Cliff Hagan, a Hall of Famer who won a 1958 NBA championship with the St. Louis Hawks, has died, the league announced Friday. He was 94.
Hagan, a small forward who earned five consecutive NBA All-Star nods from 1958 to 1962, spent a decade in St. Louis before finishing his career as a player-coach with the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals. Hagan was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978.
The NBA confirmed the news of Hagan’s passing with a statement on social media, describing him as playing “a key role” in the Hawks’ championship.
“The NBA is deeply saddened by the passing of Naismith Hall of Famer Cliff Hagan, a five-time All-Star who spent his entire 10-year NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks,” the league wrote. “He also won an NCAA championship at Kentucky and later served as a player-coach in the ABA. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Cliff’s loved ones and the entire Hawks organization.”
The NBA is deeply saddened by the passing of Naismith Hall of Famer Cliff Hagan, a five-time All-Star who spent his entire 10-year NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks. Cliff played a key role in St. Louis’ 1958 NBA championship. He also won an NCAA championship at Kentucky and… pic.twitter.com/mP1omLVyj3
— NBA (@NBA) October 16, 2026
Hagan also received a tribute from the Naismith Hall of Fame, where Hagan has been enshrined for nearly 50 years, and from the now-Atlanta Hawks. The Hall of Fame praised Hagan’s hook shot and wrote that it was “proud to preserve his legacy.”
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame honors the amazing career and exemplary life of Cliff Hagan. A two-time All-America at the University of Kentucky and six-time All-Star in the NBA, Hagan and his trademark hook shot helped the St. Louis Hawks win the NBA championship in 1958.… pic.twitter.com/RXaqGVEavM
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) October 16, 2026
Condolences to the family and friends of Cliff Hagan, who spent his entire 10-year career with the St. Louis Hawks. He was a 1958 NBA Champion, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and five-time All-Star. pic.twitter.com/3Z1EPcCLdE
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 16, 2026
Prior to going pro, Hagan played at Kentucky, where he was a two-time All-American who helped lead the Wildcats to an NCAA championship in 1951.
One of the peaks of Hagan’s career came in that 1958 championship run, as the Hawks broke up the Boston Celtics’ dynasty with a 4-2 series win to take the trophy. Though already a key part of the team’s shooting, Hagan upped his contributions during the postseason: The forward average a double-double throughout the playoffs, with 27.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
The win over Boston also came with a bit of poetic justice, as Hagan had been initially drafted by the Celtics before being immediately traded to St. Louis in exchange for the draft rights to Bill Russell. Two years later, Hagan and the Hawks pulled off the unlikely victory, becoming the only team to beat Boston in the final with Russell on the court and legendary head coach Red Auerbach on the sideline.
Bob Pettit, one of Hagan’s teammates on that 1958 championship team, also died last month at the age of 93.