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Cliff Hagan, NBA champion and Hall of Fame forward, dies at age 94
Oct 17 2026 00:48 · By From NBA.com News Services · 10 Reads
Hall of Famer Cliff Hagan died on Thursday at the age of 94. The former St. Louis Hawk was a five-time All-Star.
The league issued the following statement after the passing of Cliff Hagan:
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 later served as a player-coach in the ABA. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Cliff’s loved ones and the entire Hawks organization.
Following a successful career at the University of Kentucky, Hagan entered the NBA in 1956 and played 10 years for the St. Louis Hawks. He earned five All-Star and two All-NBA nods during his stint with the Hawks and helped lead them to the 1958 NBA championship.
He went on to do television and radio commentary for the Hawks after retiring from the NBA in 1966. Hagan re-entered pro basketball as a player-coach for the Dallas Chaparrals in the ABA’s inaugural 1967-68 season and earned another All-Star nod.
Hagan officially retired from his playing career in the beginning of the 1969-70 season and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame nearly a decade later in 1978.