I saw Elgin Baylor in a Seattle University game leap out of bounds under the opponent's basket, catch the ball in mid air and in one motion throw the ball behind his back, swiftly and accurately, to a teammate cutting just beyond the midcourt (as if he knew Baylor would pass him the ball - how could he?) at an angle and took the pass like a miracle, which I thought at the time it was, and scored.
Baylor was the town crier announcing today's athletic NBA players. I remember Elgin because for the first years I played in the NBA starting in 1961, Baylor was my defense assignment. As great a scorer Baylor was, he never scored more than 20 points on me. Why, you might ask. The answer is simple. By the time Elgin hit his 21st point, I was already fouled out and sitting on the bench watching some other poor soul take a beating. Elgin had a head-twitch that drove defenders crazy. He'd approach on the dribble, his head twitching, left, left, right, left. What was he signaling? Head twitch left would send you left, but Baylor drove right and scored. How many times I fell for this fake I can't remember or care to. At times when you thought as a defender you'd managed to stay with him and had a chance to block his shot, he fooled you by hanging in the air (think Julius Irving before the doctor) until gravity sent you down to earth while he remained aloft.
Later, when I became the Warriors "power" forward (Rick Barry came along to claim the stretch 3 slot) my defense assignment was Rudy LaRusso. Baylor once quipped that no Laker vs Warriors game started before Meschery and LaRusso punched it out. He was not a visionary as it happened once during an exhibition game in Montana. Rudy and I duking it out before the ref had the chance to throw the ball up for the start of the game.
Writers mention that Baylor was not as successful as a GM. Who cares. Elgin Baylor's legacy remains on the court, or in the air. Or in the universe where he now resides and in our fond memories.
Found this on line. There was no mention of the writer.
ELGIN
before the Doc or the Hawk
and all the other species of birds
in the NBA sky.
