Haywood v. National Basketball Association, 401 U.S. 1204 (1971), was a U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled against the NBA's requirement that a player could not be drafted by an NBA team until four years after graduating from high school. Justice Douglas, in an in-chambers opinion, allowed Spencer Haywood to play in the NBA temporarily until the litigation could proceed further. The case was settled out of court, Haywood continued playing, and the NBA modified its four-year rule to allow players to enter the league early in cases of "hardship".
Spencer Haywood turned pro after his sophomore season at the University of Detroit, joining the American Basketball Association’s (ABA) Denver Rockets in 1969. While both the NBA and the ABA required players to be at least four years removed from their high school graduation, the ABA offered a hardship exemption. With his mother raising 10 children while picking cotton at $2 per day, Haywood met the criteria.[1][2]
Haywood led the ABA in scoring (30.0 per game) and rebounding (19.5 per game) in 1969-70, before jumping to the NBA the following season. Seattle SuperSonics owner Sam Schulman signed Haywood to a six-year, $1.5 million contract, ignoring the four-year rule. As a result, the NBA threatened to disallow the contract and implement various sanctions against the SuperSonics.[3]
Procedural history
Haywood challenged this decision by commencing an antitrust action against the NBA.[4] As part of his claim against the NBA, Haywood argued that the conduct of the NBA was a "group boycott" and a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The central issue that had to be determined was whether the NBA draft policy was a restraint on trade and therefore was illegal in accordance with the Sherman Act.
If Haywood is unable to continue to play professional basketball for Seattle, he will suffer irreparable injury in that a substantial part of his playing career will have been dissipated, his physical condition, skills, and coordination will deteriorate from lack of high-level competition, his public acceptance as a super star will diminish to the detriment of his career, his self-esteem, and his pride will have been injured and a great injustice will be perpetrated on him.
The NBA appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which stayed the injunction. Joined by the SuperSonics, Haywood appealed to the Supreme Court, which upheld the District Court, reinstated that court's injunction against the NBA, and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings.
Impact
Shortly after the Supreme Court's decision, the league and Haywood reached an out-of-court settlement which allowed him to stay with the Sonics permanently.[3]
The decision allowed a significant number of high school graduates and college attendees to make themselves eligible for the NBA draft without waiting until four years after high school.[4]
^McGregor, Gilbert (April 22, 2021). "Spencer Haywood: The story of a groundbreaking NBA legend, through his words". Sporting News. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
^Kosmider, Nick (September 26, 2019). "Fifty years later, it's time for Denver to give Spencer Haywood his due". The Athletic. Retrieved May 29, 2022. But they had a hardship exception, and Haywood, whose mother raised 10 children while making $2 per day picking cotton in Mississippi, met the criteria.
^ abFriedman, David (2005-04-18). . Basketball in America: From the Playgrounds to Jordan's Game and Beyond. Archived from the original on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
^ abRhoden, William C. (June 29, 2016). "Early Entry? One and Done? Thank Spencer Haywood for the Privilege". The New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
Further reading
Allison, John R. (1973). "Professional Sports and the Antitrust Laws: Status of the Reserve System". Baylor Law Review. XXV (1).
Wise, Aaron N.; Meyer, Bruce S. (1997). International Sports Law and Business. New York: Kluwer Law International. pp. 47–48. ISBN90-411-0977-3.
