If one were to rightfully consider Jerry West an absolute legend on the basketball court, they would do well to listen to him praise another NBA great. Such was once the case in an interview with SLAM magazine , where 'The Logo' heaped praise on his longtime Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Elgin Baylor.
"I saw tons of nights when he [Baylor] was just absolutely incredible. And when you watch that night in and night out, you can't help but be in awe and be inspired. Playing next to him couldn't help but elevate my game. It's like watching Michael Jordan . He makes everyone around him so much better. There's really no way to describe playing with someone like that," West reflected.
Rookie Baylor rescued the Lakers from despair
Just before Baylor's rookie season in 1958-59, the Lakers were in complete disarray: George Mikan's comeback and coaching stint flopped, resulting in their first playoff miss and financial strain due to low attendance. As the league's worst team, the Lakers had the opportunity to pick first in the 1958 NBA Draft - a stroke of luck in hindsight.
Baylor , a former Seattle college graduate, made a strong debut leading the team to the NBA Finals , where they were defeated by the Bill Russell-led Celtics. However, the young small forward and ROY winner impressed individually, averaging 24.9 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest.
"An unbelievable package," contined Jerry. "He had strength, smarts, quickness, great instincts and unbelievable competitiveness. He could drive, he could shoot, he could pass, he could rebound and he could play great D. He was unreal. He was a wonderfully gifted player and an absolute joy to watch and play with."
A bittersweet career-ending
Shortly after the franchise's relocation to Los Angeles, the talented point guard West joined the team as the second pick in the 1960 NBA Draft. Together with Baylor, he would go on to form the foundation of the Lakers team, which reached the NBA Finals five times. However, they lost each time to the historic Celtics roster.
Following yet another disappointing loss and struggling massively with his knee, 'Elg' chose to retire early in the 1971-72 season, ending his remarkable 11-time All-Star career. Though saddened, West could understand Baylor's decision.
"He was injured and was no longer the same player. He had only played a few games the year before and was struggling to come back. Health issues are something that no athlete can contend with. They ruin careers and have some terrible consequences," remarked 'The Logo.'
The end of that season was a bittersweet one for 'Elg.' Shortly after his retirement, his former teammates went on a remarkable 33-game winning streak, ultimately clinching the championship title after a gentleman's sweep over the Knicks in 1972. While Baylor had undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the franchise's history, he narrowly missed out on being a part of these two historic achievements.
Related: Jerry West on whether racism played a part in criticism of Shaquille O'Neal: "I get horrible mail from people"
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