebegone Los Angeles Clippers was far less successful, but he remained a beloved basketball figure in Los Angeles and beyond.
When the Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960, Baylor became the centerpiece of their Hollywood revival.
A Los Angeles County jury unanimously ruled in the Clippers’ favor in March 2011, refusing to award any damages.