Alex Hannum
Inducted:
1998
Stats
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Born
July 19, 1923
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died
January 18, 2002
San Diego, California, U.S.
Position:
Coach
College:
USC (1942–1943; 1946–1948)
Alex Hannum was one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in basketball history, known for winning championships with different franchises. He built a reputation for strong leadership, discipline, and the ability to manage elite talent. Hannum made history by coaching the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA Championship, the only title in the franchise’s history.
He later led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1967 NBA Championship, guiding a dominant team that famously ended the Boston Celtics’ long reign. Hannum was especially admired for his work with star players, including Wilt Chamberlain, balancing structure with freedom to maximize performance. He was a true pioneer of the "dual-league" era, becoming the first coach in history to win both an NBA and an ABA championship.
His coaching legacy was honored with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
Hannum's Awards and Records
- 2x NBA Champion Coach (1958, 1967)
- ABA Champion Coach (1969)
- NBA Coach of the Year (1964)
- ABA Coach of the Year (1969)
- 3x NBA All-Star Head Coach (1958, 1965, 1968)
- ABA All-Star Head Coach (1969)
NBA Team
St. Louis Hawks (1956–1958)
Syracuse Nationals (1960–1963)
San Francisco Warriors (1963–1966)
Philadelphia 76ers (1966–1968)
Oakland Oaks (1968–1969)
San Diego Rockets (1969–1971)
Denver Rockets (1971–1974)
NBA Stats
Season Coached:
16 (1956-1974)
Game:
1,213
Wins:
649
Lose:
564
Win(%)
.535
Playoff Record:
61–46 (.570)
NBA Championships:
2 (1958 Hawks, 1967 76ers)
ABA Championships:
1 (1969 Oakland Oaks)
NBA Coach of the Year:
1 (1964)
ABA Coach of the Year:
1 (1969)