In conjunction with the debut of a new Hardwood Classics green-and-gold uniform from the team’s San Diego days, the Rockets on Friday retired the franchise’s No. 44 jersey to the Toyota Center rafters in honor of Hall of Fame center Elvin Hayes.
Hayes was drafted by San Diego with the No. 1 pick in the first round of the 1968 NBA draft. As with the rest of the Rockets, he moved to Houston once the team relocated in 1971.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Elvin Hayes’ stellar career by retiring his jersey,” said Tilman Fertitta, current owner of the Rockets.
“Elvin was the original basketball superstar in the city of Houston and has a lasting legacy with not only the NBA and the Rockets, but the University of Houston, as well. We’re excited to honor Elvin and his family this November and see his jersey hang where it belongs, alongside the other legends from our franchise’s storied history.”
Hayes’ No. 44 jersey is already retired at the University of Houston, where he played college basketball.
The jersey retirement ceremony took place at halftime of Houston’s game versus Indiana on Friday night. As part of the celebration, and in recognition of the franchise’s 55th anniversary season, the Rockets debuted their green San Diego Hardwood Classics jersey — made popular by Hayes and Calvin Murphy — in that game.
Scroll on for interviews, quotes, videos, photos, and much more from a special night at Toyota Center.
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