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Spencer Haywood
Spencer Haywood was announced as a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame

Men's Basketball

Spencer Haywood Announced as a Finalist for Basketball Hall of Fame

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HOUSTON, Texas and SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (2/15/2013) -- Detroit Titans basketball legend Spencer Haywood was announced as one of 12 finalists for election into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday. 

Haywood, a member of the Titan Hall of Fame, averaged 32.1 points and 21.5 rebounds per game during the 1968-69 season with Detroit. He was also a member of the 1968 USA Olympic Basketball team that won gold in Mexico City. Haywood led USA with 16.1 points per game, while shooting .719 percent from the field.

After his legendary amateur career with the Titans and team USA, Haywood moved on to the ABA and NBA where he was drafted in the second round of the ABA Draft by the Buffalo Braves, before he was traded to the then Denver Rockets. In his only season with Denver Haywood led the ABA with 30.0 points and 19.5 rebounds per game. He was named both the ABA Rookie of the Year and ABA MVP during the 1969-70 season, and became the youngest ever recipient of the MVP at the age of 21.

In 1970, Haywood joined the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA where over five seasons he averaged 24.9 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game. Haywood played in four NBA All-Star Games with Seattle, while leading the Supersonics to their first playoff berth in 1975.

Haywood later played for the New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Bullets. He earned a championship ring with the Lakers during the 1979–80 season. Haywood finished his career scoring 17,111 points, while grabbing 8,675 rebounds. During his career he averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

The Class of 2013 will be announced on Monday, April 8 at a press conference in Atlanta prior to the NCAA's Men's Championship game. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2013 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass. on Sunday, September 8.
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