Elvin Hayes is a retired American professional basketball player. He was born on November 17, 1945 in Rayville, Louisiana.
Hayes played power forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1968 to 1984. He spent the majority of his career with the Houston Rockets and the Washington Bullets, and was named to the All-Star Game 12 times. He was also selected to the All-NBA First Team twice, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
Hayes was known for his powerful athleticism, his tenacious rebounding, and his versatility as a scorer. He was an effective scorer both inside and outside, and his ability to score from the low post made him one of the most difficult players to defend. He was also a strong rebounder, and his ability to control the paint on both ends of the court made him a dominant player.
After retiring from the NBA, Hayes has been involved in coaching and broadcasting. He has served as a television analyst for several networks, and has also been involved in coaching at the high school and college levels.
Elvin Hayes is widely regarded as one of the best power forwards in the history of the NBA.