The father of modern basketball. The inventor of the jab step, first step. Pretty much the inventor of creating off the pivot foot and creating off the dribble. Rest in Power
I love basketball and have seen tons of documentaries about players, ABA, and the NBA. I’ve watched at least one hundred old games too, but I’m embarrassed to admit that I never did a deep dive into Elgin Baylor’s career. Right before I watched this video I seen his career highlights and from what I seen this dude my type of player. Can score a lot of points (27 per game)but he is also a excellent passer. A monster rebounder too, averaged 13 of them per game just like Dennis Rodman. His court vision is what first got my attention, I’d pick him over Magic Johnson any day of the week.
*Elgin should know.* He's played against, coached, scouted *every* player over the past *SIXTY years.* RIP Great One; Pearl before Pearl, Dr. J before Dr. J., MJ before MJ.
@@user-oc8xt1ry6l *Earl "the Pearl" Monroe;* superstar guard for the Baltimore Bullets/ NY Knicks. The Pearl was particularly known for helping popularize a deceptive style of NBA dribble where he would *back* his way down the court, and *spin* to his left, or right; this was pretty unique at that time.
I much prefer basketball from the pre-3-point shot era. Since most fans today do not remember that era, it is hard to talk about the difference, but I am sure glad that l lived through that time. I really don't care for today's game.
i'm seventy and loved watching all the greats including elgin baylor and west right up through bird's celtics, showtime lakers, jordan's bulls, kobe and lebron....defensive battles were intense...that said, i have to disagree with you...i never saw a team i enjoyed watching more than the steph curry warriors...especially the 2016 seventy-three win team, pre- durant...
I watched a game or at least its highlights, from Elgin's time and it was amazing how quick they played. No sooner was the ball taken down then up it went...maybe 5 seconds or so for the play and then everyone running back...this is one reason Wilt had so many points and rebounds--so many opportunities! Players did shoot from beyond what would today be the 3-point line but as Elgin said, the idea was to try and get as close as you could to the basket to increase the odds you would make the shot. But truth to tell they didn't spend much time doing it; if the opportunity wasn't there, then bombs away, dream baby! Uh, this is my way of saying I like that type of basketball.
I am a distant relative of RABBIT, which is his nickname from high school, Spingarn high school of northeast, Washington, D.C. I played, but I didn’t have his skills, clearly!!! Rest in Power cousin!!!!!
Today's athletes are certainly more athletic, but the offense of today with one player dribbling while 4 stand at the 3-pt line is pretty boring. When there is a good amount of passing, it's amazining how opportunities open up and restores energy to the game.
1:12 That was NOT hard to guess - *MY* list of "who to start a franchise with" starts with Bill. 13 years, 13 playoffs, 12 Finals, 11 Championships (and the one Finals loss he missed 2.5 games with a sprained ankle, as Elgin refers to). Wilt is NOT my #2 - that would be Larry Bird.
I'm not a fan of the 3 point shot, as it's used right now anyway. I think it's ruined the game of basketball to a certain extent. I think it needs to be rained in and limited in how many attempts are allowed, maybe 5 per half. Make the teams manage them, like they do time outs. Or something along those lines. It's a great tool for come backs when a team is down, but running up and down the court shooting 3s is not that entertaining.
facts steph curry ruined the game of basketball all little point guards like him do nowadays is just call for a screen (which most of them are moving screens now but the nba doesn’t call that anymore) and just do stupid dribbling and launch up a 3 ball
The three best Small forwards last names start with "B",and Bird,Barry and the great Baylor.Anyone say that they are not the standard then who as of right NOW.
@@masterchief5833 I don't think most people think Chamberlain completely outclassed Russell. Russell has 11 Championships and Wilt has 2. Russell completely owned him in the playoffs, Russell won two NCAA championships and Wilt won none, Russell has an Olympic gold medal and Wilt does not, etc, etc, so I don't think most people think Wilt completely outclassed him.
@@dannysullivan8929 most people think russel could even be compared to wilt because a large part of his success came from the fact that he had an amazing team. But people dont understand that he was also a freak athlete with arguably better defense than wilt and was also a good scorer. When wilt was told to play like bill russel he also didnt average the insane amount of points he did and instead won a championship which puts into perspective what bill was doing.
