Alex Hannum
The only coach to win championships in both the NBA and the ABA, a tough-minded leader who molded dominant teams around superstar talents.
1923–2002 (age 79)·American basketball player and coach·Birthday: July 19·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Alex Hannum's basketball life was defined by a sergeant's discipline, earned from his actual military service. A rugged 6'7" center, he carved out a solid playing career through sheer force of will, known more for his defense and rebounding than scoring. But his true impact came from the bench. Hannum was a coach who demanded absolute respect and effort, a perfect fit for the era's physical style. He took over the Philadelphia 76ers in 1966, a team with a transcendent but often frustrated Wilt Chamberlain. Hannum convinced Chamberlain to focus less on scoring and more on defense and passing, unlocking the team's potential. The result was a dominant 68-win season and the 1967 NBA title, ending the Boston Celtics' eight-year dynasty. Never one to stay still, he then jumped to the Oakland Oaks of the upstart ABA and won a championship there too, proving his systems worked in any league.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alex was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Died at 79
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
Key Achievements
- Coached the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1967 NBA championship, a team considered one of the greatest of its era.
- Led the Oakland Oaks to the 1969 ABA championship, becoming the first coach to win titles in both major leagues.
- As a player, he was part of the 1958 NBA champion St. Louis Hawks, contributing as a key reserve.
- He coached seven different teams across the NBA and ABA, taking several of them to the finals.
Did You Know?
His nickname "Sarge" came from his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was the head coach for the San Diego / Houston Rockets, coaching a young Calvin Murphy.
He had a famous on-court confrontation with Wilt Chamberlain during a game, which reportedly led to a mutual respect.
He was known for his trademark crew cut, which he maintained throughout his coaching career.
“You win with defense and rebounding; everything else is just conversation.”
