Elvin Ernest Hayes, also known as “The Big E,” is a well-known former American basketball player. He made a name for himself in the 1970s and is now a top academic and professional player. Similarly, Hayes spent 16 seasons in the NBA. He is also a radio analyst for his alma mater, the Houston Cougars.
Elvin is also a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Most people may be familiar with Elvin only by name, but not in depth. So, today, let’s delve into Elvin Ernest Hayes’ life and discuss everything from his early career, family, education, net worth, and so much more.
We will also investigate his social life and any issues he may have. But for now, let us look at some quick facts about Elvin’s life.
Where was Elvin Hayes born? Ethnicity, Nationality, Family, Education
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Elvin was the sixth child born to Christopher Hayes, a proud father, and Savannah Hayes, a supportive mother. They worked as cotton mill laborers in Rayville, Louisiana, a small, impoverished town. Hayes had lived through the darkest period of his life since his childhood. When he didn’t even own a shoe and had to ask his cousin for permission to go anywhere.
As African Americans were mistreated, Elvin’s preferred sport, baseball, provided an escape from the prejudice and ferocity directed at his race. Similarly, the start of a basketball career was entirely coincidental. Even though he was a good student throughout high school, Hayes was frequently blamed for class misbehavior.
Furthermore, to steer Elvin away from the perilous turn in his life, the respected John Calvin decided to place Elvin on the basketball team. He taught and trained students at Eula D. Britton High School. Hayes was awkward at first, but he practiced a lot. Hayes developed his signature move, the turnaround jumper, later in his junior year.
Elvin also recognized that his outside shooting was insufficient, so he developed the turnaround jumper to counteract taller opponents. Furthermore, Hayes led his team to 54 straight victories and a state tournament while averaging 35 points per game.
Because he was a great baseball player, the Hayes family’s youngest son was named to All-Conference, All-State, and All-America teams. Furthermore, during his senior year of high school, he was voted “Most Valuable Player (MVP)” by his peers.
Quick facts:
| Full Name | Elvin Ernest Hayes |
| Date | November 17, 1945 |
| Place Of Birth | Rayville, Louisiana |
| Nick/Pet Name | The Big E |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnic Belonging | African-American |
| Father’s Name | Christopher Hayes |
| Mother’s Name | Savannah Hayes |
| Number Of Siblings | 6 |
| Education | University of Houston |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Age | 76 Years Old |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) |
| Weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Shoe Size | Unavailable |
| Body Measurement | Unknown |
| Figure | Athletic |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Erna Livingston |
| Children | Erica, Erna Elisse, Elvin Hayes Jr. |
| Occupation | Retired professional basketball player |
| Net worth | $6 million |
| Wingspan | 7’2 |
| Salary | Unknown |
| Active Since | 1968-1984 |
| Merch | Bobblehead, Basketball Card |
| Current works | Retired |
| Social Handle | Instagram (private account), Twitter |
| Last Update | September 2022 |
Is Elvin Hayes Married? Relationship
Elvin Hayes is happily married to Erna Livingston, his long-term girlfriend. Erica, Erna Elisse, and Elvin Hayes Jr. are the couple’s four children. They Call Me the “Big E,” Hayes’ autobiography co-written with Bill Gilbert, provides many insights into Elvin’s personality but covers little specific personal information.
For biographical information, Scott Crawford’s “Elvin Hayes” in African American Sports Greats (1999), corrected by David Porter, is a good source. Sports Star Elvin Hayes (1980) by H. Burchard is a worthy babyish book on Hayes.
“No Back Seat for Elvin,” by David Llores, Ebony (March 1968), contains household information that is not available elsewhere.”The Big E Wants an MVP,” Sports DemonsOctober 16(October 16, 1978), by John Papanek, is an excellent appraisal of Hayes’ career.
How tall is Elvin Hayes? Weight, Hair Color
Hayes, the former star player, was born on November 17, 1945, making him 76 years old in 2022. He stands 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm) tall and weighs approximately 235 lb (107 kg). Elvin is not the tallest player in the NBA, but he is one of the tallest.
