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Elvin Hayes

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Elvin Hayes
Hayes with the Washington Bullets in 1975
Personal information
Born (1945-11-17) November 17, 1945 (age 79)
Rayville, Louisiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolEula D. Britton (Rayville, Louisiana)
CollegeHouston (1965–1968)
NBA draft1968: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the San Diego Rockets
Playing career1968–1984
PositionPower forward / center
Number11, 44
Career history
As player:
1968–1972San Diego / Houston Rockets
1972–1981Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets
1981–1984Houston Rockets
As coach:
1984Houston Shamrocks
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points27,313 (21.0 ppg)
Rebounds16,279 (12.5 rpg)
Blocks1,771 (2.0 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame
Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame

Elvin Ernest Hayes (born November 17, 1945), nicknamed "The Big E", is an American former professional basketball player and radio analyst for his alma mater Houston Cougars. He is a member of the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams, and an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Known for both his offensive and defensive prowess, Hayes is often regarded as one of the best power forwards in NBA history. Hayes is also known for his longevity, being third all-time in NBA minutes played (at exactly 50,000), and missing only nine games during his 16-season career.[1]

Early life

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In Hayes' senior year at Britton High School, he led his team to the state championship, after averaging 35 points a game during the regular season. In the championship game victory, Hayes scored 45 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.[1]

College career

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In 1966, Hayes led the Houston Cougars into the Western Regional semifinals of the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament before the Cougars lost to the Pac-8 champion Oregon State Beavers.

In 1967, Hayes led the Cougars to the Final Four of the 1967 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. He would attempt 31 field goals, score 25 points, and get 24 rebounds in a 73–58 semifinal loss to the eventual champion UCLA Bruins featuring Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Hayes' rebounding total is second to Bill Russell's Final Four record of 27.[2][3]

Houston's Hayes is carried in a victory celebration after the defeat of UCLA in the Game of the Century at the Astrodome

On January 20, 1968, Hayes and the Houston Cougars faced Alcindor and the UCLA Bruins in the first-ever nationally televised regular-season college basketball game. In front of a record 52,693 fans at the Houston Astrodome, Hayes scored 39 points and had 15 rebounds while limiting Alcindor to just 15 points as Houston beat UCLA 71–69 to snap the Bruins' 47-game winning streak in what has been called the "Game of the Century". That game helped Hayes earn The Sporting News College Basketball Player of the Year.

In the rematch to the "Game of the Century", Hayes faced Alcindor and UCLA in the 1968 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. UCLA coach John Wooden had the Bruins play a "triangle and two" zone defense with Alcindor playing behind Hayes and Lynn Shackleford fronting him. Hayes was held to 10 points, losing to Alcindor and the Bruins 101–69 in the semi-final.[3]

Hayes led Houston in scoring in each of three seasons (1966: 27.2 points per game, 1967: 28.4, and 1968: 36.8). For his college career, Hayes averaged 31.0 points per game and 17.2 rebounds per game. He has the most rebounds in NCAA tournament history at 222. While a student at Houston, Hayes was initiated into the Alpha Nu Omega Chapter of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity alongside fellow future Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy.[4]

With his departure from college, Hayes was the first overall selection in both the 1968 NBA draft and 1968 ABA draft. He was taken by the San Diego Rockets and Houston Mavericks, respectively.

Professional career

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San Diego / Houston Rockets (1968–1972)

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Hayes joined the NBA with the San Diego Rockets in 1968 and went on to lead the NBA in scoring with 28.4 points per game, averaged 17.1 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Hayes' scoring average is the fifth best all-time for a rookie, and he remains the last rookie to lead the NBA in scoring average. He scored a career-high 54 points against the Detroit Pistons on November 11, 1968.

In Hayes' second season, he led the NBA in rebounding, becoming the first player other than Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain to lead the category since 1957 (Chamberlain was injured during much of the season). In Hayes' third season, 1970–71, he scored a career-best 28.7 points per game. The Rockets had some inner turmoil because of percieved jealousy, with forward Don Kojis asking for a trade rather than play for owner Bob Breitbard again. Newcomer coach Alex Hannum once labeled Hayes as "spoiled".[5]

In 1971, the Rockets moved to Houston, enabling Hayes to play in the city of his college triumphs. However, the one season with Tex Winter as coach did not end well, as his attempts at making him a passing center did not result in success.

