Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information about Tom Hawkins:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Thomas Jerome Hawkins
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Deceased (born December 22, 1936 – died August 16, 2017, aged 80)
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
  • Height: 6’5″ (1.96 m)
  • Weight: 210 lbs (95 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: Wore #12, #25, and #33 during his career
  • Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
  • High School: Parker High School (now Paul Robeson High School), Chicago, Illinois
  • College: University of Notre Dame
  • NBA Draft: 1959, 1st Round, 3rd pick overall by the Minneapolis Lakers
  • Teams Played For: Minneapolis Lakers, Los Angeles Lakers, Cincinnati Royals
  • Championship Rings: 0
  • Kids: Yes, Hawkins had children, though specific details are not widely publicized.
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented

Tom Hawkins’ player archetype was that of a skilled mid-century swing forward, a fundamentally sound frontcourt scorer who blended rebounding, touch, and floor-running rather than overwhelming games with pure size. Defensively, he operated as a sturdy forward who used positioning, effort, and rebounding to hold up inside despite standing around 6-foot-5, which was modest for a power forward even in his era. Offensively, he filled a complementary scoring role built on interior finishes, opportunistic mid-range touch, and smart off-ball play instead of high-volume shot creation. His physical profile was defined by a compact but strong frame, good mobility, and the kind of toughness that let him play both small forward and power forward across his career. His overall style was polished and team-oriented: Hawkins was a reliable, adaptable forward who scored efficiently for his role, rebounded well, and brought steady two-way value to both Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers teams. (Basketball Reference)

Fun Facts

  • After retiring, he became a successful broadcaster and executive.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times — 75 greatest Lakers players: Magic, Kobe and Kareem top The Times’ list
NBA.com — Tommy Hawkins, 10-year NBA vet, dies at 80
Basketball-Reference — Tom Hawkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more