The Los Angeles Clippers did not discriminate against former general manager Elgin Baylor, who sued the NBA team alleging he was forced out of the job he held for 22 years, a jury ruled today.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury rejected Baylor's claim of age discrimination and declined to award him any damages.

The verdict was a major victory for the Clippers, who contended that the now-76-year-old Baylor -- a former Laker forward -- left the team on his own.

"He wasn't fired. He quit," Clippers attorney Robert H. Platt told jurors during his closing argument.

Platt also said Baylor was not treated different because of his age.

"Nothing happened," Platt said repeatedly during his closing argument. "They don't like it when I say that, but nothing happened."

The lawyer discounted Baylor's testimony that team owner Donald Sterling made subtle remarks about the two of them getting on in years.

"This was a typical discussion among two people who are friends," Platt said. "They're the same age, too."

Baylor's attorney, Alvin L. Pittman, had asked that his client be awarded more than $900,000 for past and future lost wages, urging jurors to reject the Clippers' argument that Baylor left on his own.

"If you can't trust the messenger, then you can't believe their message," he said.

Baylor filed suit against the Clippers in Los Angeles in February 2009, alleging race- and age-related discrimination. His attorneys dropped the racism allegation before trial.

Platt argued that even if Baylor could have proven age discrimination, an exception in the law protecting older workers allows management to force high-level executives like him into retirement.

Current team president Andy Roeser, who Baylor also says treated him different because of his age, is 51. Roeser acknowledged he suggested to Sterling in 2005 that Baylor should be replaced, but said the owner turned the idea downThe Los Angeles Clippers did not discriminate against former general manager Elgin Baylor, who sued the NBA team alleging he was forced out of the job he held for 22 years, a jury ruled today.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury rejected Baylor's claim of age discrimination and declined to award him any damages.

The verdict was a major victory for the Clippers, who contended that the now-76-year-old Baylor -- a former Laker forward -- left the team on his own.

"He wasn't fired. He quit," Clippers attorney Robert H. Platt told jurors during his closing argument.

Platt also said Baylor was not treated different because of his age.

"Nothing happened," Platt said repeatedly during his closing argument. "They don't like it when I say that, but nothing happened."

The lawyer discounted Baylor's testimony that team owner Donald Sterling made subtle remarks about the two of them getting on in years.

"This was a typical discussion among two people who are friends," Platt said. "They're the same age, too."

Baylor's attorney, Alvin L. Pittman, had asked that his client be awarded more than $900,000 for past and future lost wages, urging jurors to reject the Clippers' argument that Baylor left on his own.

"If you can't trust the messenger, then you can't believe their message," he said.

Baylor filed suit against the Clippers in Los Angeles in February 2009, alleging race- and age-related discrimination. His attorneys dropped the racism allegation before trial.

Platt argued that even if Baylor could have proven age discrimination, an exception in the law protecting older workers allows management to force high-level executives like him into retirement.

Current team president Andy Roeser, who Baylor also says treated him different because of his age, is 51. Roeser acknowledged he suggested to Sterling in 2005 that Baylor should be replaced, but said the owner turned the idea down.