Published December 3, 2022
The NBA Time Machine:
1959
The E.L.G.
Saving the Lakers
The Minneapolis Lakers were in shambles following the 1957-58 season. They were the worst team in the NBA by far, lacked stability financially, and felt a strong dent in their fanbase’s engagement following the end of the early-50’s dynasty.
Not much optimism floated around the organization, but there was one last resort option to save the NBA‘s most storied team – a Seattle University prospect named Elgin Baylor.
Baylor was begged by the Lakers to skip his senior year and join the pros, to which he obliged. He didn’t quite make the team a contender, but his top-tier athleticism and flashiness made him one of the best – and most exciting – players in the league. He was an immediate contender for the Most Valuable Player award despite only amassing thirty-three wins, and naming him the annual Rookie of the Year was a no-brainer.
Down Goes the Royals
After losing franchise player Maurice Stokes to a career-ending injury, the Cincinnati Royals were directionless. They had an exciting young guard in Jack Twyman, who took an enormous leap in his friend’s absence – his scoring averages went up from 17.2 to 25.8, and he embraced the green light from coaching staff as he led the league in field goal attempts.
Cincinnati also traded former All-Star Clyde Lovellette to the St. Louis Hawks, proving a commitment to rebuilding. Giving Twyman more development opportunities was a firm enough goal, and they happily received a slew of players in Lovellette’s trade. Amongst them was the rookie center Wayne Embry, who while raw, showed flashes of potential.
Standout Players
Around the League
Team Standings
Notes
An asterisk (*) indicates that the team qualified for the playoffs.