Greatest sports figures in L.A. history, No. 17: Elgin Baylor

Continuing our countdown of the 20 greatest figures in L.A. sports history with No. 17, Elgin Baylor.

No. 17, Elgin Baylor (no first-place votes, 689 points)

One of the greatest and most exciting players in NBA history, Baylor was a human highlight reel who became the first star basketball player to compete in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward displayed a combination of size and grace like no other player before him, averaging 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game over his 14-year career.

"I say without reservation that Elgin Baylor is the greatest cornerman who ever played pro basketball," former Lakers coach Bill Sharman told The Times in 1971.

Known for his signature running bank shot, Baylor's knack for mid-air acrobatics made him one of the most difficult players to defend against. He utilized his speed and maneuverability to become the first dominant small forward in league history. Baylor finished with 23,149 points, 3,650 assists and 11,463 rebounds when he retired in 1971.

A two-time All-American and NCAA tournament most valuable player at Seattle University, Baylor was selected first overall by the Lakers in the 1958 NBA Draft. The team signed him to a $20,000 contract, a hefty sum in those days for a player who hadn't proven himself at the professional level. However, it was a move former Lakers owner Bob Short claims saved the franchise.

"If he had turned me down then, I would have been out of business," Short said in a 1971 interview with The Times. "The club would have gone bankrupt."