The Career Stats of Spencer Haywood

Born April 22, 1949, in Silver City, Mississippi, was Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame forward Spencer Haywood. Growing up in a family of poor sharecroppers in Mississippi, Haywood overcame by his talent and skill on the hard courts in both high school and college. Spencer enrolled at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado, during the 1967–68 college season, where he averaged 28.2 points and 22.1 rebounds per game. Due to his exceptional performance and talent, Haywood was cast on the roster of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team at age 19, becoming the youngest American basketball player in Olympic history. He was a member of that exciting teams that captured Olympic gold 1968. Unable to join an NBA or ABA team due to his limited time in school, the ABA made a hardship exemption so that Haywood could sign on with the Denver Rockets after they drafted him. Spencer led the ABA in both scoring at 30.0 points per game and rebounding at 19.5 rebounds per game as a rookie. He would go on to play with the Seattle Super Sonics, New York Knicks, New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Italy's Reyer Venezia, and the Washington Bullets. He was part of the 1980 NBA Champion Lakers; an NBA All-Star 1972–75; ABA All-Star Game MVP 1970. He most famously wore the NBAJersey Number 24.

Calling all Hoops fans! Prepare to step onto the hallowed court of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Over the next series of posts, we'll be honoring the elite few, the immortals who have carved their names into the very fabric of the sport.

These are the players – the sky-walking slam dunkers, the silky smooth shooters, the defensive titans – whose brilliance, dedication, and impact on the game have earned them a place among basketball royalty. The few legendary players of thousands that are held in such high esteem that they are forever remembered in the museum of basketball greats.

From the pioneers who laid the groundwork on dusty playgrounds to the modern marvels redefining the game on the global stage, the Hall of Fame boasts a pantheon of legends. We'll delve into their remarkable stories and bios.