Cliff Hagan
Hawks legend, Hall of Famer, and Kentucky Wildcat icon.
Clifford Oldham Hagan (born December 9, 1931) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6′ 4″ small forward who excelled with the hook shot, Hagan, nicknamed "Li’l Abner", played his entire 10-year NBA career (1956–1966) with the St. Louis Hawks. He was also a player-coach for the Dallas Chaparrals in the first two-plus years of the ABA's existence (1967–1970). Hagan is a five-time NBA All-Star and an ABA All-Star. He won an NCAA basketball championship in 1951 as a member of the Kentucky Wildcats, and he won an NBA championship with the Hawks in 1958.
Quick Facts
- Championships
- 1 (1957-58 season)
- Nba all-star selections
- 8 times
Lore & Background
Hagan played college basketball at the University of Kentucky under coach Adolph Rupp. As a sophomore in 1951, he helped Kentucky win the NCAA championship. A point shaving scandal forced Kentucky to forfeit his senior season. Hagan graduated in 1953 and was drafted by the Boston Celtics, but returned to Kentucky for the 1953–1954 season. On December 5, 1953, he set a Kentucky single-game record of 51 points. After a perfect 25–0 regular season, Kentucky declined an NCAA tournament bid because NCAA rules prohibited graduate students from postseason play. Hagan averaged 24 points per game that season. He scored 1,475 points (third in school history) and grabbed 1,035 rebounds (second). He was named an All-American in 1952 and 1954 and First Team All-SEC. His uniform number 6 was retired by Kentucky. Hagan served in the U.S. Air Force for two years (1954 and 1955), winning Worldwide Air Force basketball championships both years. After military service, he and Ed Macauley were traded to the St. Louis Hawks for the draft rights to Bill Russell. In Game 6 of the 1957 NBA Finals, Hagan hit the game-winning buzzer beater to force Game 7, believed to be the first playoff buzzer-beater in NBA history. The Hawks won the NBA championship in 1958, defeating the Boston Celtics 4–2. Hagan was named to five consecutive NBA All-Star Games from 1958 to 1962. He played 745 NBA games, scoring 13,447 points (18.0 ppg). In the ABA, he was player-coach for the Dallas Chaparrals, scored 40 points in his first game, played in the first ABA All-Star Game, and became the first player to play in all-star games in both leagues. He retired as a player three games into the 1969–70 season and remained as coach until mid-season. He played 94 ABA games, scoring 1,423 points (15.1 ppg). In 1972, Hagan returned to Kentucky as assistant athletic director, took over as top athletic director in 1975, and resigned in November 1988 due to recruiting and eligibility violations. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978, the first former Kentucky player so honored. In 1993, Kentucky renamed its baseball field in his honor. He married Martha on September 4, 1954.
Reader's Guide
Cliff Hagan is a Hall of Fame forward who spent his entire NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks, winning an NBA championship in 1958. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and also an ABA All-Star. Known for his hook shot and clutch play, he hit a historic buzzer beater in the 1957 NBA Finals. He later coached in the ABA and served as athletic director at Kentucky.
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