Hayes with San Diego in 1969

Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (1972–1981)

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After a series of conflicts with Houston coach Tex Winter, Hayes was traded away to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin and undisclosed considerations on June 23, 1972.[6]

In the 1974 NBA Playoffs, during the franchise's only year called the Capital Bullets, Hayes averaged postseason career-bests of 25.9 points and 15.9 rebounds per game in a Bullets 4–3 first round series loss to the New York Knicks.[7]

Hayes, along with co-star Wes Unseld, led the Washington Bullets to three NBA Finals appearances (1975, 1978 and 1979), and an NBA title over the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978. On March 3, 1978, Hayes set a career-high of 11 blocks in a single game, while also scoring 22 points and grabbing 27 rebounds, in a 124–108 win over the Detroit Pistons.[8] During the Bullets' championship run that postseason, while aided by the addition of Bob Dandridge, Hayes averaged 21.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in 21 playoff games, as Washington won their only NBA title to date.

Hayes set an NBA Finals record for most offensive rebounds in a game (11), the following year, in a May 27, 1979 game against the SuperSonics. The Chicago Bulls' Dennis Rodman would tie this record twice, both games coming in the 1996 NBA Finals, also against the SuperSonics.

Return to the Rockets (1981–1984)

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Desiring to finish his playing career in Texas and preferably Houston, Hayes was sent back to the Rockets for second-round draft picks in 1981 (Charles Davis) and 1983 (Sidney Lowe) on June 8, 1981.[9][10]

Coaching career

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After his playing career ended in 1984, Hayes was hired as the head coach of the Houston Shamrocks of the newly founded Women's American Basketball Association. However, Hayes only lasted two weeks and resigned after coaching the team for one game.[11]

After basketball

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Hayes at the University of Houston

Shortly after finishing his career in the NBA, Hayes returned to the University of Houston to finish the last 30 credit hours of his undergraduate degree. When interviewed about the experience, Hayes mentioned, "I played 16 years of pro basketball, but this is the hardest thing I've ever done."[12]

In November 2007, Hayes became a Liberty County, Texas, sheriff's deputy, fulfilling a childhood dream.[13] On November 22, 2010, it was announced that he would serve as an analyst for radio broadcasts of Houston Cougars games on Houston's KBME.[14]

Hayes had his #44 jersey retired by the Houston Rockets on November 18, 2022.[15]

Personal life

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Raised a Methodist, Hayes converted to Catholicism in the 1970s. During a moment of doubt, he went with his wife to a Pentecostal church. Encouraged by words about being answered in the open, he enclosed himself in his room with the Bible for days before claiming to be infused with the holy spirit.[16]

Stats and honors

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One of five numbers retired by the University of Houston men's basketball team, Hayes's No. 44 hangs in Fertitta Center.

In his career with the San Diego / Houston Rockets and the Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets, Hayes played 1,303 games over 16 seasons, registering 27,313 points (twelfth all-time) and 16,279 rebounds (fourth all-time). He is the all-time leading scorer for the Washington Bullets/Wizards. Hayes never missed more than two games in any of his 16 seasons in the NBA. In addition to his 1968 scoring title, he led the NBA in rebounding in 1970 and 1974. Hayes played in 12 straight NBA All-Star Games from 1969 to 1980. He retired holding the NBA record for total regular-season minutes played, with exactly 50,000.

Hayes was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and voted to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.[17] He boycotted the Hall of Fame beginning in 1990 and refused to return until Guy Lewis, his coach at the University of Houston, was admitted.[18]

In 2003, Hayes was inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame, which honors San Diego's finest athletes.[19]

NBA career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship  *  Led the league

