Ernie Grunfeld vs. Elvin Hayes Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Elvin Hayes and Ernie Grunfeld, 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.

Ernie Grunfeld played 9 years in the NBA, 7 less than Elvin Hayes, who played 16. Ernie Grunfeld 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
Ernie Grunfeld 9 5 1977-78 to 1985-86
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

Rookie Season

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1977-781968-69
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 73 17.3 6.9 1.0 1.7 2.7 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.3 .443 - - - 1.3 2.0 .657
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 7 11.0 5.4 0.6 1.0 1.6 2.4 0.4 0.1 1.0 0.9 2.4 4.6 .531 - - - 0.6 0.7 .800
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1978-791969-70
Team Milwaukee BucksSan 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 82 21.7 10.3 1.5 2.9 4.4 2.6 0.7 0.2 1.7 2.7 4.0 8.1 .493 - - - 2.3 3.1 .761
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1979-801970-71
Team Kansas City KingsSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 80 17.5 5.9 1.1 1.8 2.9 1.4 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.9 2.3 5.3 .443 0.0 0.0 .500 1.3 1.6 .771
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 3 10.7 3.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.7 3.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .333
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1980-811971-72
Team Kansas City KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 79 20.1 7.5 0.4 2.2 2.6 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.1 2.0 3.3 6.2 .535 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .743
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 15 42.2 16.8 0.7 3.5 4.2 5.9 2.0 0.6 2.9 3.4 6.5 13.4 .488 0.1 0.3 .500 3.6 4.5 .806
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1981-821972-73
Team Kansas City KingsBaltimore 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 81 23.4 12.7 0.7 1.6 2.2 3.4 0.9 0.5 1.8 2.4 5.2 10.1 .511 0.0 0.2 .143 2.3 2.8 .821
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1982-831973-74
Team New York KnicksCapital Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBullets 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 77 18.5 5.4 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.8 0.5 0.1 1.1 2.2 2.2 4.9 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .827
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 6 19.7 8.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.7 1.2 0.3 1.5 2.8 2.5 5.7 .441 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .947
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1983-841974-75
Team New York KnicksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 76 14.7 5.2 0.3 1.3 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.1 0.9 2.0 2.2 4.8 .459 0.0 0.1 .222 0.8 1.1 .771
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 11 7.6 2.4 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.4 1.1 1.0 2.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1984-851975-76
Team New York KnicksWashington 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 69 15.4 6.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 1.5 0.7 0.1 0.6 1.9 2.7 5.6 .490 0.0 0.1 .250 1.1 1.5 .740
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
Season 1985-861976-77
Team New York KnicksWashington 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 76 18.4 5.4 0.6 2.2 2.7 1.6 0.5 0.2 0.7 2.5 1.9 4.7 .417 0.3 0.8 .426 1.2 1.4 .833
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Ernie Grunfeld Elvin Hayes
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------