@@masterchief5833 Absolutely. Bill Sharman told Wilt Chamberlain to be more like Bill Russell and Will Chamberlain won the championship in 1972. Bill Sharman should know, he was Russell's teammate. But Russell's teammates were great because Russell made them great. After Bob Cousy retired, they still won championshipshs, after Tommy Heinhson retired they still won championships, after Frank Ramsey, Bill Sharman and K.C. Jones retired, they still won Championships. But after Bill Russell retired they were a pretty bad team for about 3 years and did not win a championship until 5 years after he retired with a whole new batch of players with the exception of John Havlicek. If Bill Russell would not have gotten hurt in 1958 he would have won 12 championships in 13 years and nine straight which literally boggles the mind. Not that 11 championships in 13 years and 8 in a row, doesn't already boggle the mind. In short, I agree with the great Elgin Baylor. If I had to start a team with one player, I would choose Bill Russell over anybody else in the history of planet Earth. By far and away the greatest winner in the history of sport.
The 3 pointer is beautiful in snipers hands. Steph, Klay, Reggie, Trae, Dame. The problem is with people chucking shots up trying to recreate the success the Warriors found without having two of the most prolific deep range scorers in the game
When a 3 was a 2 it was a low percentage shot. But since they made distance equal 3 it became a high percentage shot. And Elgin wouldve learned to take and make them if the rules wouldve encouraged it then . Then there were only two tier shooters so closer was better as a high percentage shot but if you look they ran more in that era - pace was fastest in the transition to the 3 era 75-85 .
Do you prefer the NBA with the 3 point shot? Yes and No. As soon as you took away hand checking and physical defense, bloated the league up to 30 teams, gave superstars all the calls and started to make the 3 point shot the king, you ruined the NBA. It used to be a competition and now its an exhibition. In the current NBA many players do their best to avoid fouls including allowing easy shots at the hoop. Others do nothing but sit behind the 3 point line waiting for a pass so they can launch a shot. That creates a boring game. A game without any real movement and flow. It's a game for the highlight reels but it produces so few actual highlights. Who wants to watch long 3 point shots? Or uncontested dunks?
Russell actually didn’t shoot a high %. Phenomenal leader and defensive player but shooting 43-44% for his career at 6’9 to 6’10” 210 in any era is not good.
Wilt went to Elgins wedding and before the ceremony they played basketball together! This was before either joined the nba... Mutual respect was in evidence, but when Elgins' knees went, he was only a shadow of his former self...Wilt replaced Elgin as the lakers captain and helped cement the 1972 team as the greatest winners in a season ever!
"Bill Russell. THE WAY HE PLAYED." Russell played winning basketball and because of the way he played, the other Celtics played that way. How did they play? They always made the right play. Plus Russell was a defensive genius. Bill Russell is the greatest player ever to play in the NBA.
Russell was a team player who carried the team. Wilt was a dominator but he was selfish. He did care of his stats and not of the winning. Later he changed the style. But the assist leader he won was only to show that he can.
@The Universe Galaxy well if you really want to bring up Generation differences I'll have to go way back to the days when athletes Was killing each other in greek or roman games. The athletes back then were in least physical shape, but they were physically stronger in other areas as humans in survival. This is sort of why you would assume prisoners are stronger than modern military trained recruits it's because of the conditioning of how they need to protect their bodies. No today's athletes are not better or stronger or faster they just have better recovery techniques that is it.
@@joemartin1253 yes they are. They can dribble shoot and finish better than any other era. You think basketball players got worse over the course of 50 years? C’mon man use common sense. Current players are better than the past and it’s just not even up for debate. You are simply biased and stuck in the past if you can’t see the clear skill gap
There was a guy named Jerry Lucas that was shooting rainbows from deep back then, that only counted for 2 points. My pick would be Jerry Lucas to shoot threes in this era.
RIP, Elgin Baylor, who passed March 22, 2021. He lived a great 86 years.
