- May 21, 2026
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Cliff Hagan, the Basketball Hall of Famer who helped the St. Louis Hawks win the 1958 NBA title, died Thursday at 94. A cause of death was not disclosed.
Hagan never played for the Boston Celtics, who drafted him in the third round in 1953. He spent three years in the United States Air Force before the Celtics traded him and Ed Macauley to the Hawks for the draft rights to Bill Russell in 1956.
The 6-foot-4 forward spent his entire 10-year NBA career in St. Louis, earning five All-Star selections and two All-NBA nods. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists across 839 appearances.
At Kentucky, Hagan was a two-time consensus All-American under Adolph Rupp. He helped the Wildcats win the 1951 national championship and led them to a 25-0 mark in 1953-54, though the school declined an NCAA Tournament bid that season due to eligibility rules affecting graduated players.
Hagan returned to Kentucky as athletic director from 1975 to 1988, a tenure that included the 1978 national title. He became the first former Kentucky player inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1978.
Mickey's Angle: Hagan's legacy bridges two eras—college royalty at Kentucky and pro glory in St. Louis—making him a unique figure worth remembering for fans who value basketball history beyond the modern spotlight.
Source: Yahoo Sports - written by Mickey the Mouth from the original report.