Elvin Hayes

2.1. "Game of the Century"

One of the most iconic games in college basketball history, dubbed the "Game of the Century", took place 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. Played before a record-setting crowd of 52,693 fans at the Houston Astrodome, Hayes delivered a monumental performance, scoring 39 points and collecting 15 rebounds. He notably limited Alcindor to just 15 points. Houston triumphed over UCLA with a score of 71-69, ending the Bruins' impressive 47-game winning streak. Despite a serious eye injury, Alcindor later attributed UCLA's defeat to "poor play against a better team", acknowledging Houston's superior performance. Hayes's outstanding play in this game contributed to him being named The Sporting News College Basketball Player of the Year for 1968.

In the rematch of the "Game of the Century" during the 1968 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament semi-finals, held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, UCLA coach John Wooden implemented a strategic "triangle and two" zone defense. This defensive scheme featured Alcindor playing behind Hayes while Lynn Shackleford fronted him, effectively limiting Hayes to just 10 points. UCLA secured a decisive 101-69 victory in that contest.

2.2. College Achievements and Records

Throughout his college career, Elvin Hayes consistently led the Houston Cougars in scoring across all three seasons he played. He averaged 31.0 points per game and 17.2 rebounds per game over his collegiate tenure. Hayes holds the record for the most rebounds in NCAA tournament history, with a total of 222 rebounds. His exceptional performance earned him multiple accolades in 1968, including AP (Associated Press) College Basketball Player of the Year and UPI (United Press International) Player of the Year. He was also a consensus First-Team All-American in both 1967 and 1968. His jersey number, 44, was later retired by the University of Houston, recognizing his profound impact on the program. Upon his departure from college, Hayes was the first overall selection in both the 1968 NBA draft (by the San Diego Rockets) and the 1968 ABA draft (by the Houston Mavericks).

3.1. San Diego / Houston Rockets (1968-1972)

Elvin Hayes began his NBA career with the San Diego Rockets in 1968. In his rookie season, he immediately made a significant impact, leading the NBA in scoring with 28.4 points per game and averaging 17.1 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team for his stellar debut performance. Hayes's rookie scoring average stands as the fifth best all-time for a rookie, and he remains the last rookie to lead the NBA in scoring. On November 11, 1968, he set a career-high by scoring 54 points against the Detroit Pistons.

In his second season, Hayes led the NBA in rebounding, becoming the first player other than Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain to achieve this feat since 1957. During the 1970-71 season, his third in the league, he achieved a career-best scoring average of 28.7 points per game. Despite Hayes's individual brilliance, the Rockets experienced internal challenges. There were perceived issues of jealousy within the team, leading forward Don Kojis to request a trade. Coach Alex Hannum notably once described Hayes as "spoiled." In 1971, the Rockets franchise relocated to Houston, bringing Hayes back to the city where he had achieved considerable collegiate success. However, his single season under coach Tex Winter was not fruitful, as Winter's attempts to convert Hayes into a passing center did not yield positive results.

3.2. Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets (1972-1981)

Following a series of conflicts with Houston coach Tex Winter, Elvin Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets on June 23, 1972, in exchange for Jack Marin and other considerations. This move marked a pivotal point in his career, as he joined forces with fellow future Hall of Famer Wes Unseld.

In the 1974 NBA Playoffs, during the franchise's single year operating as the Capital Bullets, Hayes showcased his postseason prowess, averaging career-bests of 25.9 points and 15.9 rebounds per game, though the Bullets lost a tight 4-3 first-round series to the New York Knicks.

Alongside Wes Unseld, Hayes became a cornerstone for the Washington Bullets, leading them to three NBA Finals appearances in 1975, 1978, and 1979. Their efforts culminated in an NBA championship victory over the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978. During this championship season, Hayes was a critical component of the team's success, which was further boosted by the addition of Bob Dandridge. Hayes averaged 21.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game over 21 playoff games in Washington's only NBA title run to date. On March 3, 1978, Hayes recorded a career-high 11 blocks in a single game, while also contributing 22 points and 27 rebounds in a 124-108 win against the Detroit Pistons. The following year, in a May 27, 1979 NBA Finals game against the SuperSonics, Hayes set an NBA Finals record for most offensive rebounds in a game with 11. This record was later tied twice by the Chicago Bulls' Dennis Rodman during the 1996 NBA Finals, also against the SuperSonics.

3.3. Return to Houston Rockets (1981-1984)

On June 8, 1981, Elvin Hayes was traded back to the Houston Rockets in exchange for second-round draft picks in the 1981 (Charles Davis) and 1983 (Sidney Lowe) NBA drafts. Hayes had expressed a desire to conclude his playing career in Texas, ideally in Houston, the city of his college triumphs. Although nearing the end of his illustrious career, he continued to play at a high level, maintaining an average of over 15 points per game. He officially retired from professional basketball in 1984.

4.1. Coaching Career

In 1984, immediately following his retirement from playing, Hayes accepted a position as the head coach for the Houston Shamrocks of the newly established Women's American Basketball Association (WABA). However, his coaching tenure was brief, lasting only two weeks, during which he coached the team for a single game before resigning.

4.2. Other Activities

Shortly after concluding his NBA career, Hayes returned to the University of Houston to complete his undergraduate degree. He dedicated himself to finishing the remaining 30 credit hours. Reflecting on this experience, Hayes commented that it was the "hardest thing I've ever done," even after 16 years of professional basketball.

In November 2007, Hayes fulfilled a long-held childhood aspiration by becoming a sheriff's deputy in Liberty County, Texas. His involvement in public service continued as, on November 22, 2010, it was announced that he would serve as a radio analyst for his alma mater, the Houston Cougars men's basketball games, broadcast on Houston's KBME.

7.1. Regular Season Statistics

7.2. Playoff Statistics

7.3. Records and Achievements

Elvin Hayes's career totals place him among the all-time leaders in NBA history. He holds the record for total regular-season minutes played with exactly 50,000. He also holds significant franchise records for the Washington Bullets/Wizards.

• NBA Career Records:**
  • Points:** 27,313 (12th all-time)
  • Rebounds:** 16,279 (4th all-time)
  • Field Goals Made:** 10,976 (9th all-time)
  • Minutes Played:** 50,000 (7th all-time)

• Washington Bullets/Wizards Franchise Records:**
  • Games Played:** 731 (2nd all-time)
  • Minutes Played:** 29,218 (2nd all-time)
  • Points:** 15,551 (1st all-time)
  • Rebounds:** 9,305 (2nd all-time)
  • Steals:** 736 (3rd all-time)
  • Blocks:** 1,558 (1st all-time)
  • Field Goals Made:** 6,251 (1st all-time)
  • Free Throws Made:** 3,046 (1st all-time)