Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information about Spencer Haywood:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Spencer Haywood
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: 74 (born April 22, 1949)
  • Hometown: Silver City, Mississippi
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m)
  • Weight: 225 lbs (102 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 9 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore #24, #42, and #31 during his career
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Pershing High School, Detroit, Michigan
  • College: Trinidad State Junior College, University of Detroit Mercy
  • NBA Draft: Selected by the Buffalo Braves in the 1971 NBA Draft but joined the NBA earlier via a legal battle (the “Haywood Rule”) after playing in the ABA.
  • Teams Played For: Denver Rockets (ABA), Seattle SuperSonics, New York Knicks, New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Bullets, Reyer Venezia Mestre (Italy)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (1980 with the Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Kids: Yes, Haywood has four daughters.
  • Siblings: Haywood grew up in a large family, though specific details about his siblings are not widely publicized.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Spencer Haywood’s player archetype was that of an explosive scoring-rebounding power forward: a long, springy, high-volume frontcourt scorer who could dominate the glass, punish defenders from the mid-post, and still play with the mobility of a modern face-up big. At 6-foot-8, Haywood paired strength, reach, and fluid athleticism with a soft touch, and offensively he was at his best attacking inside, running the floor, and leaning on his trademark turnaround jumper. Defensively, he fit as a physical rebounder and interior helper more than a pure stopper, using his length and activity to control possessions and clean up around the rim. In full, his game was built on power, lift, touch, and relentless production, which is why he stood out as one of the great scoring big men of his era. (NBA)

Sources:

NBA.com — Legends profile: Spencer Haywood
Britannica — Spencer Haywood | Biography, Stats, Hall of Fame, Iman, Drugs, & Facts
Basketball-Reference — Spencer Haywood Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more