Description: This vintage program is a must-have for any basketball fan, especially those who support the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers. It features an original and authentic piece of memorabilia from the historic April 14, 1962 game 5 NBA Finals where Elgin Baylor of the Lakers set an NBA Finals record with 61 points. The program is signed by KC Jones and includes other notable players such as Bill Russell, Jerry West, and John Havlicek. This is a great addition to any collection of vintage sports memorabilia, and is sure to impress any basketball enthusiast. Elgin Baylor's 61-Point NBA Finals Game is Still the Most Ever 60+ Years Later! The NBA Finals are a gladiator match. Your championship hopes are on the line, and the only way to survive is to fight with everything you have. (Yes, I watched "Gladiator" recently and yes, I was entertained). So, with the stakes at their highest, what are you going to do? Shrink or rise to the occasion? Elgin Baylor rose in 1962. It was Game 5, a crucial game that often determines the outcome of the series, and Baylor's Los Angeles Lakers were tied at two games apiece with the Boston Celtics. His team needed him. He answered the call by dropping 61 points without leaving the floor. Most importantly, the Lakers won the game in the hostile Boston Garden. Baylor's historic performance not only helped the Lakers win the game, but he also set the precedent for scoring frenzies in championship environments -- a precedent that still stands today. Yes, Baylor's 61-point outing is the most ever in a single game in NBA Finals history. More than Michael Jordan, more than Magic Johnson, more than Wilt Chamberlain, more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, more than Shaquille O'Neal, more than Kobe Bryant, more than LeBron James, more than Kevin Durant. But, how did he do it? Let's travel back to April 14, 1962, to find out. We have to take a moment to appreciate Elgin Baylor before diving into this specific performance. Baylor was basketball's first acrobat. He was able to soar through the air in a time when most players played like they had lead in their shoes. His style of play was crucial to the evolution of the game. Naturally, it helped him score a lot, too, because few defenders were capable of handling him. He averaged a ridiculous 27.4 points per game during his 14-year career, finishing with 23,149 total. Keep in mind, he played without a three-point line. Anyway, when the Lakers and Celtics met in 1962 it was their second straight Finals meeting in what would be a total of six for the decade. Unfortunately for him, his Lakers were on the losing end of every single one of those matchups. But, Baylor's 61-point game is one of the greatest individual performances of the rivalry. He poured in 61 points on 22 of 46 shooting, including going 17 for 19 from the free-throw line, and snagged 22 rebounds while playing the entire game. He did it all while being defended by Tom "Satch" Sanders, a Celtics guard who's regarded as one of the best defenders of the era, and Bill Russell in the paint, who's one of the most dominant defensive players ever. Elgin Baylor's 61-Point Outing in Game 5 of the 1962 NBA Finals The player with the most points in a single NBA Finals game is Elgin Baylor, who scored 61 points on April 14, 1962, in the Game 5 of the finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Lakers history is so strong that Baylor often doesn't get the love he deserves. As if that wasn’t enough, Baylor grabbed 22 rebounds during that game. The Lakers won the game, 126-121, to take a 3-2 lead, but the Celtics ended up winning the title after seven games.
Price: 1999 USD
Location: Henderson, Nevada
End Time: 2024-08-23T22:13:49.000Z
Shipping Cost: 9.99 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Team-Basketball: Boston Celtics
Sport: Basketball
Player: Elgin Baylor , KC Jones , Bill Russell , Jerry West , Bob Cousy
Year: 1962
Original/Reproduction: Original
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Event/Tournament: April 14, 1962 Elgin Baylor 61 Pts Game 5 NBA Finals , NBA Record
Vintage: Yes