LOS ANGELES — Elgin Baylor soared through the 1960s with a high-scoring, high-flying artistry that that became the model for the modern basketball player.
The Lakers' 11-time All-Star and Hall of Famer died Monday of natural causes at 86 in Los Angeles with wife Elaine and daughter Krystal by his side, the team said.
With a silky-smooth jumper and fluid athleticism, Baylor played a major role in revolutionizing basketball from a ground-bound sport into an aerial show. He spent parts of 14 seasons with the Lakers in Minneapolis and Los Angeles, teaming with Jerry West throughout the '60s in one of the most potent tandems in basketball history.