Ironically his teammate the great Jerry West passed away on June 12 2024 at 86
RIP Elgin Baylor
The father of modern basketball. The inventor of the jab step, first step. Pretty much the inventor of creating off the pivot foot and creating off the dribble. Rest in Power
Adrian Dantly reminded me of Elgin Baylor alot. More of a scorer than a pure shooter.
@@MeneerHerculePoirot true indeed.
I love basketball and have seen tons of documentaries about players, ABA, and the NBA. I’ve watched at least one hundred old games too, but I’m embarrassed to admit that I never did a deep dive into Elgin Baylor’s career. Right before I watched this video I seen his career highlights and from what I seen this dude my type of player. Can score a lot of points (27 per game)but he is also a excellent passer. A monster rebounder too, averaged 13 of them per game just like Dennis Rodman. His court vision is what first got my attention, I’d pick him over Magic Johnson any day of the week.
@@MeneerHerculePoirotBaylor played more above the rim and had more exiting finishing
*Elgin should know.* He's played against, coached, scouted *every* player over the past *SIXTY years.* RIP Great One; Pearl before Pearl, Dr. J before Dr. J., MJ before MJ.
Who's pearl
Who is pearl man?
@@user-oc8xt1ry6l *Earl "the Pearl" Monroe;* superstar guard for the Baltimore Bullets/ NY Knicks.
The Pearl was particularly known for helping popularize a deceptive style of NBA dribble where he would *back* his way down the court, and *spin* to his left, or right; this was pretty unique at that time.
@@nycsongman9758 Oh I forgot about his nickname. Legend!
@@user-oc8xt1ry6l
Yeah, saw Earl the Pearl play many times. He had a killer crossover before there was a name for it.
Elgin Baylor and Jerry West - two of the best I have ever seen
"the year he didn't win, he was hurt"--he said of Russell. Goosebumps.
I hope everybody here realizes that you are watching one of the absolute, all time greats! I can't believe that he is gone!
I’m 71, every time one of these guys pass away, I want to cry. Wilt, Elgin, Oscar, Bill, Jerry. My five.
@@clu4u I hear you Bro! And I'm 72!
Rip to the legend🙏🏾💕
Most underrated player in NBA history
there's footage of this guy literally doing eurosteps 60 years ago and they were calling travel for it back then. RIP.
The Euro Step is Bullcrap and Traveling!!!
@@paulauspitzthegreatestsong7785
You just don’t know much about the modern game then...
Lewis Lloyd perfected it
I much prefer basketball from the pre-3-point shot era. Since most fans today do not remember that era, it is hard to talk about the difference, but I am sure glad that l lived through that time. I really don't care for today's game.
i'm seventy and loved watching all the greats including elgin baylor and west right up through bird's celtics, showtime lakers, jordan's bulls, kobe and lebron....defensive battles were intense...that said, i have to disagree with you...i never saw a team i enjoyed watching more than the steph curry warriors...especially the 2016 seventy-three win team, pre- durant...
@@michaeldonovan4793 I love to hear that! I like hearing older nba fans who have watched all the eras and give their respect to all of them
I watched a game or at least its highlights, from Elgin's time and it was amazing how quick they played. No sooner was the ball taken down then up it went...maybe 5 seconds or so for the play and then everyone running back...this is one reason Wilt had so many points and rebounds--so many opportunities! Players did shoot from beyond what would today be the 3-point line but as Elgin said, the idea was to try and get as close as you could to the basket to increase the odds you would make the shot. But truth to tell they didn't spend much time doing it; if the opportunity wasn't there, then bombs away, dream baby! Uh, this is my way of saying I like that type of basketball.
Ditto
Class guy. Sad that he is gone.
I am a distant relative of RABBIT, which is his nickname from high school, Spingarn high school of northeast, Washington, D.C. I played, but I didn’t have his skills, clearly!!! Rest in Power cousin!!!!!
Your cousin was absolutely phenomenal. RIP.
Today's athletes are certainly more athletic, but the offense of today with one player dribbling while 4 stand at the 3-pt line is pretty boring. When there is a good amount of passing, it's amazining how opportunities open up and restores energy to the game.
