Jack Coleman was a dual-sport athlete at Louisville, where he played football and basketball, but it was the latter where he became a nine-year professional.

Coleman might be best known for being on the wrong end of a Bill Russell block in 1957 when his Hawks lost to Russell’s Celtics, but Coleman was a two-time NBA Champion, having anchored the Rochester Royals to a title in 1951 and the Hawks to one in 1958.  An expert rebounder, Coleman averaged over ten boards a game in the first five seasons, which was tracked, and was also high on the Field Goal Percentage leaderboard regularly.  Coleman’s was also above-average defensively.

A future NBA Champion and All-Star with the Boston Celtics, Paul Silas began his first five seasons in the NBA with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks.  Silas would eventually become a regular double double player, but the first time he averaged that in a career was with the Hawks.

“Jumping” Joe Caldwell would spend the majority of his professional career with the Hawks, both in St. Louis and in Atlanta.  Always a good scorer, Caldwell had a solid defensive presence and was named to two All-Star Games following the team’s relocation to Atlanta, along with a Second Team Defensive Selection.  Caldwell would leave Atlanta for the ABA after posting a 21.2 PPG season for the Hawks.

With the distinction of being the first player in history to win an Olympic Gold Medal, NCAA Championship, and an NBA Championship, Clyde Lovellette certainly brought a winning attitude to the St. Louis Hawks.  Lovellette may not have won a title in St. Louis, but the big man’s versatility and scoring touch were certainly welcome to the Hawks.  Only with St. Louis for four seasons, Lovellette would average over 20 Points per Game in three of them and average a double-double in two campaigns.  He would be selected for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.

Although Bill Bridges was considered undersized for his position (he was only 6'6’), he was a tenacious rebounder, especially during his time with the Hawks.  Except for his first two seasons, the former Kansas Jayhawk would average a double-double, finishing in the top eight in Rebounds per Game six times as a Hawk.  The three-time All-Star would also be chosen for two Second Team Defensive squads.

Lenny Wilkens was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame three times: as a coach, as a player, and as a member of the 1992 United States Olympic Dream Team. 

One of the more physically imposing players of his day, Zelmos Beaty arrived as the third overall draft pick coming out of Prairie View A&M.  Beaty would use his size to average over 10 Rebounds per Game in six of his seven Atlanta seasons, and was also an adept scorer, exceeding 20 Points per Game three times.  He would represent the Hawks in the All-Star Game twice.

Bridges was an undersized power forward who had a long lasting career in the NBA due to his abilities to play defense and especially to rebound. Currently in the top 30 in all time rebounds in league history, Bridges made 3 all-star teams and averaged 11.9 points and rebounds throughout a very consistent career. He won his only title in 1975 with the Warriors and then did something that not many have had a chance to do. He retired as a champion.