Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Hersey Hawkins was one of the NBA’s most dependable two-way shooting guards of the late 1980s and 1990s, combining elite perimeter shooting, disciplined off-ball movement, and disruptive defense during long runs with the Philadelphia 76ers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Chicago Bulls. A high-efficiency scorer and reliable floor-spacing wing, Hawkins excelled as a complementary starter whose three-point accuracy, basketball IQ, and steady production made him an ideal fit alongside star teammates.

Here are the details for Hersey Hawkins:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Hersey R. Hawkins Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born September 29, 1966
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters)
  • Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg) during his playing career
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 13 (U.S.)
  • Number: Wore 3, 32, 33, and 10 during his career
  • Position: Shooting Guard
  • High School: Westinghouse High School in Chicago, Illinois
  • College: Bradley University
  • NBA Draft: 1988 NBA Draft, 6th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to the Philadelphia 76ers)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1988–1993)
    • Charlotte Hornets (1993–1995)
    • Seattle SuperSonics (1995–1999)
    • Chicago Bulls (1999–2001)
  • Championship Rings: 0 (He did not win an NBA Championship)
  • Kids: Hersey Hawkins has three sons, including Corey Hawkins, who also played basketball professionally
  • Siblings: Information on siblings is not widely documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Hersey Hawkins’ player archetype was that of a scoring two guard, a polished off-ball shooter and secondary creator who could stretch defenses while still putting pressure on them with smart movement and controlled drives. At 6-foot-3 and about 190 pounds, he was not overwhelming physically, but he was smooth, balanced, and technically sharp, with the kind of body control and touch that let him score efficiently from the perimeter and mid-range. Defensively, he fit as a disciplined team defender on the wing rather than a shutdown stopper, while offensively he thrived as a floor-spacing scorer, transition finisher, and complementary ball-handler who could carry larger usage when needed. His play style was clean, efficient, and understated, built around shooting, timing, and poise, which made him one of the more reliable scoring guards of his era without needing flashy isolation play to be effective. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

Hersey Hawkins could score 20 points without ever feeling like he hijacked an offense, and that’s a skill that tends to age well because it was built on timing rather than volume. He constantly worked defenders through relocations, curled into open pockets, and punished even brief lapses in attention with a quick release that required very little space. What stands out is how efficiently he blended on-ball and off-ball responsibilities. If the defense chased him off the line, he was comfortable taking one or two dribbles into a controlled pull-up or attacking a tilted floor instead of trying to manufacture difficult shots. He also understood how to use a ball screen simply to force a defensive shift before making the obvious pass, keeping possessions flowing rather than overdribbling into traffic. Defensively, Hawkins was more disruptive than flashy. His length bothered passing lanes, he anticipated reversals well, and he consistently stayed attached through screens without gambling for steals that compromised the structure behind him. The trade-off was that he wasn’t the type of creator who could repeatedly collapse an entire defense by himself, so pairing him with a primary initiator unlocked far more of his value than asking him to orchestrate every possession. That’s where his game became especially clean because his movement created natural spacing, and teammates always seemed to have a reliable outlet when possessions bogged down. To me, he fits alongside ball-dominant guards or playmaking forwards who reward intelligent off-ball movement, while his blend of perimeter shooting, disciplined defense, and understated scoring resembles Michael Redd with a more controlled offensive approach, alongside elements of Allan Houston’s polished work away from the basketball.

Sources:

Basketball Reference — Hersey Hawkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Missouri Valley Conference — Hersey Hawkins (1997) – Hall of Fame
Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame — Hersey Hawkins — Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame