This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/15/2008.
A member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, Elvin Hayes joined the NBA with the San Diego Rockets in 1968 and in his rookie year, he scored a career-high 54 points against the Detroit Pistons that year. As a rookie, Hayes led 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. Hayes' scoring average is the fifth best all-time for a rookie, and he remains the last rookie to lead the NBA in scoring. 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. In 1972, Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets, where he teamed with Hall-Of-Famer Wes Unseld to form a fierce and dominating frontcourt combination that led the Bullets to 3 NBA Finals (1975, 1978, 1979) and an NBA title over the Supersonics in 1978. In 1981 Hayes was traded to the Houston Rockets. The "Big E" closed out his career with the Rockets in 1984, which had relocated to Houston. In the collar is the "Rawlings" manufacturer's size 44 wash tag. Next to it is a "4 Inch Extra Length" flag tag. Across the front is "ROCKETS" in red tackle twill. Below that and on the back is the player number "44" in red tackle twill. Across the back is the player name "HAYES" in red tackle twill. The jersey shows excellent game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind.