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Cliff Hagan, Hall of Famer and NBA Champion, dies at 94

Cliff Hagan, a Hall of Fame forward who spent his entire ten‑year NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks, died at age 94.

He was a five‑time NBA All‑Star from 1958 to 1962 and helped the Hawks capture the 1958 NBA championship, posting a playoff double‑double average of 27.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Hagan also won an NCAA title with the University of Kentucky in 1951 and later served as a player‑coach for the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals.

The NBA and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame both issued statements honoring his legacy, noting his signature hook shot and his long‑standing Hall of Fame membership since 1978.

The league’s announcement highlighted Hagan’s role in breaking Boston’s early dominance, recalling that he was originally drafted by the Celtics before being traded for the draft rights to Bill Russell. The Atlanta Hawks, the franchise’s current incarnation, and the Hall of Fame both expressed condolences to his family and celebrated his contributions to basketball history.

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