WHEREAS, Spencer Haywood was born on April 22, 1949, in Silver City, Mississippi and grew up in rural poverty with nine siblings; and

WHEREAS, As a teenager, Haywood moved from Mississippi to Chicago, and then to Detroit in order to find greater opportunity; and

WHEREAS, Haywood began his successful basketball career by leading Pershing High School's team to the state championship, and continued his basketball success while playing for Trinidad Junior College and the University of Detroit; and

WHEREAS, In the 1969-70 ABA season, Haywood was named the Rookie of the Year and most valuable player (MVP), making him the youngest recipient of the MVP award; and

WHEREAS, Haywood went on to compete and win a gold medal with the 1968 USA Olympic basketball team; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, despite the NBA's then-existing rule requiring a player to be four years out of high school before joining the league, Haywood joined the Seattle SuperSonics and, with SuperSonics owner Sam Schulman, launched an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA in the case Haywood vs. National Basketball Association arguing that the four-year rule infringed on Haywood's right to make a living; and

WHEREAS, After the NBA threatened punitive actions, Spencer Haywood filed the case Haywood vs. NBA and it went all the way to the United States Supreme Court before the NBA agreed to a settlement; and

WHEREAS, The settlement in Haywood vs. NBA resulted in the Early Entry rule, also called the Spencer Haywood Rule, which revolutionized professional basketball by pioneering a path to the professional ranks for high school graduates; and

WHEREAS, Haywood used his talents to support his family and to become one of the most distinguished players in the history of the Seattle SuperSonics; and

WHEREAS, Haywood led the Seattle SuperSonics to their first ever playoff appearance, made four NBA All-Star Teams, and won an NBA Title towards the end of his career; and

WHEREAS, Haywood averaged 24.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game with the SuperSonics, and accumulated 14,592 points and 7,038 rebounds over the course of his career;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life and accomplishments of Spencer Haywood; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend Haywood for his contributions to professional basketball, the Seattle SuperSonics, the city of Seattle, and the State of Washington.