Basketball Hall-of-Famer Baylor - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Basketball Hall-of-Famer Baylor," is a classic example of a proper noun trivia question. It tests your knowledge of sports history, specifically from the golden age of the NBA. These types of clues are straightforward but can be tricky if the name isn't in your immediate recall. Success often hinges on either knowing the fact outright or skillfully using the grid's crossing letters.

Clue Analysis

The clue is a simple fill-in-the-blank construction. We are given a surname, "Baylor," and two key identifiers: "Basketball" and "Hall-of-Famer." This tells us we are looking for the first name of a highly accomplished basketball player. There's no wordplay, misdirection, or pun involved; it's a direct query for a specific name. The primary challenge is retrieving that name from your memory banks.

Thinking Approaches

1. Direct Recall: If you're an NBA history buff, the name Elgin Baylor might come to mind instantly. He's a legendary figure, particularly associated with the Los Angeles Lakers.

2. Educated Guessing: If "Baylor" sounds familiar but you can't place the first name, you might try to think of common names from that era. However, the answer is a bit unusual, so this might not be the most effective route.

3. Relying on Crossings: This is the most reliable strategy for any solver who doesn't know the name. Proper nouns are often where the grid's intersecting answers do the most work. Once you fill in a few crossing words, the letters will start to reveal the name. For example, getting the initial 'E' and the 'G' might be enough to trigger your memory or make the remaining letters fall into place.

Background Context

Elgin Baylor (1934-2021) was an American basketball player, coach, and executive. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He spent his entire 14-season career with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, from 1958 to 1971.

Known for his incredible athleticism and acrobatic style, Baylor was an 11-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times. Despite his individual brilliance and leading the Lakers to the NBA Finals eight times, he famously never won a championship, making him one of the most accomplished players to not have a ring. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977. His name is a staple in crossword puzzles that touch on classic sports figures. You can learn more about his storied career on his Wikipedia page.

Conclusion

Clues like "Basketball Hall-of-Famer Baylor" serve as a great reminder of the importance of a broad knowledge base in crossword solving. While wordplay skills are essential, so is a good memory for names, places, and historical figures. When faced with a name you don't know, don't panic. Trust the puzzle's construction and let the crossing entries be your guide. Over time, names like ELGIN become familiar parts of the crossword solver's vocabulary.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The clue refers to a celebrated NBA player from the 1950s, '60s, and '70s.
2. Hint 2: This player is most famous for his long and storied career with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.
3. Hint 3: He was an 11-time NBA All-Star and is considered one of the greatest small forwards in the history of the game.
4. Hint 4: His first name is also the name of a city in Illinois, famous for its watches.