- Currently working in real estate and the auto industry in Canton, Michigan. (January 2003)
- Played 13 years in the NBA, including two All-Star appearances.
- First person under the age of 21 to play in the NBA.
- Had a daughter, Zulekha, with Iman.
- Forward/Center for Denver Rockets of ABA (1969-1970) and Seattle Supersonics (1970-1975), New York Knicks (1975-1979), New Orleans Jazz (1979), Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1980) and Washington Bullets (1981-1983) of NBA.
- Attended the same high school (Pershing) as former NBA player Mel Daniels, though not at the same time.
- Grew up in Mississippi, but moved to Detroit at age 15 and led his high school team to a state championship.
- Played one season in the ABA with the Denver Rockets, leading them to the playoffs and leading the ABA in both scoring and rebounding. Left for the NBA despite its eligibility rules and filed an antitrust suit against the league. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court which ruled in Haywood's favor, allowing him to join the Seattle Supersonics.
- After high school, played a season of basketball at a Colorado junior college. Was selected for the U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team at age 19 (then the youngest player ever selected). Led the team to the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics.
- After junior college, he transferred to the University of Detroit. In his one season, he averaged 32 points per game and led the nation in rebounding, averaging 21.5 rebounds a game.
- Wanted to turn professional after his one season at the University of Detroit, but both the NBA and ABA had rules stating a college player had to wait four years after his high school class graduated to turn pro. The ABA, however, had a financial hardship exemption. Haywood qualified because his single mother in Mississippi was making $2 an hour as a sharecropper and raising nine other children.
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