Spencer Haywood Media Clips
DETROIT (9/11/2015) -- Another cager will enter immortal status in the world of basketball as Titan Hall-of-Famer and legend Spencer Haywood will be formally inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday Night.
Haywood will be presented by a few other greats in Charles Barkley, Bill Walton and Lenny Wilkens. The entire event will be broadcast live on NBA TV as well as online at NBA.com starting at 7:30 p.m.
He becomes just the second Titan in the prestigious Hall-of-Fame, joining Dave DeBusschere, who was inducted into the hall in 1983.
ONE SPECIAL YEARHaywood spent one year with the Titans, but it was a magical year for the University of Detroit. Everyone knew that Detroit was getting a game changer, a true man among boys, and Haywood did not disappoint.
He played his freshman year at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado, before making the 1968 Olympic Team. He would go on to lead USA to a gold medal, topping the squad with 16.1 points per game and setting a USA field goal percentage record of .719.
It was onto the Motor City after that and in his one year playing inside historic Calihan Hall, he averaged a school-record 32.1 points and 22.1 rebounds per game during the 1968-69 season. The 32.1 points was also fourth in the nation behind only hardwood icons Pistol Pete Maravich, Rick Mount and Calvin Murphy, while his 22.1 rebounds led the NCAA.
SMASHING DEBUTHis first Titan game was simple "smashing" as he scored 36 points in a 65-point Detroit victory, but it was his final basket that caused the most excitement.
With Detroit beating Aquinas, 103-40, Haywood went up for a dunk and when he was done, so was the backboard as the glass shattered causing a delay with 6 1/2 minutes left. Since the arena did not have a capable back-up basket and with the Titans already leading by 65 points, the officials called the game.
PRO STYLEHaywood moved onto 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 as he led the team to a division title.
SUPREME VICTORYIn 1970, Haywood joined the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA, but that came with a fight. At the time, an NBA rule stated that no player could play in the league until he was four years removed from high school. With Haywood only at three years removed, he challenged that rule and the case went all the way up to the Supreme Court. In "Haywood v. National Basketball Association", the Supreme Court sided with Haywood as he was allowed to play in the NBA, which also opened the professional doors for high school players and underclassmen.
NBA JAMHe would play five seasons for Seattle, averaging 24.9 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game. He was selected to four NBA All-Star games with Seattle and led the team to their first playoff berth in 1975.
Haywood later played for the New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Bullets, earning a championship ring with the Lakers during the 1979–80 season.
In 13 professional seasons, he tallied 17,111 points, while grabbing 8,675 rebounds. During his pro career, he averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
TITAN HONORSHaywood was inducted into the Titan Hall-of-Fame in 1993. His year is generally considered one of the greatest single-seasons ever in Titan basketball history as he still ranks first in scoring average (32.1), second in total points (771), rebounds (530) and free throws (195) and tied for second in total field goals (288).
BEATING ALL ODDSHaywood's life has been a winning battle. From starring on the Olympic Team coming from a junior college, to winning a case in the Supreme Court.
His latest victory was a bout with cancer as he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013 - the same year that he was originally not voted into the Hall of Fame when media reports seemed to indicate he would get in. He had surgery right here in Detroit at Henry Ford Hospital and has now become an advocate for cancer awareness. Along with the National Basketball Retired Players Association, Haywood has teamed up with the Cancer Treatment Centers of America to help bring awareness to prostate cancer.
Calihan Hall has seen its share of great players and maybe one day, Haywood's name might slowly start to move down the list in the record books. But his impact for Detroit and the professional scene will never be topped. A truly special evening awaits Haywood tonight in Springfield and for all of us in Titan Territory, we congratulate you and your inclusion into one of the most storied places in all of sports, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
