Elvin Hayes vs. Sam Merrill Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Sam Merrill and Elvin Hayes that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
Elvin Hayes: 1968-69 to 1983-84
Sam Merrill: 2020-21 to 2025-26

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Elvin Hayes 1 Sam Merrill 1

NBA Seasons Elvin Hayes 16 Sam Merrill 6

Playoffs Played Elvin Hayes 10 Sam Merrill 3

All-Star Games Elvin Hayes 12 Sam Merrill 0

Honors and Awards

All-NBA First Team Elvin Hayes 3 Sam Merrill 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Elvin Hayes 6 Sam Merrill 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Elvin Hayes 2 Sam Merrill 0

Scoring Leader Elvin Hayes 1 Sam Merrill 0

Rebounds Leader Elvin Hayes 2 Sam Merrill 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 21.0 Sam Merrill 6.8

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 12.5 Sam Merrill 1.9

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.8 Sam Merrill 1.4

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.0 * Sam Merrill 0.5

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 2.0 * Sam Merrill 0.1

Totals Stats

Total Points Elvin Hayes 27,313 Sam Merrill 1,202

Total Rebounds Elvin Hayes 16,279 Sam Merrill 331

Total Assists Elvin Hayes 2,398 Sam Merrill 254

Total Steals Elvin Hayes 864 * Sam Merrill 87

Total Blocks Elvin Hayes 1,771 * Sam Merrill 20

Total Games Elvin Hayes 1,303 Sam Merrill 177

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elvin Hayes .452 Sam Merrill .410

3-Point Percentage Elvin Hayes .147 * Sam Merrill .392

Free Throw Percentage Elvin Hayes .670 Sam Merrill .934

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 28.7 (1971) Sam Merrill 17.3 (2026)

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 18.1 (1974) Sam Merrill 2.2 (2025)

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 3.3 (1972) Sam Merrill 2.0 (2026)

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.9 (1975) * Sam Merrill 0.8 (2023)

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 3.0 (1974) * Sam Merrill 0.3 (2026)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 22.9 Sam Merrill 3.2

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 13.0 Sam Merrill 1.4

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.9 Sam Merrill 0.9

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.1 * Sam Merrill 0.3

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 2.6 * Sam Merrill 0.1

Totals Stats

Total Points Elvin Hayes 2,194 Sam Merrill 84

Total Rebounds Elvin Hayes 1,244 Sam Merrill 37

Total Assists Elvin Hayes 185 Sam Merrill 24

Total Steals Elvin Hayes 97 * Sam Merrill 8

Total Blocks Elvin Hayes 222 * Sam Merrill 2

Total Games Elvin Hayes 96 Sam Merrill 26

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elvin Hayes .464 Sam Merrill .355

3-Point Percentage Elvin Hayes - * Sam Merrill .352

Free Throw Percentage Elvin Hayes .652 Sam Merrill .833

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elvin Hayes 25.9 (1974) Sam Merrill 5.8 (2025)

Rebounds Per Game Elvin Hayes 15.9 (1974) Sam Merrill 2.5 (2025)

Assists Per Game Elvin Hayes 3.0 (1980) Sam Merrill 1.8 (2025)

Steals Per Game Elvin Hayes 1.5 (1975) * Sam Merrill 0.5 (2025)

Blocks Per Game Elvin Hayes 4.0 (1976) * Sam Merrill 0.3 (2025)

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.