Connie Hawkins: The Hawk Who Soared Despite the Chains

Connie Hawkins, known as “The Hawk,” was one of basketball’s most transcendent and tragic figures. A playground legend who became an icon in the ABA and a brief but brilliant NBA star, Hawkins’ career was derailed before it began by a scandal he had nothing to do with. This is the story of a man whose potential was stifled by injustice, and who still soared high enough to earn a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Rise to Stardom

Born on July 17, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, Cornelius “Connie” Hawkins was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. From an early age, it was clear that Hawkins was no ordinary athlete. With enormous hands, long arms, and gravity-defying leaping ability, he became a fixture at Rucker Park, where legends are born. He could palm the ball like a grapefruit and glide through the air with unmatched flair — earning comparisons to future stars like Julius Erving and Michael Jordan.

Hawkins starred at Boys High School in Brooklyn, leading his team to a New York City Championship and earning national attention as one of the top recruits in the country. He accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Iowa in 1960.

The Point-Shaving Scandal and Blackballing

Hawkins’ life changed forever during his freshman year at Iowa. In 1961, a massive point-shaving scandal rocked college basketball, implicating dozens of players and gamblers across the country. Hawkins, who wasn’t even eligible to play varsity games due to NCAA rules for freshmen, was never accused of fixing games. His only tie to the scandal was a loose association with Jack Molinas, a former Columbia star and gambler.

Molinas had loaned Hawkins $200 — money Hawkins said was for school expenses and which his brother repaid. Despite his minor and likely innocent involvement, Hawkins was expelled from Iowa and declared ineligible for NCAA and NBA competition.

At the time, the NBA had an unwritten policy against anyone linked to gambling, and under then-Commissioner Walter Kennedy, they refused to draft or allow Hawkins into the league. The result was devastating: Hawkins’ professional dreams were dashed before they began, not by lack of talent, but by guilt-by-association.

Connie Hawkins: The Legend Who Got CHEATED By The NBA

Basketball Exile: The ABL, Globetrotters, and ABA

Still determined to play basketball, Hawkins bounced around in exile:

• 1961–62: He briefly played for the Pittsburgh Rens of the short-lived American Basketball League (ABL), where he led the league in scoring and was named MVP.

• 1963–67: He joined the Harlem Globetrotters, dazzling crowds worldwide with his unmatched flair and athleticism.

• 1967–69: Hawkins got a new lease on life in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Signed by the Pittsburgh Pipers, he took the fledgling league by storm. In his first season, he averaged 26.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, leading the Pipers to the ABA championship and winning MVP honors.

Remember The ABA / NB70s: Connie “The Hawk” Hawkins

Lawsuit and Vindication

Hawkins, frustrated by years of blackballing, filed a $6 million antitrust lawsuit against the NBA in 1966, asserting that he was unfairly banned without any real evidence of wrongdoing. The NBA, realizing the weakness of its position and the threat of legal exposure, settled the lawsuit in 1969 for about $1.3 million and allowed Hawkins to enter the league.

NBA Career: Too Late, but Still Electric

By the time Hawkins debuted in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns in 1969, he was already 27 years old and had undergone knee surgery. Yet he still managed to put on a show.

• 1969–70 Season: Hawkins averaged 24.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, earning All-NBA First Team honors and leading the Suns to their first playoff appearance.

• He was named to four NBA All-Star Games from 1970–1973.

• He played for the Phoenix Suns (1969–73), Los Angeles Lakers (1973–75), and Atlanta Hawks (1975–76) before retiring.

Though injuries slowed him down, Hawkins was still an electrifying presence, with a unique combination of size, grace, and skill that few players of his time possessed.

Connie Hawkins: Career Mixtape

Legacy and Recognition

In 1992, Connie Hawkins was finally enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a long-overdue acknowledgment of his brilliance.

He is remembered as a bridge between generations — a player who brought the playground to the pro game, a precursor to high-flyers like Dr. J, Jordan, and Kobe. More than that, he is a symbol of resilience in the face of injustice.

In his later years, Hawkins worked as a community ambassador for the Phoenix Suns and remained a beloved figure among fans and peers.

He passed away on October 6, 2017, at the age of 75.

Conclusion

Connie Hawkins’ story is both inspirational and tragic — a tale of immense talent, marred by institutional failure, but ultimately triumphant through perseverance. Though the NBA denied him his prime years, Hawkins still left an indelible mark on basketball history. He flew above the rim, and above the injustice, and remains an enduring symbol of what the game is and what it could be.