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Center · 1985–86

Steve Hayes

Idaho State remembers him for one of March's great upsets: 27 points and 12 rebounds as the Bengals beat UCLA 76-75 in the 1977 Sweet Sixteen. Drafted by the Knicks, the 7-foot center did not reach the NBA until 1981, at 26, after starring in Italy and winning the 1980 CBA title in Anchorage. He backed up centers for five NBA clubs, the Utah Jazz in 1985-86 his last, and was CBA Most Valuable Player with Tampa Bay in 1985.

He coached in the CBA, raised funds for Idaho State athletics, then moved into IT consulting and business. Hayes serves as secretary on the board of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.

HOW HE CAME & WENTThe Jazz signed him as a free agent in May 1985, and declined his contract option a year later.

Full name
Steven Leonard Hayes
Utah Jazz tenure
1985–86
Position
Center
Born
1955, Peoria, Illinois
Height
7′0″ (213 cm)
Weight
205 lb (93 kg)
College
Idaho State
Drafted
1977
Signatures in the archive
  • 1985-86 Idaho State autographed playing card
  • UTAH JAZZ 1985-1986 IDAHO STATE PLAYING

No photograph of this signature is online yet.

With the Jazz

STEVE HAYES · 1985–86 · PER GAME
SEASONTEAMGMPGPPGRPGAPGSPGBPGFG%3P%FT%
1985–86UTA586.81.51.30.10.10.3.448.306
JAZZ TOTAL1 SEASON586.81.51.30.10.10.3.448.306

Season by season, regular season, with this franchise only. More info: Basketball-Reference ↗  ·  Wikipedia ↗

Did you know

STEVE HAYES · 6 NOTES
  • Stood 7 ft 0 and reached the NBA after time in the CBA and Italy.
  • Won CBA championships in Anchorage and Tampa Bay around his NBA stints, collecting both playoff MVP and league MVP honors.
  • Later served a season as interim head coach of the Idaho State women's team.
  • He grew up in American Falls, Idaho, went to tiny Aberdeen High, and stayed home to play for Idaho State in Pocatello.
  • He still owns Big Sky records for career rebounds and career blocks per game, plus a ten-block game in 1976.
  • A Bologna club history fondly recalls the tall blond Steve Hayes among the imports who made Saturday afternoons at the sports palace worth attending.