A Hall of Fame Career
Cliff Hagan, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and five-time NBA All-Star, died Thursday at the age of 94. The former St. Louis Hawk spent his entire ten-year NBA career with the franchise, earning five All-Star selections and two All-NBA honors. He played a central role in the Hawks' 1958 NBA championship, the only title in the franchise's St. Louis history.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
Before entering the NBA in 1956, Hagan won an NCAA championship at the University of Kentucky. After retiring from the NBA in 1966, he worked as a television and radio commentator for the Hawks. He later returned to professional basketball as a player-coach for the Dallas Chaparrals during the ABA's inaugural 1967-68 season, earning another All-Star selection.[S1]
Hagan officially retired from playing at the start of the 1969-70 season. Nearly a decade later, in 1978, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The NBA issued a statement expressing deep sadness over his passing and extending condolences to his loved ones and the entire Hawks organization.[S1]
