Second-greatest player in the history of each NBA franchise

Washington Wizards: Elvin Hayes

Greatest Player: Wes Unseld

Elvin Hayes NBA career got off to a fast start after being taken No. 1 overall in the 1968 Draft. A member of the Rockets, he made four All-Star teams across four seasons with averages of 27.4 points and 16.3 rebounds per game.

While Hayes made gaudy numbers the norm, team success constantly evaded him with just a single playoff performance during that stretch.

A trade to the Washington Wizards — then the Baltimore Bullets — allowed Hayes the chance to win at a higher level, one he wouldn’t mess around with.

Upon arrival, Hayes took a backseat to former MVP Wes Unseld, watching his shots and points decrease. This was to the ultimate benefit of the Bullets, who won 14 more games from the prior season, although wound up suffering the same early elimination in the playoffs.

It was two years later where the Bullets would reach the Finals before being swept by the Warriors. Three years after that, however, they emerged victorious in a seven-game battle with the Seattle SuperSonics for their first and only championship in 1978.

That Finals stage was where Hayes reentered the spotlight, averaging 20.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

Strangely, Unseld’s 9.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game were enough to claim Finals MVP honors over Hayes, but the latter could hardly complain after accomplishing a goal that required lots of patience and even more sacrifice.