Cliff Hagan

Clifford Oldham Hagan ( born December 9, 1931 in Owensboro, Kentucky ) is a retired American professional basketball player. Hagan played on the position of the Small Forwards and won with the St. Louis Hawks 1958 NBA Championship. For the Hawks Hagan played all ten years of his NBA career before he became active as a player and later as a coach for the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association. He was the first player, who was appointed in both of these professional leagues in basketball All-Star. 1978 Hagan was recorded for his career achievements in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Play

Hagan was known for his marksmanship with the art of the hook throw. Offensively, he also distinguished himself by good post -up game. On defense, he proved to be a good rebounder: Over the span of his entire college career Hagan reached more than ten rebounds per game, as well as in three of his first seasons as a professional.

College

In his second season with the team from the University of Kentucky Hagan won the 1951 NCAA Championship. In the following season Hagan was named All-American. Due to a scandal over match-fixing by players from the University of Kentucky, the entire team was suspended for the 1952-53 season. During this time, the players trained on, without being able to participate in the game mode. Hagan and other team members made in that year her degree, but completed in the 1953-54 season an additional season for Kentucky. In the first game of the season Hagan shined with 51 points. The game was the first victory in an undefeated season in which the Wildcats managed a score of 25-0. However, a valid time NCAA rule forbidding players who had already obtained a degree at your college, taking part in the play-offs of the NCAA. Hagan and other players had been not aware of this rule. Although the University of Kentucky was invited as a top seed team to the NCAA tournament, the team ultimately rejected, as it would have without Hagan and two other service providers must start and unbeaten season should not be put at risk.

NBA

Hagans first season in the NBA began in 1956 with the St. Louis Hawks, although he had been in 1953 gedrafted of the Boston Celtics as a third- round choice. First Hagan finished his collegiate time with another season, after he had already gedrafted. He then served for two years in the United States Air Force, where he also played basketball. In 1956, he was then transferred along with Ed Macauley of the Celtics in exchange for the draft rights to Bill Russell before the season starts.

For the Hawks themselves Hagan quickly established itself as a top player and won with the team in his second year as a pro, 1958, the NBA championship. In the same year and also in 1959 Hagan was appointed team in the All- NBA Second. In addition, he took five times in a row at NBA All- Star Game in part ( 1958-1962 ).

In a total of 745 games for the St. Louis Hawks Hagan reached in his career 13,447 points ( 18.0 per game) and 5,116 rebounds ( 6.9 per game ) and 2,242 assists (3.0 per game).

ABA

At the end of his career moved Hagan 1967 in the newly founded professional league ABA. For the Dallas Chaparrals he was active as a player-coach. With its body-hugging style and on average 18.2 points in his first season he led the team to the finals of the Western Division, but where the team lost to the New Orleans Buccaneers.

The 1968-69 season was only moderately successful for Hagan and the Chaparrals. As a consequence, Hagan limited in the following season on his role as a coach, but has already been released in this function at mid-season.

Awards

  • NBA All-Star: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962
  • ABA All-Star: 1968
  • All- NBA Second Team: 1958, 1959
  • Member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
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