Rudy Gay vs. Elvin Hayes Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Elvin Hayes and Rudy Gay, 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.

Rudy Gay played 17 years in the NBA, 1 more than Elvin Hayes, who played 16. Rudy Gay had the first of his seasons in 2006-07, 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
Rudy Gay 17 3 2006-07 to 2022-23
Elvin Hayes 16 10 1968-69 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2006-071968-69
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
Rudy Gay 78 27.0 10.8 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.8 2.5 4.1 9.7 .422 0.7 1.8 .364 1.9 2.7 .727
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2007-081969-70
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan 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 %
Rudy Gay 81 37.0 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.2 2.0 1.4 1.0 2.3 2.8 7.7 16.7 .461 1.7 4.8 .346 3.1 3.9 .785
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2008-091970-71
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan 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 %
Rudy Gay 79 37.3 18.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 1.7 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.8 7.2 16.0 .453 1.1 3.1 .351 3.3 4.4 .767
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2009-101971-72
Team Memphis GrizzliesHouston 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 %
Rudy Gay 80 39.7 19.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 1.9 1.5 0.8 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.1 .466 0.8 2.5 .327 3.8 5.0 .753
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2010-111972-73
Team Memphis GrizzliesBaltimore 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 %
Rudy Gay 54 39.9 19.8 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.8 1.7 1.1 2.5 2.4 7.6 16.1 .471 1.1 2.7 .396 3.6 4.5 .805
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2011-121973-74
Team Memphis GrizzliesCapital Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies 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 %
Rudy Gay 65 37.3 19.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 2.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.1 7.5 16.4 .455 0.8 2.7 .312 3.2 4.0 .791
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 %
Rudy Gay 7 39.9 19.0 1.4 5.1 6.6 1.4 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 6.9 16.3 .421 0.6 2.7 .211 4.7 5.7 .825
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2012-131974-75
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto RaptorsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 75 35.8 18.2 1.3 4.8 6.1 2.7 1.5 0.7 2.6 2.4 6.9 16.7 .416 1.1 3.5 .323 3.2 3.9 .814
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2013-141975-76
Team Toronto Raptors, Sacramento KingsWashington 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 %
Rudy Gay 73 34.7 20.0 1.5 4.4 6.0 2.9 1.3 0.8 3.1 2.3 7.4 16.2 .455 0.9 2.7 .330 4.4 5.3 .822
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2014-151976-77
Team Sacramento KingsWashington 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 %
Rudy Gay 68 35.4 21.1 1.4 4.4 5.9 3.7 1.0 0.6 2.7 2.3 7.5 16.4 .455 1.2 3.2 .359 5.0 5.8 .858
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2015-161977-78
Team Sacramento KingsWashington 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 %
Rudy Gay 70 34.0 17.2 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.7 14.4 .463 1.1 3.1 .344 2.8 3.6 .780
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2016-171978-79
Team Sacramento KingsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 30 33.8 18.7 1.2 5.2 6.3 2.8 1.5 0.9 2.5 2.6 6.7 14.7 .455 1.4 3.8 .372 3.9 4.6 .855
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2017-181979-80
Team San Antonio SpursWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdBullets 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 %
Rudy Gay 57 21.6 11.5 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.8 0.7 1.4 1.7 4.4 9.4 .471 0.6 2.1 .314 2.0 2.5 .772
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 %
Rudy Gay 5 32.0 12.2 1.8 3.8 5.6 2.2 1.6 0.2 1.2 3.2 5.2 13.0 .400 0.8 3.6 .222 1.0 1.8 .556
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2018-191980-81
Team San Antonio SpursWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Rudy Gay 69 26.7 13.7 0.9 5.9 6.8 2.6 0.8 0.5 1.7 2.3 5.4 10.8 .504 1.1 2.7 .402 1.7 2.1 .816
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 %
Rudy Gay 7 25.6 11.1 1.9 5.3 7.1 1.7 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.9 4.0 10.0 .400 1.1 2.7 .421 2.0 2.4 .824
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2019-201981-82
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Rudy Gay 67 21.8 10.8 0.9 4.5 5.4 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.5 4.0 8.9 .446 1.1 3.3 .336 1.8 2.0 .882
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2020-211982-83
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rudy Gay 63 21.6 11.4 0.7 4.1 4.8 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.0 1.8 4.2 10.0 .420 1.7 4.4 .381 1.3 1.6 .804
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2021-221983-84
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rudy Gay 55 18.9 8.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.9 .414 1.3 3.7 .345 1.1 1.4 .785
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Rudy Gay Elvin Hayes
Season 2022-23-
Team Utah Jazz-
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 %
Rudy Gay 56 14.6 5.2 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.2 1.9 5.1 .380 0.6 2.3 .254 0.8 0.9 .857
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------