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Atlanta Hawks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Hawks

By Phil Watson

May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view of t-shirts on the seats prior to game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Celtics’ player Bill Russell hooks a shot against the defense of Clyde Lovellette during the NBA championship’s final game in 1960 against the Saint Louis Hawks.
Boston Celtics’ player Bill Russell hooks a shot against the defense of Clyde Lovellette during the NBA championship’s final game in 1960 against the Saint Louis Hawks. /

1958-62. Clyde Lovellette. 11. player. 125. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Cincinnati Royals, Sept. 16, 1958.. C

Players to be named later aren’t usually anything particularly noteworthy. But Clyde Lovellette proved to be an exception.

The St. Louis Hawks sent a package of players including Wayne Embry, Jim Palmer, Darrell Floyd, Gerry Calvert and Ken Sidle to the Cincinnati Royals in August 1958 in exchange for a player to be named later.

ATL_11_LOVELLETTE
ATL_11_LOVELLETTE /

A little more than a month later, Lovellette, a two-time All-Star, was on his way to the Hawks.

He was an All-Star twice more in St. Louis, finishing third in the NBA in field goal percentage in 1959-60 and fourth in 1958-59.

Lovellette also helped the Hawks to the NBA Finals twice.

He averaged 16.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 31.3 minutes per game, shooting 39.1 percent from the floor and 15-for-18 at the line in a seven-game loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1960 NBA Finals.

The following season, Lovellette averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists, but was limited to just three games and an average of 21.0 minutes a game because of a back injury, shooting 35.6 percent from the field and 10-for-14 at the foul line in the five-game loss to the Celtics.

In October 1962, St. Louis sold Lovellette’s contract to the Celtics.

In four seasons in St. Louis, Lovellette averaged 19.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28 minutes per game, shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 82.5 percent at the line.

A three-time All-American at Kansas, Lovellette was the ninth overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1952 NBA Draft.

After playing a year of AAU basketball, he signed with the Lakers and helped them to the 1954 NBA title while earning two All-Star nods and All-NBA honors in 1955-56.

He was traded to the Royals in April 1957.

Lovellette was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.

Next: Joe Cool Worth The Investment

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