Sport: The Young Pro

(2 of 2)

Turkey Trot. Married to a junior at the University of Minnesota, Elgin Baylor is a modest man who likes button-down collars and narrow, striped ties, never worries before a game, likes twelve hours' sleep a night, joshingly refers to teammates as "Turkey" or "Hamburg"—Laker jargon for a poor defensive player.

Until recently, Baylor was a bit of a turkey himself. But last week he startled Philadelphia's Paul Arizin by blocking four of his shots, held St. Louis' Bob Pettit—the league's leading scorer—to a paltry eleven points. "He jumps," moaned Pettit. "Gee, but he jumps."

The Celtics' Bill Russell is a better rebounder. Philadelphia's Paul Arizin is a better scorer. The Hawks' Pettit is better in both departments. Detroit's Dick McGuire is a better playmaker. But even in his rookie year, no single pro can match Baylor's combined skills in all of these three major phases of offensive basketball.