Spencer Haywood Biography, Age, Career, Marital Status, Salary and Net Worth

This article will answer every question you have about Spencer Haywood. Below are some of the frequently asked questions about him.

  1. What does Spencer do for a living?
  2. Who are Spencer’s parents and siblings?
  3. What are Spencer’s interests and hobbies?
  4. Is Spencer married or does he have a girlfriend/ boyfriend?
  5. Does Spencer have any children?
  6. Where is Spencer now?
  7. How tall is Spencer?
  8. How much money does Spencer earn?
  9. What is Spencer’s net worth?

N/B: Please read the entire post to have all your questions answered.

Who is Spencer Haywood?

Spencer Haywood is a prominent American former professional basketball player and Olympic gold medalist. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2015. Spencer while in high school led the school’s basketball team to the state championship.


He attended Trinidad State Junior College. During the 1967-68 college season, he averaged 28.2 points and 22.1 rebounds per game. Because of his exceptional performance and talent, he made the USA Olympic Basketball team in 1968 thereby becoming the youngest player in the tournament. Moreover, during the 1968 Olympics, he was the leading scorer on the USA’s gold medal-winning basketball team at 16.1 points per game. In addition, he set a USA field goal percentage record of .719.

In the fall of the year, he transferred to the University of Detroit and led the NCAA in rebounding with a 21.5 average per game while scoring 32.1 points per game during the 1968-69 season. He however decided to turn pro after his sophomore year, but National Basketball Association (NBA) rules prohibited him from entering the league as they required a player to wait until his graduation. As a result, he joined the Denver Rockets of the ABA (American Basketball Association)

How Old Is Spencer Haywood?

He is 73 years old as of May 2022, having been born on April 22, 1949, in Silver City, Mississippi, U.S. Spencer shares his birthdate with celebrities such as; Amber Heard, Machine Gun Kelly, Tammy Hembrow, Benkro_tv, Faisa Saiid, and many more.

Spencer Haywood Family

Who are Spencer Haywood’s Parents?

He was born to John Haywood (Father) died three weeks before his birth and Eunice Haywood (Mother)

A Photo of Spencer Haywood
A Photo of Spencer Haywood

Does Spencer Haywood have Siblings?

He has nine siblings by the names of Ollie Mae Haywood Reed, Lavaughn Haywood, Andrew Haywood, Leroy Haywood, A. W. Haywood, R. T. Haywood, and Joe Haywood. The other names of his two siblings are not mentioned on the internet.

Spencer Haywood Education

He received his high school at Pershing High School. After high school, he attended Trinidad State Junior College and the University of Detroit Mercy.

Spencer Haywood Marital Status

He is married to the love of his life Linda Haywood. They married in 1990. However, besides being married, he was also previously married to fashion model Iman. They were married from 1997 until 1987.

Spencer Haywood Kids

He has four kids. One kid with his ex-wife Iman, a daughter by the name of Zulekha Haywood born on July 5, 1978, is a business analyst, accountant, and businesswoman. And three kids with his current wife Linda. Three daughters by the names of Shaakira Haywood, Courtney Nikkiah Haywood, and Isis Haywood.

Spencer HaywoodProfessional Career

An ABA Rookie Season Career

In his rookie season in the 1969-70 season, he led the ABA in scoring at 30.0 points per game and rebounding at 19.5 rebounds per game. This, therefore, led the Rockets to the ABA’s Western Division Title. Denver Rockets in the playoffs defeated Washington Capitals in 7 games in the Western Division Semifinals. But failed in the division finals to the Los Angeles Stars, 4 games to 1. All in all, he was named both the ABA Rookie of the Year and ABA MVP during the season. This resulted in him becoming the youngest ever recipient of the MVP at the age of 21. His 986 field goals scored, 1,637 rebounds and 19.5 rebounds per game average are the all-time ABA records for a season. Also after recording 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots for the West team, he won the ABA’s 1970 All-Star Game MVP that year.

An NBA Career and Italy

Despite the NBA’s eligibility rules, in 1970 Spencer joined the Seattle Supersonics. In 1972 and 1973, he was named to the All-NBA First Team, and in 1974 and 1975, the All-NBA Second Team. In the 1972-73 season, his 22.9 points per game and 13.4 rebounds per game in the 1973-74 season are the single-season record for averages for the SuperSonics for these categories. While with Seattle he played in four NBA All-Star Games including a strong 23-point 11 rebound performance in 1974. He helped Seattle in the 1974-75 season to their first playoff berth. During his five seasons with Seattle, he overall averaged 24.9 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game.

The SuperSonics in 1975 traded him to the New York Knicks where he later teamed with Bob McAdoo. Later, he played for the New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Bullets. Spencer became addicted to cocaine during the 1970s. As a result, Lakers then-coach Paul Westhead dismissed him from the 1980 NBA Finals for falling asleep during practice due to his addiction. The next season, he played in Italy for Reyer Venezia Mestre (then under the sponsor name “Carrera Reyer Venezia”). There he played along with Drazen Dalipagic before making his return to the NBA to play two seasons with the Washington Bullets. During a halftime ceremony held on February 26, 2007, his no. 24 jersey was retired by the SuperSonics.

Spencer Haywood Height and Measurements

Adding up to his well-built body is a height of 6ft 8inches (2.03m) and a weight of 102kg (224lbs)

Spencer Haywood’s Salary and Net Worth

He earned around $350,000 per season and has a net worth of $3 million.