Elvin Hayes

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Lore & Background

Hayes joined the franchise in 1972 via trade from the Rockets after conflicts with coach Tex Winter. He played nine seasons with the team across Baltimore, Capital, and Washington. During this era, he helped secure three NBA Finals appearances (1975, 1978, 1979). The 1978 championship run defined his tenure; he averaged over 21 points and 12 rebounds per game. In the deciding Game 7 against Seattle, Jack Sikma scored 21 points (Hayes had 16) and Wes Unseld grabbed 12 rebounds (Hayes had 9) as the Bullets won their only title. The following year, on May 27, 1979, he set an NBA Finals record with 11 offensive rebounds in a single game—a mark later tied by Dennis Rodman but never surpassed.

In Their Own Story

On January 20, 1968, the Houston Astrodome hosted a record crowd of 52,693 for the 'Game of the Century.' Hayes faced Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in what was the first nationally televised regular-season college game. Despite Alcindor playing with a serious eye injury, Hayes scored 39 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, holding Alcindor to 15 points as Houston snapped UCLA's 47-game winning streak. Hayes later lost to UCLA in the 1968 NCAA tournament semi-final, where he was held to 10 points by a specific 'triangle and two' defense. His college dominance saw him average 31.0 points per game and grab 222 rebounds in the NCAA tournament, still the most in history.

Reader's Guide

Hayes was drafted first overall by both the NBA and ABA in 1968, choosing the San Diego Rockets over the Houston Mavericks. He immediately led the NBA in scoring with 28.4 points per game, becoming the last rookie to lead the league in that category. In his second season, he led the league in rebounding, being the first player other than Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain to do so since 1957. He scored a career-high 54 points against the Detroit Pistons on November 11, 1968. After four seasons averaging over 25 points per game, he was traded to the Baltimore Bullets in June 1972. His individual accolades include 12 NBA All-Star selections, three All-NBA First Team honors, two rebounding titles (1970, 1974), and a scoring title.

Did You Know?

• Elvin Hayes holds the NCAA single-tournament record with 222 rebounds.
• In the 'Game of the Century' at the Astrodome, he limited Lew Alcindor to just 15 points while scoring 39 himself.
• He set an NBA Finals record for most offensive rebounds in a game (11) on May 27, 1979.
• During his 16-season career, Hayes missed only nine games.
• In November 2007, he became a Liberty County, Texas, sheriff's deputy.

College Dominance and Historic Rivalries

In 1964, Houston coach Guy Lewis recruited Hayes and Don Chaney as the program's first African American players. Hayes led the Cougars to two Final Four appearances while averaging over 30 points per game. On January 20, 1968, in the 'Game of the Century' at the Houston Astrodome before a record 52,693 fans, Hayes scored 39 points and had 15 rebounds to limit Lew Alcindor to 15 points, snapping UCLA's 47-game winning streak. Although he lost in the 1968 NCAA tournament rematch against UCLA, Hayes finished his college career averaging 31.0 points and 17.2 rebounds per game. He holds the record for most rebounds in NCAA tournament history with 222.

Rookie Excellence and Early Professional Struggles

Drafted first overall by both the NBA and ABA in 1968, Hayes chose the San Diego Rockets. In his rookie season, he averaged 28.4 points per game, leading the league in scoring—the last time a rookie has done so—and grabbed 17.1 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 54 points against the Detroit Pistons on November 11, 1968. In his second season, he led the NBA in rebounding. Despite averaging over 25 points per game for his first four seasons, conflicts with coaching led to his trade from the Rockets to the Baltimore Bullets on June 23, 1972.

Championship Glory with the Bullets

Hayes played nine seasons with the franchise in Baltimore and Washington, helping them reach three NBA Finals (1975, 1978, 1979). During the 1978 playoff run, he had the most points of any player in the playoffs, averaging over 21 points and 12 rebounds per game. In the Finals against Seattle, he scored more than every other player and grabbed the second-most rebounds as the Bullets won Game 7 for their only championship. On May 27, 1979, during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Hayes set an NBA Finals record with 11 offensive rebounds, a mark tied by Dennis Rodman but never surpassed.

Longevity and Enduring Legacy

Hayes played 1,303 games over 16 seasons, registering 27,313 points (12th all-time) and 16,279 rebounds. His accolades include 12 NBA All-Star selections, three All-NBA First Team honors, three All-NBA Second Team honors, two NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, one scoring title, and two rebounding titles (1970, 1974). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990 and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. After retiring in 1984, he returned to finish his degree at Houston and later became a radio analyst for Houston Cougars games on KBME.