Classic SI Photos of Elvin Hayes

The 1968 NBA Draft's first overall pick out of Houston, Elvin Hayes won Rookie of the Year and made 12-consecutive All-Star Games while winning a championship with the Washington Bullets in 1978. As "The Big E" celebrates his 71st birthday on November 17, 2016, we present these classic SI photos of the Hall of Fame center and power forward.

Classic SI Photos of Elvin Hayes

Elvin Hayes and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

Neil Leifer

January 20, 1968

Elvin Hayes and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

Neil Leifer

January 20, 1968

Elvin Hayes

Neil Leifer

January 20, 1968

Elvin Hayes and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

James Drake

January 29, 1968 SI cover

Elvin Hayes

John D. Hanlon

January 16, 1973

Elvin Hayes and Nate "Tiny" Archibald

Neil Leifer

March 8, 1973

Elvin Hayes and John Havlicek

Tony Triolo

February 3, 1974

Elvin Hayes

John Iacono

April 5, 1974 — NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 4

Elvin Hayes and Jimmy Jones

Walter Iooss Jr

April 16, 1975 — NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 3

Elvin Hayes and Bob McAdoo

Neil Leifer

April 16, 1975 — NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 3

Elvin Hayes and Jim McMillian

Neil Leifer

April 18, 1975 — NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 4

Elvin Hayes

Walter Iooss Jr

1975 NBA Finals

Elvin Hayes

Manny Millan

May 8, 1978 SI cover

Elvin Hayes

Manny Millan

1978 NBA Finals

Elvin Hayes and Dan Roundfield

Manny Millan

May 7, 1979 SI cover