Lakers legend Baylor, pumanaw na sa edad na 86
(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 18, 2013 former NBA player Elgin Baylor speaks onstage at the 28th Anniversary Sports Spectacular Gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City, California. - Los Angeles Lakers legend Elgin Baylor, widely regarded as one of the greatest players never to win a championship after playing and losing in eight NBA Finals, died on March 22, 2021, the franchise announced. He was 86. (Photo by KEVIN WINTER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Pumanaw na nitong Lunes sa edad na 86, ang Los Angeles Lakers legend na si Elgin Baylor, na kilala rin bilang isa sa “greatest players” na hindi nanalo ng championship matapos maglaro at matalo sa walong NBA Finals.
Ayon sa koponan, ang 11-time Hall-of-Famer, ang dominant force para sa Lakers sa loob ng 14 seasons sa liga sa pagitan ng 1958 at 1971, ay namatay sa piling ng kaniyang asawang si Elaine at anak na babaeng si Krystal.
Sa kaniyang mensahe na ipinalabas ng Lakers, sinabi ni Elaine . . . “Elgin was the love of my life and my best friend. And like everyone else, I was in awe of his immense courage, dignity and the time he gave to all fans. At this time we ask that I and our family be allowed to mourn his passing in privacy.”
Si Baylor ay napili kasama ng top pick sa 1958 draft, noon ang Lakers ay nakabase pa sa Minneapolis.
Agad siyang gumawa ng impact, matapos mag-average ng 24.9 points, 15 rebounds at 4.1 assists sa kaniyang debut season, at nakakuha rin ng Rookie of the Year awards.
Iyon na ang naging simula ng maningning nyang playing career kasama ng Lakers, na natapos sa kaniyang ika-14 na season noong 1971 dahil sa knee problems.
Tinapos ng 6ft 5in forward ang kaniyang career sa pamamagitan ng 23,149 points sa average na 27.4 per game, 11,463 rebounds (13.5), at 3,650 assists (4.3).
Bagamat naging instrumento para ang Lakers ay maging dominant force noong dekada 60, hindi nanalo sa championship si Baylor.
Nakaabot siya sa walong NBA Finals kasama ang Lakers, ngunit lahat iyon ay talo kabilang na ang tatlong seven-game series defeats sa Boston Celtics.
Gayunman, kabilang sa NBA Finals appearances ni Baylor ang hindi malilimutang 61-point outing laban sa Celtics noong 1962, na namamalaging record bilang “highest ever score by an individual in a NBA Finals game.”
Nabaligtad ang mga pangyayari nang sa wakas ay manalo ang Lakers sa championship sa 1971-1972 season — nang magretiro na si Baylor dahil sa injury, makalipas ang siyam na laro.
Kalaunan ay binigyan ng Lakers ng isang championship ring si Baylor, bilang pagkilala sa kaniyang kontribusyon sa koponan, na ibinenta nya naman sa halagang $132,000 noong 2013.
Ayon kay Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss . . . “Elgin was THE superstar of his era – his many accolades speak to that. “He will always be part of the Lakers legacy,” Buss said. “On behalf of the entire Lakers family, I’d like to send my thoughts, prayers and condolences to Elaine and the Baylor family.”
Ang retired No. 22 jersey ni Baylor, ay nakasabit sa rafters ng Staples Center at noong 2018, nagkaroon ng unveiling ng kaniyang estatwa sa labas ng arena.
Nagbigay din ng tribute ang iba pang Lakers legends, kaya ni Magic Johnson na saludo kay Baylor bilang isang trail-blazing basketball talent.
Sa kaniyang tweet ay sinabi ni Johnson na . . . “RIP to the NBA’s first high-flyer, Lakers Legend, & Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor. Before there was Michael Jordan doing amazing things in the air, there was Elgin Baylor! A true class act and great man.”
Ipinagluksa naman ng Lakers icon na si Jerry West, na kasamang naglaro ni Baylor sa loob ng 11 seasons, ang pagkawala ng aniya’y “great human being.”
Ayon kay West . . . “I guess I’m grateful to have shared some incredible times with him. He was just one of those unique individuals. He went out of his way to be helpful to me in terms of growing up, sharing things with me, which I know I will cherish the rest of my life. He was just a great human being.”
Si Baylor ay namalagi sa NBA pagkatapos ng kaniyang playing career, kung saan nagging coach sya ng New Orleans Jazz sa pagitan ng 1974 at 1979.
Noong 1986, nagging vice president siya ng basketball operations ng Los Angeles Clippers hanggang sa siya ay mag-resign noong 2008.
© Agence France-Presse
