Cliff Hagan died on Thursday at the age of 94, the NBA reported on October 17. The Hall of Fame forward played an important role in the St. Louis Hawks' 1958 championship.
The league offered condolences to his family and the Hawks organisation, remembering achievements spanning college basketball, the NBA and the early ABA. His five NBA All-Star selections are separate from a later ABA honour.
Ten NBA seasons in St. Louis
Hagan entered the NBA in 1956 after a successful University of Kentucky career that included an NCAA championship. He spent all ten of his NBA seasons with St. Louis.
Alongside five All-Star selections, he earned two All-NBA honours. The 1958 title remained a central achievement in the league's tribute to his contribution.
After leaving NBA playing competition in 1966, Hagan worked in television and radio commentary for the Hawks, maintaining his connection with the organisation.
A player-coach in another league
He returned to professional playing duties for the ABA's inaugural 1967/68 season, serving as player-coach of the Dallas Chaparrals. During that period he received another All-Star selection, this time in the ABA rather than the NBA.
Hagan ended his playing career at the beginning of the 1969/70 season. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978.
The NBA's announcement therefore recalls both his championship contribution and a career extending beyond his original league. October 17 is the report's publication date, while the death itself was reported as occurring on the preceding Thursday.