James Edwards vs. Elvin Hayes Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Elvin Hayes and James Edwards, 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

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.

James Edwards played 19 years in the NBA, 3 more than Elvin Hayes, who played 16. James Edwards had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Elvin Hayes had his rookie season in 1968-69. 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
James Edwards 19 11 1977-78 to 1995-96
Elvin Hayes 16 10 1968-69 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1977-781968-69
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana PacersSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 83 29.0 15.2 2.4 5.0 7.4 1.0 0.6 0.9 2.0 3.9 6.0 13.2 .453 - - - 3.3 5.1 .646
Elvin Hayes 82 45.1 28.4 - - 17.1 1.4 - - - 3.2 11.3 25.4 .447 - - - 5.7 9.1 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 6 46.3 25.8 - - 13.8 0.8 - - - 3.5 10.0 19.0 .526 - - - 5.8 8.8 .660

Season 2

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1978-791969-70
Team Indiana PacersSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
James Edwards 82 31.0 16.7 2.2 6.3 8.5 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.4 6.5 13.0 .501 - - - 3.6 5.4 .676
Elvin Hayes 82 44.7 27.5 - - 16.9 2.0 - - - 3.3 11.1 24.6 .452 - - - 5.2 7.6 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1979-801970-71
Team Indiana PacersSan Diego Rockets
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 %
James Edwards 82 28.2 15.7 2.2 4.9 7.0 1.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.0 6.4 12.6 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.1 .681
Elvin Hayes 82 44.3 28.7 - - 16.6 2.3 - - - 2.7 11.6 27.0 .428 - - - 5.5 8.2 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 4

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1980-811971-72
Team Indiana PacersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 81 29.3 15.6 2.4 4.7 7.0 2.6 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.8 6.3 12.4 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.3 .703
Elvin Hayes 82 42.2 25.2 - - 14.6 3.3 - - - 2.8 10.1 23.4 .434 - - - 4.9 7.5 .649
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 2 28.0 7.0 2.0 5.0 7.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.0 3.5 12.0 .292 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 5

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1981-821972-73
Team Cleveland CavaliersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 %
James Edwards 77 33.0 16.7 2.5 5.1 7.5 1.6 0.3 1.5 2.1 4.5 6.9 13.4 .511 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.4 .684
Elvin Hayes 81 41.3 21.2 - - 14.5 1.6 - - - 2.9 8.8 19.8 .444 - - - 3.6 5.4 .671
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 5 45.6 25.8 - - 11.4 1.0 - - - 3.2 10.6 21.0 .505 - - - 4.6 6.6 .697

Season 6

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1982-831973-74
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsCapital Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdBullets 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 %
James Edwards 31 21.5 10.5 1.8 3.2 5.0 1.3 0.4 0.6 1.6 3.5 4.1 8.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .639
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 3 18.0 9.3 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.7 .423 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
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

Season 7

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1983-841974-75
Team Phoenix SunsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 72 26.3 14.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.6 0.3 0.4 1.9 3.5 6.1 11.3 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .720
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 17 27.2 13.8 1.3 4.1 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.6 1.8 3.6 5.5 11.1 .492 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .706
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

Season 8

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1984-851975-76
Team Phoenix SunsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 %
James Edwards 70 25.5 14.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 2.2 0.4 0.7 2.3 3.4 5.5 10.9 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 3.9 5.3 .746
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
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

Season 9

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1985-861976-77
Team Phoenix SunsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 %
James Edwards 52 25.3 16.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.4 0.4 0.6 2.5 3.8 6.1 11.3 .542 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.8 .702
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
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

Season 10

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1986-871977-78
Team Phoenix SunsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 14 21.7 12.0 1.4 2.9 4.3 1.4 0.4 0.5 1.1 3.0 4.1 7.9 .518 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.0 .771
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
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

Season 11

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1987-881978-79
Team Phoenix Suns, Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 69 24.7 11.8 1.7 4.2 6.0 1.1 0.2 0.5 1.9 3.1 4.4 9.3 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .654
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 22 14.0 6.3 1.0 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .659
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

Season 12

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1988-891979-80
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 %
James Edwards 76 16.5 7.3 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.9 3.0 2.8 5.6 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 17 18.6 7.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.1 2.4 5.0 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.0 .784
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

Season 13

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1989-901980-81
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 82 27.8 14.5 1.4 2.8 4.2 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.6 3.6 5.6 11.3 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.3 .749
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 20 26.8 14.3 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 1.6 3.7 5.7 11.6 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .604
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 14

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1990-911981-82
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
James Edwards 72 26.4 13.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 0.9 0.2 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.3 11.0 .484 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.1 .729
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 15 23.0 10.7 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 1.6 2.9 4.1 10.0 .407 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.7 .691
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

Season 15

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1991-921982-83
Team Los Angeles ClippersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 72 20.0 9.7 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.5 7.5 .465 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.8 .731
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 5 17.4 6.4 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.0 4.8 .417 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .632
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 16

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1992-931983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 52 11.9 6.3 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 2.3 5.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .712
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 3 4.7 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 17

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1993-94-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 %
James Edwards 45 10.4 4.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.7 3.7 .464 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .684
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 18

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1994-95-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
James Edwards 28 9.5 2.7 0.4 1.2 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.6 1.1 3.0 .386 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .647
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 19

James Edwards Elvin Hayes
Season 1995-96-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
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 %
James Edwards 28 9.8 3.5 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.8 2.2 1.5 3.9 .373 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .615
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 6 4.7 1.8 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.7 0.7 1.5 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------