More athletic? Russell make the Olympic team in the high jump. Elgin played college football and weighed 235.
1:12
That was NOT hard to guess - *MY* list of "who to start a franchise with" starts with Bill.
13 years, 13 playoffs, 12 Finals, 11 Championships (and the one Finals loss he missed 2.5 games with a sprained ankle, as Elgin refers to).
Wilt is NOT my #2 - that would be Larry Bird.
Rick Barry would start with Wilt
Thanks , it is nice to get acquainted with the legends of the game
Godspeed, Captain...
Elg played like Dr.J before Dr.J became Dr.J!
Love Elgin!
I'm not a fan of the 3 point shot, as it's used right now anyway. I think it's ruined the game of basketball to a certain extent. I think it needs to be rained in and limited in how many attempts are allowed, maybe 5 per half. Make the teams manage them, like they do time outs. Or something along those lines. It's a great tool for come backs when a team is down, but running up and down the court shooting 3s is not that entertaining.
Agree
facts steph curry ruined the game of basketball all little point guards like him do nowadays is just call for a screen (which most of them are moving screens now but the nba doesn’t call that anymore) and just do stupid dribbling and launch up a 3 ball
It’s already been proven that the 2 pointer is more valuable then the 3 pointer so cry more
RIP! A great man!
Was he a great man? I didn't follow his life. How was he a "great man"? Just curious.
The three best Small forwards last names start with "B",and Bird,Barry and the great Baylor.Anyone say that they are not the standard then who as of right NOW.
Why did Elgin think no one would know he would pick Bill Russell?
RIP....Elgin...
Most underrated superstar and best player to win never win a ring healthy
Bill Russell - did y'all here that?
Find it crazy that your comment was a day before he died
Bill russel was underrated, he wasn't completley outclassed by wilt as most people think.
@@masterchief5833 I don't think most people think Chamberlain completely outclassed Russell. Russell has 11 Championships and Wilt has 2. Russell completely owned him in the playoffs, Russell won two NCAA championships and Wilt won none, Russell has an Olympic gold medal and Wilt does not, etc, etc, so I don't think most people think Wilt completely outclassed him.
@@dannysullivan8929 most people think russel could even be compared to wilt because a large part of his success came from the fact that he had an amazing team. But people dont understand that he was also a freak athlete with arguably better defense than wilt and was also a good scorer. When wilt was told to play like bill russel he also didnt average the insane amount of points he did and instead won a championship which puts into perspective what bill was doing.
@@masterchief5833 Absolutely. Bill Sharman told Wilt Chamberlain to be more like Bill Russell and Will Chamberlain won the championship in 1972. Bill Sharman should know, he was Russell's teammate. But Russell's teammates were great because Russell made them great. After Bob Cousy retired, they still won championshipshs, after Tommy Heinhson retired they still won championships, after Frank Ramsey, Bill Sharman and K.C. Jones retired, they still won Championships. But after Bill Russell retired they were a pretty bad team for about 3 years and did not win a championship until 5 years after he retired with a whole new batch of players with the exception of John Havlicek. If Bill Russell would not have gotten hurt in 1958 he would have won 12 championships in 13 years and nine straight which literally boggles the mind. Not that 11 championships in 13 years and 8 in a row, doesn't already boggle the mind. In short, I agree with the great Elgin Baylor. If I had to start a team with one player, I would choose Bill Russell over anybody else in the history of planet Earth. By far and away the greatest winner in the history of sport.
The 3 pointer is beautiful in snipers hands. Steph, Klay, Reggie, Trae, Dame. The problem is with people chucking shots up trying to recreate the success the Warriors found without having two of the most prolific deep range scorers in the game
Many people don't know this about Elgin Baylor but he's the only NBA Superstar to play H.O.R.S.E. in NBA games
Great player no doubt!
Rip great player
I was watching some college tournament games its all jacking up 3s no other offensive strategy
When a 3 was a 2 it was a low percentage shot. But since they made distance equal 3 it became a high percentage shot. And Elgin wouldve learned to take and make them if the rules wouldve encouraged it then . Then there were only two tier shooters so closer was better as a high percentage shot but if you look they ran more in that era - pace was fastest in the transition to the 3 era 75-85 .
