  Let $E/\mathbb{Q}$ be an elliptic curve. For a prime $p$ of good reduction,
let $r(E,p)$ be the smallest non-negative integer that gives the $x$-coordinate
of a point of maximal order in the group $E(\mathbb{F}_p)$. We prove
unconditionally that $r(E,p)> 0.72\log\log p$ for infinitely many $p$, and
$r(E,p) > 0.36 \log p$ under the assumption of the Generalized Riemann
Hypothesis. This can be viewed as an elliptic curve analogue of classical lower
bounds on the least primitive root of a prime.
