Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is detailed information about Alex Hannum:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Alexander Murray Hannum
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born July 19, 1923 – Passed away January 18, 2002 (aged 78)
  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m)
  • Weight: 210 lbs (95 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: Wore 16, 17, and 11 during his playing career
  • Position: Forward / Center
  • High School: Franklin High School (Los Angeles, California)
  • College: University of Southern California (USC)
  • NBA Draft: Draft details are not applicable as Hannum played in an earlier era (pre-modern draft system).
  • Teams Played For
    1. Rochester Royals (1949–1950)
    2. Milwaukee Hawks (1951–1952)
    3. St. Louis Hawks (1952–1953)
    4. Syracuse Nationals (1953–1954)
    5. Fort Wayne Pistons (1956–1957)
  • Coaching Career
    1. St. Louis Hawks
    2. Philadelphia 76ers
    3. San Francisco Warriors
    4. San Diego Rockets
  • Championship Rings
    • 2 NBA Championships as a coach:
      1. 1958 with the St. Louis Hawks
      2. 1967 with the Philadelphia 76ers
  • Honors: Philadelphia 76ers Legends
  • Kids: Alex Hannum was survived by his wife, Marjorie, and their five children.
  • Siblings: Information about siblings is not widely documented.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Alex Hannum’s player archetype was that of a traditional frontcourt bruiser, a mid-century big man who brought size, rebounding, and interior toughness more than polished perimeter skill. During his playing career he was listed at 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds, and his defensive role fit the era’s center-forward mold: protect the lane physically, battle on the glass, and absorb contact inside rather than switch or roam like a modern big. Offensively, Hannum was more complementary than featured, contributing through interior finishing, screens, hustle scoring, and straightforward paint play instead of shot creation. His overall play style was rugged and functional, shaped by strength, positioning, and old-school frontcourt labor, which made him more valuable as a dependable interior worker than as a star scorer. (NBA)

Fun Facts

  • Coaching Icon: Hannum is one of the few coaches to win NBA titles with two different teams.
  • Beating Bill Russell’s Celtics: He famously coached the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers, a team led by Wilt Chamberlain, to defeat the Boston Celtics dynasty, ending their eight-year championship streak.
  • Legacy: Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 for his contributions as a coach.
  • Player-Coach Role: Hannum also served as a player-coach during parts of his career, showcasing his leadership skills even while still active as a player.
  • Influence on Wilt Chamberlain: He was instrumental in helping Wilt Chamberlain develop as a team-oriented player during the 76ers’ championship season.

Sources:

NBA.com — Alex Hannum | Forward | Rochester Royals
Los Angeles Times — Alex Hannum, 78; Took 2 NBA Teams to Titles
USC Athletics Hall of Fame — Alex Hannum (2001) – USC Athletics Hall of Fame