Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Watching Tom Hawkins over the years, what stood out wasn’t flashy offense but the way the American power forward quietly controlled the paint, carving out rebounding position early and making life uncomfortable for opposing big men throughout his NBA career. Whether finishing around the rim, delivering firm screens, or contesting shots without chasing highlights, Hawkins built his value on disciplined interior play that translated across an era defined by physical frontcourt battles.

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

Player Archetype / Play Style

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)

Scouting Report

Tom Hawkins played with the mentality of a forward who expected every possession to become physical, and he usually welcomed it. He wasn’t interested in floating around the action. He wanted to establish position early, lean on defenders through the lane and make every cut or rebound feel contested. What stands out is how well he understood the value of timing. Rather than chasing the ball, he’d arrive where it was going, slipping behind box-outs for offensive rebounds or sealing his man just as an entry pass became available. Offensively, he thrived as a complementary interior scorer, finishing around the rim, attacking from short post areas and making quick decisions whenever help rotated. If a double team arrived, he was capable of moving the ball without holding it long enough for the defence to recover, although creating offence from the perimeter or breaking defenders down off the dribble wasn’t part of his game. Defensively, Hawkins relied on strength, positioning and anticipation more than spectacular plays. He defended post-ups with a sturdy base, rotated into the lane early to discourage drives and consistently completed possessions by securing the rebound instead of trying to block every shot. The trade-off was that quicker forwards who operated in space could drag him away from his comfort zone, and he wasn’t the type of big who could erase mistakes with elite recovery speed once the ball got behind the first line of defence. To me, he fit best alongside skilled playmakers and shooting around him, where his screening, interior finishing and willingness to embrace the dirty work became much more valuable than raw scoring numbers suggested. His game reminds me of Paul Silas in the way he approached rebounding as a craft and Joe Smith in the understated efficiency of his offensive role, although Hawkins leaned even more heavily on physical positioning than either, quietly giving his team stability through countless possessions that rarely made the highlight reel.

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