Cliff Hagan, Hall of Famer Traded for Bill Russell, Dies at 94

Cliff Hagan, a Basketball Hall of Famer who won championships at both the professional and college levels, died Thursday. He was 94 years old. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Hagan's professional career included a significant moment in NBA history when he was traded by the Boston Celtics to the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 for the rights to Bill Russell. Hagan, along with Ed Macauley, was sent to St. Louis in exchange for the rookie Russell, who would go on to become one of the league's most dominant players and lead the Celtics to 11 championships.

Hagan played his entire 10-year NBA career with the Hawks, earning five All-Star selections and two All-NBA selections. He was a key player in the franchise's 1958 NBA championship victory over the Celtics, marking the only time in Russell's tenure that the Celtics did not win the title. During his NBA career, Hagan averaged 17.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over 839 games.

Before his professional success, Hagan was a standout player at the University of Kentucky under coach Adolph Rupp. He was a two-time consensus All-American and helped the Wildcats secure the 1951 national championship. In the 1953-54 season, Kentucky achieved a perfect 25-0 record, though Hagan and two other seniors were ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to eligibility rules.

Hagan's tenure with Kentucky saw the team compile an impressive 86-5 record over his three varsity seasons. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978, becoming the first former Kentucky player to receive that honor. His No. 6 jersey is retired by the university, and he was also inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Following his playing career, Hagan returned to his alma mater, serving as the athletic director at Kentucky from 1975 to 1988. During his leadership, the men's basketball team won the 1978 national championship. In recognition of his contributions, Kentucky named its baseball field "Cliff Hagan Stadium" in 1993, which remained the team's home until 2018.

Kentucky athletic director J Batt acknowledged Hagan's profound impact, stating, "Few people have impacted Kentucky Athletics in as many ways as Cliff Hagan. He represented Kentucky as a champion, Hall of Famer and Athletics Director, leaving a legacy that continues to shape this department."