Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history for 75th anniversary

49 of 78

Elvin Hayes (R). Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images /

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 47 – Elvin Hayes

On NBA 50 at 50 List

Career: 1968 – 1984

Achievements: 1978 champion; All-NBA (6x); All-Star (12x); All-Defense (2x); two-time rebounding leader; one-time scoring leader; 13th in career points; sixth in career rebounds

The Washington Bullets of the 1970s were built like many teams of that decade, from the inside out. Their two stars, Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes, were post players banging around inside. The combination led the Bullets to the NBA Finals three times, and they lifted the trophy in 1978.

Hayes was a rebounder extraordinaire, leading the league in the number twice and averaging at least 11 rebounds per game in each of his first 12 seasons. He was no offensive slouch either, leading the league in scoring as a rookie and averaging 21 points per game for his career. He was a tough player inside, and together he and Unseld formed a strong defensive wall inside.

The problem for Hayes was that his high-energy pounding styles worked less well in the postseason, especially against faster power forwards. He wilted in all three series, even when the Bullets won in 1978; it was Wes Unseld who won Finals MVP. Without that ring and its blanket validation, his standing in history might be vastly different.