Cliff Hagan, a Hall of Famer who secured the 1958 NBA championship with the St. Louis Hawks, has passed away, as announced by the league on Friday. He was 94 years old.
Hagan, a small forward recognized with five successive NBA All-Star selections from 1958 to 1962, dedicated ten years to the St. Louis Hawks before concluding his career as a player-coach with the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978.
The NBA confirmed Hagan’s death in a statement shared on social media, noting his “key role” in the Hawks’ championship victory.
“The NBA is profoundly saddened by the news of Naismith Hall of Famer Cliff Hagan’s passing, a five-time All-Star who dedicated his entire 10-year NBA journey to the St. Louis Hawks,” the league expressed. “He also clinched an NCAA championship while at Kentucky and later took on the role of player-coach in the ABA. We extend our sincere condolences to Cliff’s family and the entire Hawks community.”
Hagan was also honored by the Naismith Hall of Fame, where he has held a place for nearly 50 years, as well as by the now-Atlanta Hawks. The Hall commended Hagan’s signature hook shot and stated that it was “proud to uphold his legacy.”
Before turning professional, Hagan showcased his talent at Kentucky, where he was recognized as a two-time All-American and played a pivotal role in leading the Wildcats to win an NCAA championship in 1951.
A significant highlight of Hagan’s career unfolded during the 1958 championship series, where the Hawks triumphed over the Boston Celtics’ dynasty with a 4-2 series victory to claim the title. Hagan enhanced his already vital contributions during the playoffs: he averaged a remarkable double-double with 27.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
This victory against Boston had an element of poetic justice, as Hagan had originally been selected by the Celtics before being promptly traded to St. Louis for the draft rights to Bill Russell. Two years later, Hagan and the Hawks achieved the unexpected win, marking the only time a team defeated Boston in the Finals while Russell was on the court and legendary coach Red Auerbach was on the sidelines.
Bob Pettit, who was one of Hagan’s teammates from that 1958 championship team, also passed away last month at the age of 93.
