Elvin Hayes vs. Sly Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sly Williams and Elvin Hayes, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Elvin Hayes played 16 years in the NBA, 9 more than Sly Williams, who played 7. Elvin Hayes had the first of his seasons in 1968-69, while Sly Williams had his rookie season in 1979-80. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Elvin Hayes 16 10 1968-69 to 1983-84
Sly Williams 7 2 1979-80 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1968-691979-80
Team San Diego RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 45.1 28.4 - - 17.1 1.4 - - - 3.2 11.3 25.4 .447 - - - 5.7 9.1 .626
Sly Williams 57 9.8 4.7 1.1 1.0 2.1 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.9 1.3 1.8 4.7 .390 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.6 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 6 46.3 25.8 - - 13.8 0.8 - - - 3.5 10.0 19.0 .526 - - - 5.8 8.8 .660
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1969-701980-81
Team San Diego RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 44.7 27.5 - - 16.9 2.0 - - - 3.3 11.1 24.6 .452 - - - 5.2 7.6 .688
Sly Williams 67 29.5 13.2 2.4 3.8 6.2 2.7 1.7 0.3 2.1 3.0 5.2 10.6 .493 0.0 0.1 .250 2.8 4.0 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Sly Williams 2 28.0 13.0 2.0 2.5 4.5 2.5 1.5 0.0 1.5 3.5 6.5 9.0 .722 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1970-711981-82
Team San Diego RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 44.3 28.7 - - 16.6 2.3 - - - 2.7 11.6 27.0 .428 - - - 5.5 8.2 .672
Sly Williams 60 25.4 13.9 1.7 2.1 3.8 2.4 1.3 0.3 1.9 2.6 5.8 10.5 .556 0.0 0.2 .222 2.2 2.9 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1971-721982-83
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 42.2 25.2 - - 14.6 3.3 - - - 2.8 10.1 23.4 .434 - - - 4.9 7.5 .649
Sly Williams 68 20.4 11.9 1.4 2.9 4.3 2.0 1.1 0.0 2.0 2.4 4.6 9.5 .485 0.0 0.3 .105 2.6 3.8 .680
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Sly Williams 5 16.4 7.2 2.0 2.2 4.2 1.2 0.6 0.2 2.4 0.8 3.2 8.2 .390 0.2 0.2 1.000 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 5

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1972-731983-84
Team Baltimore BulletsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 41.3 21.2 - - 14.5 1.6 - - - 2.9 8.8 19.8 .444 - - - 3.6 5.4 .671
Sly Williams 13 19.8 8.1 1.5 2.4 3.8 1.2 1.1 0.1 1.4 2.5 2.6 8.8 .298 0.1 0.7 .111 2.8 3.5 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 5 45.6 25.8 - - 11.4 1.0 - - - 3.2 10.6 21.0 .505 - - - 4.6 6.6 .697
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1973-741984-85
Team Capital BulletsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 44.5 21.4 4.4 13.7 18.1 2.0 1.1 3.0 - 3.1 8.5 20.1 .423 - - - 4.4 6.1 .721
Sly Williams 34 25.5 12.3 1.3 3.6 4.9 2.8 0.8 0.2 2.3 2.4 4.9 11.2 .439 0.1 0.4 .267 2.3 3.6 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 7 46.1 25.9 4.4 11.4 15.9 3.0 0.7 2.1 - 3.3 10.9 20.4 .531 - - - 4.1 5.9 .707
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1974-751985-86
Team Washington BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 42.3 23.0 2.7 9.5 12.2 2.5 1.9 2.3 - 2.9 9.0 20.3 .443 - - - 5.0 6.5 .766
Sly Williams 6 9.0 2.8 1.2 1.3 2.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.5 0.8 3.5 .238 0.0 0.7 .000 1.2 2.0 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 17 44.2 25.5 2.7 8.2 10.9 2.2 1.5 2.3 - 4.1 10.2 21.9 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .677
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1975-76-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 80 37.2 19.8 2.6 8.4 11.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 - 3.7 8.1 17.3 .470 - - - 3.6 5.7 .628
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 7 43.6 20.0 2.3 10.3 12.6 1.4 0.7 4.0 - 3.4 7.7 17.4 .443 - - - 4.6 7.9 .582
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1976-77-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 41.0 23.7 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.9 1.1 2.7 - 3.8 9.3 18.5 .501 - - - 5.1 7.5 .687
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 9 45.0 21.0 3.2 10.3 13.6 1.9 1.1 2.4 - 4.3 8.2 19.2 .428 - - - 4.6 6.6 .695
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1977-78-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 40.1 19.7 4.1 9.1 13.3 1.8 1.2 2.0 2.8 3.9 7.9 17.4 .451 - - - 4.0 6.3 .634
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 21 41.3 21.8 4.9 8.4 13.3 2.0 1.5 2.5 2.8 4.1 9.0 18.3 .491 - - - 3.8 6.3 .594
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1978-79-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 37.9 21.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 1.7 0.9 2.3 2.9 3.8 8.8 18.0 .487 - - - 4.3 6.5 .654
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 19 41.4 22.5 4.9 9.1 14.0 2.0 0.9 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.9 20.8 .429 - - - 4.6 6.8 .669
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1979-80-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 39.3 23.0 3.3 7.7 11.1 1.6 0.8 2.3 2.7 3.8 9.4 20.7 .454 0.0 0.2 .231 4.1 5.9 .699
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 2 46.0 20.0 5.0 6.0 11.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 20.5 .390 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.0 .800
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1980-81-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 36.2 17.8 2.9 6.8 9.7 1.2 0.8 2.1 2.3 3.7 7.2 16.0 .451 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.4 .617
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1981-82-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 82 37.0 16.1 3.3 5.9 9.1 1.8 0.8 1.3 2.5 3.5 6.3 13.4 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 5.1 .664
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 3 41.3 14.0 2.3 7.7 10.0 1.0 0.7 3.3 2.0 4.0 5.7 16.7 .340 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 5.0 .533
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1982-83-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 28.4 12.9 2.5 5.1 7.6 2.0 0.6 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.2 11.0 .476 0.0 0.0 .500 2.4 3.5 .683
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Elvin Hayes Sly Williams
Season 1983-84-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 12.3 5.0 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.9 0.2 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.8 .406 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .652
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Sly Williams ------- --- ----------