Hayes also has brown eyes and black curly hair, which complement his facial features perfectly. Elvin Ernest had a strong build and a well-kept body back in the day. He exercised frequently and followed a strict diet. He is a Scorpio man based on his birth date. Scorpios are known to be career-oriented and hard workers. And in his case, this could be true.
How did Elvin Hayes start his Professional Career?
Elvin was pursued by over 100 colleges and universities. But Hayes chose the University of Houston, where he and Don Chaney were the most prominent African-American basketball players. Hayes led the Cougars to the Western Regional semi-finals of the NCAA Men’s Division I
Basketball Tournament in 1966
In 1966, however, he was defeated by the Pac-8 champion Oregon State Beavers. Elvin led the Cougars to the Final Four of the 1967 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament the following year without losing hope or spirit.
Similarly, in a 73-58 semi-final loss to the eventual winner UCLA Bruins, including Lew Alcindor (now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), he scored 31 field goals, 25 points, and 24 rebounds. Hayes’ rebounding total ranks second only to Bill Russell’s Final Four record of 27. Despite their efforts, the Big E and the Houston Cougars confronted Lew and the UCLA Bruins following the loss.
It was also shown in the first-ever national onscreen regular season academic basketball game. Elvin scored 39 points and had 15 rebounds in front of 52,693 fans at the Houston Astrodome while holding Alcindor to only 15 points. Finally, in what has been dubbed the “Game of the Century,” Houston defeated UCLA 71-69, ending the Bruins’ 47-game winning streak.
Hayes was named The Sporting News College Basketball Player of the Year as a result of that game. Hayes attributed his success to his trainer, Guy Lewis. He also stated that Coach Lewis and his assistant “were like fathers to us, treating every one of us the same—black or white.”
Following the Re-Match
In the 1968 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, Elvin faced Alcindor and UCLA at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. It was a re-enactment of the “Game of the Century.”UCLA trainer John Wooden insisted on the Bruins using a “triangle and two” zone defense. Similarly, Alcindor was arranged to play behind Hayes, with Lynn Shackleford facing him.
He only had 10 points as Elvin fell 101-69 to Alcindor and the Bruins in the semi-final game. After defeating UCLA in the Game of the Century at the Astrodome, Houston’s Hayes was greeted with a triumphant celebration. Similarly, Elvin led Houston in scoring 27.2 points per game, 28.4, and 36.8 for three years in a row.
Hayes averaged 31.0 points per game and 17.2 rebounds during his collegiate career. With 222 recoils, he holds the record for the most in NCAA tournament history. While a student at Houston, Hayes joined the Iota Phi Theta fraternity’s Alpha Nu Omega Chapter, where he met future Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy.
Elvin was also selected first overall in both the 1968 NBA and 1968 ABA drafts after graduating from college. Similarly, the professional football teams San Diego Rockets and Houston Mavericks both took him in.
After Basketball | Elvin Hayes
Elvin returned to his university after his basketball career ended to complete the remaining credit hours for his undergrad degree. Elvin enrolled at the University of Houston in 1986 and earned a B.A. in recreation and speech. He also considered many business ventures and raised cattle on his ranch near Texas to open a car dealership in Houston.
During one of the interviews, Elvin stated that studying was more difficult than playing professional basketball for 16 years. He stated, “I played pro basketball for 16 years, but this is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.”Elvin joined the City of Liberty Police Reserve in 2007. He stated that becoming one was his childhood dream.
Following his service, he became a radio analyst for the Houston Cougars, broadcasting games on Houston’s KBME. Elvin had an exciting career based on all of this.
Career Highlights And Awards
- 1967-1968: Consensus first-team All-American, UPI Player of the Year, Associated Press Player of the Year, Consensus first-team All-American, Sporting News Player of the Year
- 1969-1970: NBA scoring champion, NBA All-Rookie First Team, 12× NBA All-Star (1969-1980), NBA rebounding leader
- 1973-1979: 3x All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team, All-NBA First Team, NBA champion (1978)
- NBA 50th Anniversary Team
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- No. 11 was retired by Washington Wizards
- No. 44 retired by Houston Cougars
Social Media Details
Elvin Hayes does not use social media. He lives a very private life and has very little social media presence. Elvin’s personal Twitter handle is @elvin.hayes.
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