“I built this city!” former Seattle SuperSonics great Spencer Haywood exclaimed with a laugh on his way to attending opening night of the 2002 season at KeyArena, his first return to Seattle since his playing days. While the city would probably still be here without Haywood’s efforts during his five years as a member of the Sonics, Haywood, along with teammate Lenny Wilkens, helped build the Sonics franchise during its early years.

Haywood’s statistics have stood the test of time. His per-game averages of 24.9 points and 12.1 rebounds dwarf his nearest competitors in the Sonic record books, and he remains in the team’s top ten in both categories nearly 30 years after he was traded. Haywood and Gary Payton are the only Sonics to make first-team All-NBA twice. As great of a player as Haywood was, however, his lasting NBA legacy has come from the legal battle he waged to join the Sonics after signing with the team on December 30, 1970.

At the time, NBA rules prohibited players from playing in the NBA until their college class had graduated. As a result, when Haywood decided to move on after one year at the University of Detroit, where he led the nation in rebounding with 21.5 per game and also scored 32.1 points per game, his only option was the ABA. Haywood ended up with the Denver Rockets and continued his dominance, leading the ABA with averages of 30.0 points and 19.1 rebounds a game en route to winning the league’s MVP and Rookie of the Year awards. Realizing that his contract was unfair, Haywood decided to challenge the NBA’s rules and jump to the league.

For Haywood, playing in the NBA was not as simple as merely signing a contract with the Sonics. Not only did he have to contend with the NBA’s lawsuit to prevent him from playing, but also lawsuits from the ABA, the University of Detroit, and even Chicago Bulls forward Chat Walker, who claimed Haywood’s presence on the court was responsible for his knee injury suffered during pre-game warmups.

While lawyers were deciding Haywood’s future, his present was “a living nightmare”. On the road, angry fans threw bottles at Haywood and he was forced to wait outside the arena during games he was ineligible to play in. Through it all, he found no support from opposing players, and even his own teammates said, “He’s the one going through this,” while scattering when the bottles came. The NBA’s case against Haywood went all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor. The decision paved the way for players like current Sonics Kenny Anderson, Joseph Forte, and Rashard Lewis to enter the NBA early.

When he took the court at last, Haywood proved worth the wait. Despite the natural rust from having sat out most of the 1970-71 season, he averaged 20.6 points and 12.0 rebounds during his 33-game NBA debut. The next two seasons, Haywood started the All-Star game and was named first-team All-NBA. After that, the luster began to wear off his time in Seattle. While Haywood still led the team in scoring, his role was diminished after Bill Russell became coach. The star and the ex-star clashed, eventually leading the Sonics to trade Haywood to New York. With the Knicks, Haywood lived the life of a superstar, complete with his marriage to supermodel Iman, but his career declined quickly after he became addicted to cocaine.

Sonics superstars past and present - Gary Payton and Spencer Haywood. Jeff Reinking/NBAE

20 years removed from his playing days, Haywood is sober and keeps himself busy as a businessman and ambassador of basketball. Haywood owns an auto-parts factory in Detroit, where he now lives with his wife and three of his four daughers, along with other businesses. In addition, Haywood and agent Leigh Steinberg are attempting to make a movie of his life. “That’s going to be in theaters coming up next year,” he says, throwing out NBA stars Chris Webber and Ray Allen as two possible candidates to play him.

“I’ve done a lot of work with the rookie transition program,” Haywood points out, which has given him the opportunity to work first-hand with youngsters entering the league thanks to his efforts. Many of these players fail to recognize Haywood’s importance. Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal infamously snubbed Haywood when they met. Others have come to respect Haywood, to the point where he influences their dress. “When I see Allen (Iverson),” Haywood says. “Allen always comes and he puts on a suit.”

In working with these rookies, Haywood has come to the conclusion that the rule he created has been abused by the current influx of high schoolers. While Haywood believes that “exceptional talents” like Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant are justified in entering the NBA early, he thinks that players like Chicago’s Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler made a mistake. “I don’t think they were ready,” he says. Haywood also questions the maturity level of these players, joking, “They are as immature as my 11-year-old daughter.”

Also on deck for Haywood is more involvement with the Sonics after attending opening night. “I will be following them now much closer,” he indicates. “Because I would like to make a contribution to this team.” One possibility that Haywood is interested in is serving in an advisory role similar to those of several retired players, including Greg Dreiling and Brad Davis, in Dallas. He would also like to see more recognition from the team, noting, “My number’s not hanging up in the ceiling there, but yet I own all the records.”

If nothing else, it’s safe to say that Haywood remains as outspoken as ever. Whether in business or basketball, Haywood is a fierce competitor who will not be stopped. Thankfully for the Sonics, he remains a teammate rather than an opponent.

Read more on Spencer Haywood in NBA.com's History Section