Elvin Hayes
The Big E brought dominance and durability to the Rockets, anchoring their frontcourt for his first four seasons and returning for his final three.
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. Drafted by both the NBA and the ABA, Hayes picked the San Diego Rockets in 1968, averaging over 28 points per game that currently ranks as the last time a rookie has led the NBA in scoring average. In his first four seasons, he averaged 25 points per game each time but conflicts with coaching led to his trade to the Baltimore Bullets in 1972. Hayes was traded back to the Rockets in 1981, where he played his final three seasons.
- Role
- Power Forward / Center
- Affiliation
- San Diego / Houston Rockets (1968–1972, 1981–1984)
- Status
- Retired Legend
- Jersey Number
- 44
- Hall of Fame
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 1990)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
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. His scoring average is the fourth 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. In Hayes' third season, 1970–71, he scored a career-best 28.7 points per game. The Rockets had some inner turmoil because of perceived 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". 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.
In Their Own Story
On January 20, 1968, Hayes and the Houston Cougars faced Lew 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". Alcindor had played the game with a serious eye injury, but later attributed the loss to "poor play against a better team". 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.
Reader's Guide
Elvin Hayes played for the San Diego / Houston Rockets from 1968 to 1972, then returned to the Rockets from 1981 to 1984. In his first four seasons, he averaged 25 points per game each time. After a series of conflicts with Houston coach Tex Winter, Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin and undisclosed considerations on June 23, 1972. 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. Hayes had his #44 jersey retired by the Houston Rockets on November 18, 2022. Among the individual accolades achieved by Hayes include 12 NBA All-Star Game selections, three All-NBA First Team and All-NBA Second Team honors each, two NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors, one NBA scoring title, and two NBA rebounding titles. He is seventh in NBA minutes played (at exactly 50,000), and missed only nine games during his 16-season career.
Did You Know?
- Hayes remains the last rookie to lead the NBA in scoring average, with 28.4 points per game in 1968–69.
- He scored a career-high 54 points against the Detroit Pistons on November 11, 1968.
- Hayes had his #44 jersey retired by the Houston Rockets on November 18, 2022.
- He ranks among the NBA's all-time leaders in minutes played, having logged over 50,000 minutes in his 16-season career while missing only nine games.
- Hayes was the first overall selection in both the 1968 NBA draft and 1968 ABA draft.