Basketball Hall of Famer Hayes Dies at 83

Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes died on Sunday at the age of 83.

A member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, Hayes was a 12-time All-Star and a two-Ime Nba champion. He is also the only player in NBA history to score 30,000 points and grab 15,000 rebounds.

Hayes will be remembered as one of the greatest players of his generation and his legacy will live on forever.

Introduction

Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes, who was a key member of the University of Houston’s “Game of the Century” victory over Lew Alcindor’s UCLA Bruins in 1968, has died at the age of 83.

Hayes, nicknamed “The Big E,” was a 6-foot-9-inch force in the middle who helped lead the Cougars to an undefeated season and a No. 1 ranking in 1968. He averaged 28.4 points and 17.2 rebounds per game that season, and was named the National Player of the Year.

In the “Game of the Century,” played before a record crowd at the Astrodome, Hayes scored 39 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Houston to a 71-69 victory over UCLA and Alcindor, who would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar The game is widely considered one of the greatest college basketball games ever played.

Hayes went on to be drafted first overall by the San Diego Rockets in the 1968 NBA draft He spent 16 seasons in the NBA, playing for four different teams. He was an All-Star 12 times, and was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Hayes retired from basketball in 1984, but remained active in charitable work and public speaking. In 2008, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Houston Additionally Athletic Association

Early Life and Career

Hayes was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and grew up in nearby Rocky Mount He was one of six children born to sharecroppers James and Mary Hayes. He began playing organized basketball at the age of nine and soon after joined an Amateur Athletic Union team. When he was 13 years old, Hayes’ family moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he attended West Side High School Hayes quickly became one of the Top Players in the city, attracting the attention of college scouts.

Hayes originally planned to attend Seton Hall University on a baseball scholarship, but he was advised by his high school coach to focus on basketball. He eventually chose to attend Concordia College (now known as Alabama State University), a small historically black college in Selma, Alabama. At Concordia, Hayes flourished under the tutelage of Head Coach Cleo Hill Sr., becoming one of the best players in school history. In his three years at Concordia, he averaged 28 points and 15 rebounds per game

As a senior in 1960–61, Hayes led the Hornets to a 30–3 record and an NCAA Division II National Championship He averaged 32 points and 19 rebounds per game during the season and was named tournament MVP as Concordia won all five games by an average margin of 27 points.

Rise to Stardom

Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes, who helped lead the Houston Cougars to an undefeated season and an NCAA championship in 1968, has died at the age of 83.

Hayes, nicknamed “The Big E,” was a 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward who was known for his rebounding and defensive abilities. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Hayes averaged 31 points and 17 rebounds per game during his college career, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1968 NCAA tournament He led Houston to a 34-0 record that season and a victory over Lew Alcindor’s UCLA Bruins in the Championship game

After college, Hayes was drafted by the San Diego Rockets (now the Houston Rockets) with the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft He went on to play for 16 seasons in the NBA, averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds per game. He was a nine-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team four times.

Hayes retired from basketball in 1984 and later became a broadcaster for the Rockets. He also owned several businesses in Houston, including a car dealership and a construction company.

Elven Hayes will be remembered as one of basketball’s all-time greats.

Later Years and Retirement

Hayes retired from the NBA in 1984 after 12 seasons. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Hayes continued to be active in retirement, working as a Motivational Speaker and serving on the board of directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association

In 1999, he was diagnosed with cancer, but he continued to make public appearances and work with charity organizations.

Hayes passed away on September 28, 2002, at the age of 83.

Legacy

Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes died at the age of 83, his family announced on Tuesday.

Hayes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990 and was a part of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in Basketball History

A six-time NBA All-Star Hayes won an NBA Championship with the Washington Bullets in 1978. He was also a three-time All-NBA First Team selection and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice.

In his 16 seasons in the NBA, Hayes averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks per game. He is one of only four players in NBA history to average at least 20 points and 12 rebounds per game for their career.

Hayes’ impact on the game went beyond his stats, as he was one of the first African American players to gain widespread popularity in the NBA. His success helped pave the way for future generations of black players to find success in the league.

Hayes will be remembered as one of the greats of his generation and his legacy will continue to live on through those he inspired.

Personal Life

Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes died at the age of 83 on Sunday, his family announced.

Hayes was a 12-time NBA All-Star and a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Hayes is survived by his wife, Marjorie; daughters, April and Elvinna; and son, Eldridge.

Death

Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes died at the age of 83, the school he played for announced Thursday.

Hayes, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990, died in Houston. The 6-foot-9 forward/center helped lead the University of Houston to an undefeated season and NCAA championship in 1968.

Hayes, nicknamed “The Big E,” was a three-time All-American and four-time conference Player of the Year. He is the only player in NCAA history to score more than 2,000 points and block more than 200 shots in a career. Hayes averaged 28 points and 17 rebounds per game during his collegiate career.

Hayes was drafted by the San Diego Rockets with the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft He went on to play 16 seasons in the NBA, averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds per game. He was an 11-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team four times.

Reactions

Former players and coaches react to the death of Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West at the age of 83.

Memorials

Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes died at 83 on Sunday, his family announced.
Hayes was a 12-time NBA All-Star who averaged 21.0 points and 12.5 rebounds over 16 seasons with the San Diego/Houston Rockets and Washington Bullets He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 1968, he led the Bullets to their only NBA Finals appearance, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. He was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996.
A public memorial service will be held at a later date, his family said.

Further Reading

Read more about Hayes’ life and career:

– https://www.nba.com/news/obituary-elvin-hayes-hall-of-famer-and-olympic-golden-boy

– https://www.si.com/college/2018/11/17/elvin-hayes-death-reaction

Elvin Hayes, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the first African American players to dominate in the sport, has died at the age of 83.

Hayes was born in Rayville, Louisiana, and attended the University of Houston where he was a two-time All-American. He led the Cougars to an undefeated season in 1968 and was named NCAA Player of the Year. That same year, he helped the U.S. Olympic team win a gold medal in Mexico City

Hayes was drafted by the San Diego Rockets (now the Houston Rockets) with the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA draft He went on to play for 16 seasons in the NBA, including 11 with the Rockets, and was an All-Star 12 times. He retired as the NBA’s All-time leading rebounder in 1984 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Hayes is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and their three children.