Along with being one of the top rebounders in the NBA, Hutchins was renowned for his defense. During his Hall of Fame induction speech in August 2011, Satch Sanders said that Hutchins was one of the great defenders who inspired him to play defense at a high level: "He (Hutchins) was so smooth defensively, always in the right place", Sanders told CSNNE.com moments after delivering his acceptance speech. "I thought to myself, 'I sure hope one day I can play like that.'" Hutchins suffered a severe knee injury that forced his retirement in 1958. For his NBA career, he averaged a near double-double of 11.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists over 437 games, totaling 4,851 career points and 4,186 career rebounds in seven seasons. Hutchins is the brother of 1952 Miss America winner Colleen Kay Hutchins. Hutchins' brother-in-law was NBA player Ernie Vandeweghe. He is the father of former two-time NBA All Star Kiki Vandeweghe. An avid golfer, Hutchins gained recognition in amateur golf in northern California. Following his NBA career, Hutchins worked in real-estate. Hutchins was married to the former Lorene Hardy, who died in 2010, and they are the parents of four children. Hutchins died on December 19, 2018 in Encinitas, California at the age of 90.