External links
Text of Haywood v. National Basketball Association, 401U.S. 1204 (1971) is available from:CourtListenerFindlawJustiaLibrary of Congress
January 06, 2023
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Haywood v National Basketball Association 401 U S 1204 1971 was a U S Supreme Court decision that ruled against the NBA s requirement that a player could not be drafted by an NBA team until four years after graduating from high school Justice Douglas in an in chambers opinion allowed Spencer Haywood to play in the NBA temporarily until the litigation could proceed further The case was settled out of court Haywood continued playing and the NBA modified its four year rule to allow players to enter the league early in cases of hardship Haywood v N B A Supreme Court of the United StatesDecided March 1 1971Full case nameIn re Spencer Haywood v National Basketball AssociationCitations401 U S 1204 more 91 S Ct 672 28 L Ed 2d 206HoldingHaywood was granted an injunction pendente lite which allowed him to play for Seattle and forbade the NBA to impose sanctions on the Seattle team Court membershipChief Justice Warren E Burger Associate Justices Hugo Black William O DouglasJohn M Harlan II William J Brennan Jr Potter Stewart Byron WhiteThurgood Marshall Harry BlackmunCase opinionMajorityDouglasAll other justices took no part in the consideration or decision of the case Laws appliedSherman Antitrust ActWikisource has original text related to this article Haywood v National Basketball Association Contents 1 Background 2 Procedural history 3 Impact 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBackground EditSpencer Haywood turned pro after his sophomore season at the University of Detroit joining the American Basketball Association s ABA Denver Rockets in 1969 While both the NBA and the ABA required players to be at least four years removed from their high school graduation the ABA offered a hardship exemption With his mother raising 10 children while picking cotton at 2 per day Haywood met the criteria 1 2 Haywood led the ABA in scoring 30 0 per game and rebounding 19 5 per game in 1969 70 before jumping to the NBA the following season Seattle SuperSonics owner Sam Schulman signed Haywood to a six year 1 5 million contract ignoring the four year rule As a result the NBA threatened to disallow the contract and implement various sanctions against the SuperSonics 3 Procedural history EditHaywood challenged this decision by commencing an antitrust action against the NBA 4 As part of his claim against the NBA Haywood argued that the conduct of the NBA was a group boycott and a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act The central issue that had to be determined was whether the NBA draft policy was a restraint on trade and therefore was illegal in accordance with the Sherman Act The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California which issued an injunction in Haywood s favor ruling If Haywood is unable to continue to play professional basketball for Seattle he will suffer irreparable injury in that a substantial part of his playing career will have been dissipated his physical condition skills and coordination will deteriorate from lack of high level competition his public acceptance as a super star will diminish to the detriment of his career his self esteem and his pride will have been injured and a great injustice will be perpetrated on him The NBA appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which stayed the injunction Joined by the SuperSonics Haywood appealed to the Supreme Court which upheld the District Court reinstated that court s injunction against the NBA and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings Impact EditShortly after the Supreme Court s decision the league and Haywood reached an out of court settlement which allowed him to stay with the Sonics permanently 3 The decision allowed a significant number of high school graduates and college attendees to make themselves eligible for the NBA draft without waiting until four years after high school 4 See also EditList of United States Supreme Court cases volume 401 Toolson v New York Yankees 346 U S 356 1953 Silver v New York Stock Exchange 373 U S 341 1963 Robertson v National Basketball Association 556 F 2d 682 2nd Cir 1977 Clarett v National Football League 369 F 3d 124 2d Cir 2004 References Edit McGregor Gilbert April 22 2021 Spencer Haywood The story of a groundbreaking NBA legend through his words Sporting News Retrieved May 29 2022 Kosmider Nick September 26 2019 Fifty years later it s time for Denver to give Spencer Haywood his due The Athletic Retrieved May 29 2022 But they had a hardship exception and Haywood whose mother raised 10 children while making 2 per day picking cotton in Mississippi met the criteria a b Friedman David 2005 04 18 Excerpt Chocolate Thunder and Short Shorts The NBA in the 1970s Basketball in America From the Playgrounds to Jordan s Game and Beyond Archived from the original on 2008 09 08 Retrieved 2008 11 13 a b Rhoden William C June 29 2016 Early Entry One and Done Thank Spencer Haywood for the Privilege The New York Times Retrieved May 29 2022 Further reading EditAllison John R 1973 Professional Sports and the Antitrust Laws Status of the Reserve System Baylor Law Review XXV 1 Wise Aaron N Meyer Bruce S 1997 International Sports Law and Business New York Kluwer Law International pp 47 48 ISBN 90 411 0977 3 External links EditText of Haywood v National Basketball Association 401 U S 1204 1971 is available from CourtListener Findlaw Justia Library of Congress Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Haywood v National Basketball Association amp oldid 1102749213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
