Alexander M. "Alex" Hannum enshrined as coach in 1998

Alexander M. "Alex" Hannum

Enshrined 1998
Born: July 19, 1923
Los Angeles, CA
Died: January 18, 2002

Alex Hannum had the uncanny ability to transform floundering teams into champions. During sixteen professional coaching seasons (12 NBA, 4 ABA), Hannum was the first coach in professional history to win both an NBA and ABA championship. A solid player for Hall of Fame coach Sam Barry at the University of Southern California, in the National Basketball League and the NBA, Hannum began his coaching career as a player-coach for the St. Louis Hawks during the 1956-57 season. The Hawks reached the NBA Finals that season, losing to the Celtics in game seven by just two points. The next year, Hannum began his first season as a full-time head coach and guided St. Louis to the 1958 NBA Championship. In 1967, he led the Philadelphia 76ers, considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history, to the NBA title. He coached the ABA's Oakland Oaks from last place to an ABA championship in 1969.