Full Court: The Untold Stories of the St. Louis Hawks

Full Court tells the story of an often-forgotten but remarkable time in St. Louis sports history—the era of the NBA’s St. Louis Hawks. Author Greg Maracek has woven together a compilation of interviews from the Hawks players to deliver a history of a former perennial power in the National Basketball Association. Between 1955 and 1968, pro basketball closely rivaled the attention—and at times outstripped the success—of baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals. A storied rivalry with the fabled Boston Celtics is credited by many as the single most important catalyst to the national growth of NBA interest. Names of Hawks’ stars became legendary to basketball fans. Leading the way is Hall of Fame superstar Bob Pettit, the first player to score 20,000 points—and later 25,000—in a career. Other Hall of Fame Hawks include Cliff Hagan, Slater Martin, Len Wilkens, and “Easy” Ed Macauley. Pettit’s 50-point performance in the 1958 championship game, NBA doubleheaders at Kiel Auditorium, owner Ben Kerner’s sometimes wild and wacky postgame promotions, division and conference titles, sold-out crowds, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, and one incredible St. Louis World Championship season makes for riveting reading not only for fans of St. Louis sports but also for lovers of NBA lore.