Ranking the top 50 players in NBA history…
“[The Big E](https://www.nba.com/news/history-nba-legend-elvin-hayes)” had a distinguished 16-season NBA career, playing for the San Diego/Houston Rockets and Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets.
Drafted No. 1 overall in 1968 by the Rockets, he made an immediate splash, leading the NBA in scoring with 28.4 points per game and averaging 17.1 rebounds, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team in the process.
Hayes dominated the glass. He led the league in rebounding in 1970 and 1974. Over his career, he played 1,303 games, amassing 27,313 points (21.0 PPG), 16,279 rebounds (12.5 RPG) and 1,771 blocks (2.0 BPG).
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Hayes is also one of the most durable NBA players of all time. He missed only nine game across his entire career!
Hayes made 12 consecutive All-Star teams from 1969 to 1980 and led the Bullets to three NBA Finals appearances, winning a championship in 1978 over the Seattle SuperSonics. That year, he set an NBA Finals record with 11 offensive rebounds in a game (Dennis Rodman later tied that record). He also blocked 11 shots in a game earlier that season.
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Hayes saw his No. 44 jersey retired by the Rockets in 2022.
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Featured image via Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Network.