Why Haywood’s number is up
In a halftime ceremony at tonight’s game, former Sonics star Spencer Haywood will have the honor of having his number retired by the organization.
Every time you see a young high-school player join the NBA for big-time cash, say thanks to Haywood. He was the first to bypass the league’s then-current rule that a player couldn’t join the league until they’d been out of high school for four years. Haywood points out that the best college players don’t see a dime of the megamillions they’re making for their schools and the NCAA.
Haywood put up some impressive numbers – when he left in 1975, he was the Sonics’ leader in career scoring average (24.9) and rebounding average (12.1). Still, if you really want to know why Haywood’s number is being retired now, you have to look carefully near the bottom of the long Seattle Times piece about him:
Haywood, 57, continues to give back to basketball. He wants his jersey ceremony to help revive the city’s passion for the Sonics and to build an arena in Renton. And if it happens, owner Clay Bennett has agreed to allow the construction arm of Haywood Group LLC to help build the facility.
Deep Throat was right. Follow the money. Always follow the money.