1:53 RESPECT
rip legend
I have no doubt Jerry West would be good at 3 point shots.
Bill Russell the GOAT
When Wilt was averaging 50.4 ,and 25, almost 26 rebounds per game that same season,Baylor was at 38points and almost 20 rebounds
Anthony Cumia looking good here
RIH 🙏🏽
Omg he did not look 83 man, he looks amazing
Do you prefer the NBA with the 3 point shot? Yes and No. As soon as you took away hand checking and physical defense, bloated the league up to 30 teams, gave superstars all the calls and started to make the 3 point shot the king, you ruined the NBA. It used to be a competition and now its an exhibition. In the current NBA many players do their best to avoid fouls including allowing easy shots at the hoop. Others do nothing but sit behind the 3 point line waiting for a pass so they can launch a shot. That creates a boring game. A game without any real movement and flow. It's a game for the highlight reels but it produces so few actual highlights. Who wants to watch long 3 point shots? Or uncontested dunks?
Russell actually didn’t shoot a high %. Phenomenal leader and defensive player but shooting 43-44% for his career at 6’9 to 6’10” 210 in any era is not good.
One of 6 men who could be the logo...
Elgin
Magic
Wilt
Russell
Jordan
Dr J
*Bird
The guy absolutely knows nothing about Elgin Baylor, Elgin and wilt hated eachother
They did not like playing together.
Wilt went to Elgins wedding and before the ceremony they played basketball together! This was before either joined the nba...
Mutual respect was in evidence, but when Elgins' knees went, he was only a shadow of his former self...Wilt replaced Elgin as the lakers captain and helped cement the 1972 team as the greatest winners in a season ever!
"Bill Russell. THE WAY HE PLAYED." Russell played winning basketball and because of the way he played, the other Celtics played that way. How did they play? They always made the right play. Plus Russell was a defensive genius. Bill Russell is the greatest player ever to play in the NBA.
Mount Rushmore
Master floor exercise.
They killed him
How in the hell is his best teammate not Wilt Chamberlain? Did not pass enough to EG?
Shocking how Wilt always get over-looked the absolute 'freak of nature' and leader in Pts/Blocks/assists in his era barely gets mention 🤷♂️
He asked for his most talented teammate not most athletic or most physically dominant. He mulled it over for awhile.
If I remember correctly he did not play with Wilt
@@chuckkennedy8239 yes he did.
@@chuckkennedy8239 He played 3 years with Wilt 1968-1971.
What player in today’s era would hold his own in today’s era??? Literally all of them 🤣
Xd
Rich Eisen - out of control ego😢
Russell was a team player who carried the team. Wilt was a dominator but he was selfish. He did care of his stats and not of the winning. Later he changed the style. But the assist leader he won was only to show that he can.
This nba is more skilled period
no, it's more athletic...
doesn't mean BETTER
@The Universe Galaxy well if you really want to bring up Generation differences I'll have to go way back to the days when athletes Was killing each other in greek or roman games. The athletes back then were in least physical shape, but they were physically stronger in other areas as humans in survival. This is sort of why you would assume prisoners are stronger than modern military trained recruits it's because of the conditioning of how they need to protect their bodies. No today's athletes are not better or stronger or faster they just have better recovery techniques that is it.
More athletic yes skilled NO.
@@joemartin1253 yes they are. They can dribble shoot and finish better than any other era. You think basketball players got worse over the course of 50 years? C’mon man use common sense. Current players are better than the past and it’s just not even up for debate. You are simply biased and stuck in the past if you can’t see the clear skill gap
@@JulioLeonFandinho current players are far better than players of the past
He is asked about three point shots and he cannot even mention his best promoter Jerry West? Dementia?
What's wrong with you man ?
There was a guy named Jerry Lucas that was shooting rainbows from deep back then, that only counted for 2 points. My pick would be Jerry Lucas to shoot threes in this era.
Because he didnt want to count out any payers so he thought about it for awhiel
He said that because Jerry West took the right shot not because it was long watch the films of Mr. Cutch