Top 100 NBA Players: #83 - Cliff Hagan

Cliff Hagan

Teams

Saint Louis Hawks - 1956-66

Dallas Chaparrals (ABA) - 1967-70

Playoffs

Appearances - 11 (1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1963,1964,1965,1966,1968,1969)

Conference Finals - 9 (1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1963,1964,1966,1968)

NBA Finals - 4 (1957,1958,1960,1961)

Championships - 1 (1958)

Awards and Honors

All-NBA First Team - 0 (1959)

All-NBA Second Team - 2 (1958,1959,1960,1961,1968)

Finals MVP - 0 (1958)

Hall of Fame - 1978

*(actual in bold, deserved in italics)

All-Time Ranks

none

League Leads

Field Goal Percentage (#2-1958, #3-1959, #5-1960)

Total Points (#5-1959,1960)

Points Per Game (#5-1959,1960)

Free Throw Percentage (#5-1962)

Cliff Hagan had a great and interesting college career at Kentucky, winning the NCAA title in 1952, then being forced with his entire team to sit out the following season because several of his teammates were caught in a point-shaving scandal. After the year off, he was drafted in the third round by the Boston Celtics, but he and 2 Kentucky teammates who were also drafted by the Celtics decided to play one more year in college as graduate students. The trio led the team to an undefeated season and a #1 ranking, but the team turned down an NCAA Tournament berth because graduate players were not allowed to participate at the time.

After his final college season, Hagan joined the Air Force for 2 years before finally making his way to the NBA, where his rights had been traded to the Saint Louis Hawks as part of the deal that sent Bill Russell to Boston. He didn't look very promising as a 25-year-old rookie, but he became a star in his second season.

That season, Hagan and Bob Pettit led the Hawks to their first and only NBA championship, with Hagan leading the way through the Conference Finals with his 30.8 points per game against Detroit, while Pettit led the team in scoring during the Finals against Bill Russell and Boston. The Finals MVP award didn't exist back then, and both players have legitimate arguments, but I give a slight edge to Hagan.

Hagan was at his peak over the next 4 seasons. He averaged between 22 and 25 points per game each season to go along with between 8 and 11 rebounds per game each year. He also raised his field goal and free throw percentages through those years, with new career highs in both categories in 1962. The Hawks also made 2 more appearances in the NBA Finals in those years, bringing his total to 4, all against the Boston Celtics dynasty.

At that point, Hagan was already 30 years old, even though he was only 6 years into his career. He played 4 more years with the Hawks, with diminishing numbers each year, before retiring in 1966. His retirement didn't last long, as he was hired by Dallas of the ABA to be a player/coach, and he served in that role for a little over 2 years before retiring for good. It is notable that he was named an All-Star in the first season of the ABA, becoming the first player to be an All-Star in both leagues.

The late start to Hagan's career severely shortened his prime years, but he was one of the best players in the league for 5 or 6 years, and had that very memorable and impressive championship win over the Celtics in 1958, which is definitely the highlight of his career. He was one of the better shooters of his era and was among the leading scorers for several years, and deserves to be named as one of the greatest players of all time.