Elgin Baylor Honored by Lakers with Statue at Staples Center

Scott Polacek @@ScottPolacekFeatured ColumnistApril 7, 2018

Elgin Baylor stands next to a statue, just unveiled, honoring the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers great, outside Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, April 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Reed Saxon/Associated Press

Basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor was honored with a statue at Staples Center prior to the Los Angeles Lakers' Friday contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lakers legend and current president of basketball operations Magic Johnson shared the news and his congratulations:

Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson
Congratulations to Elgin Baylor on having his statue at STAPLES center unveiled tonight! A player of his caliber deserves to be commemorated with such a great honor. https://t.co/tK3MYPRBUM

Baylor was on the Lakers his entire career from the 1958-59 campaign through the nine games he played in 1971-72. The franchise was in Minneapolis his first two seasons before moving to Los Angeles.

The 11-time All-Star averaged 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game during his impressive career and helped lead the Purple and Gold to the NBA Finals eight times.