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1968–69 San Diego 82 — 45.1 .447 — .626 17.1 1.4 — — 28.4*
1969–70 San Diego 82* — 44.7* .452 — .688 16.9* 2.0 — — 27.5
1970–71 San Diego 82 — 44.3 .428 — .672 16.6 2.3 — — 28.7
1971–72 Houston 82 — 42.2 .434 — .649 14.6 3.3 — — 25.2
1972–73 Baltimore 81 — 32.1 .444 — .671 14.1 1.6 — — 21.2
1973–74 Capital 81 — 44.5* .423 — .721 18.1* 2.0 1.1 3.0 21.4
1974–75 Washington 82 — 42.3 .443 — .766 12.2 2.5 1.9 2.3 23.0
1975–76 Washington 80 — 37.2 .470 — .628 11.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 19.8
1976–77 Washington 82 — 41.0 .501 — .687 12.5 1.9 1.1 2.7 23.7
1977–78† Washington 81 — 40.1 .451 — .634 13.3 1.8 1.2 2.0 19.7
1978–79 Washington 82 — 37.9 .487 — .654 12.1 1.7 .9 2.3 21.8
1979–80 Washington 81 — 39.3 .454 .231 .699 11.1 1.6 .8 2.3 23.0
1980–81 Washington 81 — 36.2 .451 .000 .617 9.7 1.2 .8 2.1 17.8
1981–82 Houston 82 82 37.0 .472 .000 .664 9.1 1.8 .8 1.3 16.1
1982–83 Houston 81 43 28.4 .476 .500 .683 7.6 2.0 .6 1.0 12.9
1983–84 Houston 81 4 12.3 .406 .000 .652 3.2 .9 .2 .3 5.0
Career [20] 1,303 129 38.4 .452 .147 .670 12.5 1.8 1.0 2.0 21.0
All-Star[20] 12 4 22.0 .403 — .647 7.7 1.4 – – 10.5

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1969 San Diego 6 — 46.3 .526 — .660 13.8 .8 — — 25.8
1973 Baltimore 5 — 45.6 .505 — .697 11.4 1.0 — — 25.8
1974 Capital 7 — 46.1 .531 — .707 15.9 3.0 0.7 2.1 25.9
1975 Washington 17 — 44.2 .468 — .677 10.9 2.2 1.5 2.3 25.5
1976 Washington 7 — 43.6 .443 — .582 12.6 1.4 .7 4.0 20.0
1977 Washington 9 — 45.0 .563 — .695 13.6 1.9 1.1 2.4 21.0
1978† Washington 21 — 41.3 .491 — .594 13.3 2.0 1.5 2.5 21.8
1979 Washington 19 — 41.4 .429 — .669 14.0 5.0 .9 2.7 22.5
1980 Washington 2 — 46.0 .390 — .800 11.0 3.0 .0 2.0 20.0
1982 Houston 3 — 41.3 .340 — .533 10.0 1.0 .7 3.3 14.0
Career 96 — 43.3 .464 — .652 13.0 1.9 1.1 2.6 22.9

See also

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NBA

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College

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References

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  1. ^ a b NBA Legends Profile: Elvin Hayes
  2. ^ NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four Individual and Team Records
  3. ^ a b 2007–2008 UCLA Men's Basketball Media Guide – PDF copy available at www.uclabruins.com. pg. 61 Post Season Scoring Recaps
  4. ^ "Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. | Founded 1963 - Notable Iota Men". Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  5. ^ https://vault.si.com/vault/1978/10/16/the-big-e-wants-an-mvp-washington-forward-elvin-hayes-has-his-records-and-at-long-last-an-nba-title-now-hed-like-a-little-respect
  6. ^ Beard, Gordon "Rockets Trade Elvin Hayes; Goes To Bullets For Jack Marin" Associated Press, Sunday, June 25, 1972
  7. ^ "Elvin Hayes Per Game Playoffs". Basketball Reference.
  8. ^ "Elvin Hayes Career High 11 Blocks". Statmuse.
  9. ^ Dupree, David & Richmond, Peter "Bullets Send Hayes to Rockets for Draft Choices" The Washington Post, Tuesday, June 9, 1981
  10. ^ 1981 NBA Draft Pick Transactions – Pro Sports Transactions.
  11. ^ Jody Homer (October 26, 1984). "'Big E,' as in exit". Chicago Tribune. p. 5 (Section 4). Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^ Callahan, Tom (December 23, 1985). "Impressions in Black and White". Time. Archived from the original on May 8, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
  13. ^ "Local basketball legend now a sheriff's deputy". KTRK-TV. November 4, 2007. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011.
  14. ^ "Elvin Hayes to Join Men's Basketball Radio Broadcast Crew". Houston Cougars athletics. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  15. ^ DuBose, Ben (November 18, 2022). "Rockets retire No. 44 jersey at Toyota Center for Elvin Hayes". Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Papanek, John (October 16, 1978). "THE BIG E WANTS AN MVP". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  17. ^ "NBA's 75 Anniversary | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "Guy Lewis waiting for Hall of Fame call". Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ "Hall of Fame | San Diego Hall of Champions". Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  20. ^ a b "Elvin Hayes". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 26, 2019.

Further reading

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  • Heisler, Mark (2003). Giants: The 25 Greatest Centers of All Time. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-577-1.
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