Los Angeles Lakers legend Elgin Baylor passed away on Monday at the age of 86. He was surrounded by his wife, Elaine, and his daughter, Krystal.
The team announced that the Hall of Famer died of natural causes.
Baylor, the No. 1 choice in the 1958 NBA Draft, played 14 seasons in the NBA for the Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers and participated in eight NBA finals, but never won a championship.
MILWAUKEE – 1970: Elgin Baylor # 22 of the Los Angeles Lakers appears to pass against the Milwaukee Bucks during a game around 1970 at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Vernon Biever / NBAE via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“Elgin was the love of my life and my best friend,” said Elaine Baylor in a statement. “And like everyone else, I was amazed at his immense courage, dignity and the time he gave all the fans. At this point, we ask that my family and I can mourn his death in privacy.”
Honored as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1959, Baylor averaged 24.9 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He finished with career averages of 27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Lakers. He has been 11 times in the NBA All-Star, 10 times in the All-NBA main team, and is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
PARALYZED EX-NBA STAR SHAWN BRADLEY RECEIVES ADVICE FROM EX-FOOTBALL PLAYER ERIC LEGRAND
After his playing career ended, Baylor served as a coach for the New Orleans Jazz and vice president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Elgin was the superstar of his day – his high praise speaks to that,” said Lakers governor Jeanie Buss. “He was one of the few Lakers players whose career spanned from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 6: Elgin Baylor observes during the statue’s inauguration at the STAPLES Center on April 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)
“But most importantly, he was a man of great integrity, even serving his country as a reservist for the U.S. Army, often playing for the Lakers only during his weekend pass. He is one of the biggest names in all times of the Lakers with his number 22 shirt retired on the rafters and his statue standing guard in front of the STAPLES Center.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“He will always be part of the Lakers’ legacy. On behalf of the entire Lakers family, I would like to send my thoughts, prayers and condolences to Elaine and the Baylor family.”
Baylor was introduced to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. His jersey number 22 was retired by the team on November 3, 1983, and his statue at the STAPLES Center was opened on April 6, 2018.