Hal Greer

Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Greer attended Douglass Junior and Senior High School in Huntington.{{cite web|url=http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/cabell/85003091.pdf|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Douglass Junior and Senior High School|date=July 1985|access-date=July 23, 2011 |author=Dr. Alan B. Gould|publisher=State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation}} Douglass was an all-black school. He played as a guard for Douglass' men's basketball team. He enrolled at Marshall University and played college basketball for the Marshall Thundering Herd's basketball team, becoming the first African American to play for a public college in West Virginia.{{cite web |url=http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020912aaa.html |title=Greer Still Fond of Marshall, Field House :: Marshall Thundering Herd Athletic Site :: Men's Basketball |publisher=Herdzone.Com |date=February 9, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417023441/http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020912aaa.html |url-status=dead }}

Hal's attendance at Marshall University (College at the time) did not cause great uproar from the community, but more rumblings and a general uneasiness. The local newspapers gave Hal and his family casual treatment in deference to him and his family. At the first basketball practice in October 1954, all eyes were on Hal who showed out. Coach Cam Henderson reportedly told sportswriters in attendance that, "Before that young man is through here he'll become one of the greatest players in Marshall history and one of the greatest in the country."{{Cite news |last=Salvatore |first=Ernie |date=Spring 2007 |title=The Hall of Famer |work=Huntington Quarterly |pages=30–31}}

With the Thundering Herd, Greer scored 1,377 points with a .545 field goal percentage, setting a Marshall record. In 1956, Marshall won the Mid-American Conference championship, and made their first NCAA men's basketball tournament appearance. Greer was named All-Mid-American Conference in 1957 and 1958. He was named an All-American in 1958 as well. Greer finished his Marshall career averaging 19.4 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/basketball-legend-returns-home/article_46b0b458-9dc8-573a-b708-fe98b0416777.html |title=Basketball legend returns home {{pipe}} Marshall Sports |publisher=herald-dispatch.com |date=February 9, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2018}} In 1958, his senior year, Greer averaged 23.6 points per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/02/20/Hal-Greer-the-first-black-player-in-Marshall-University/5753383029200/ |title=Hal Greer, the first black player in Marshall University... – UPI Archives |publisher=Upi.com |date=February 20, 1982 |access-date=April 16, 2018}} Greer also played for the school's baseball team in his sophomore year as a first baseman.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/hal-greer-broke-color-barrier-in-w-va-sports/article_7e5d47f4-6e1a-5957-805c-29656f42907f.html |title=Hal Greer broke color barrier in W.Va. sports {{pipe}} News |publisher=herald-dispatch.com |date=February 27, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2018}}

File:Hal Greer.jpeg.]]

The Syracuse Nationals selected Greer with the 13th selection in the 1958 NBA draft. Greer played for Syracuse for five seasons, raising his scoring average to 22.8 points a game in 1961. He was selected for the NBA All-Star team that year.

In 1963, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia to become the Philadelphia 76ers. There, Greer teamed with Wilt Chamberlain on the 1966–67 team that won the NBA championship. In the 76ers' 15 playoff games that season, Greer averaged a team-best 27.7 points. Greer had an unusual but highly effective free throw technique, shooting a jump shot from the charity stripe. He is usually considered the third-best guard of the 1960s, behind Oscar Robertson and fellow West Virginia native Jerry West.

Greer played in 10 NBA All-Star Games and was the MVP of the 1968 game when he went 8-for-8 from the field and scored 21 points, a record-breaking 19 in one quarter. He also was chosen to the All-NBA Second Team seven times, and scored 21,586 points during his NBA career. When he retired after the 1972–73 season, he ranked as the all-time leader in games played and was in the top ten in both points scored and field goals made.{{cite web |url=http://wvpublic.org/post/june-26-1936-nba-hall-famer-hal-greer-born-huntington#stream/0 |title=June 26, 1936: NBA Hall of Famer Hal Greer Born in Huntington {{pipe}} West Virginia Public Broadcasting |publisher=Wvpublic.org |date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-date=April 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418092818/http://wvpublic.org/post/june-26-1936-nba-hall-famer-hal-greer-born-huntington#stream/0 |url-status=dead }} As of his death, Greer is the franchise record holder for points scored, field goals, field goal attempts, games played, and minutes played.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-hal-greer-obit-20180416-story.html |title=Hall of Famer Hal Greer, the Philadelphia 76ers' all-time leading scorer, dies at 81 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 16, 2018 |access-date=April 17, 2018}}

In the offseason of 1973, Greer was not signed by the 76ers nor any other team despite not wishing to retire.{{cite news |last1=Dell |first1=John |title=Greer Is Chosen as Coach Of the Cherry Hill Rookies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-greer-is-chose/165078512/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 4, 1974 |page=29 |via=Newspapers.com}} He spent his subsequent spare time playing golf. In December 1973, Greer entered discussions with the Cherry Hill Rookies of the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) to join the team as head coach.{{cite news |last1=Jasher |first1=Phil |title=Rookies Invite Ex-76er Greer To Coach, Play or Both |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-rookies-invite-e/165078457/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=December 18, 1973 |page=44 |via=Newspapers.com}} On January 4, 1974, Greer was announced as head coach and joined the team with a 1–8 record. The Rookies finished the season with a 4–21 record.{{cite news |last1=Samuels |first1=Leroy |title=Alas ... Rookies Eliminated |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-alas-rookies-eliminated/165078562/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=Courier-Post |date=March 18, 1974 |page=25 |via=Newspapers.com}} Greer was replaced as head coach by Pete Monska before the 1974–75 season.{{cite news |title=Dishin' the Dirt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/scrantonian-tribune-dishin-the-dirt-10/165078678/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=Scrantonian Tribune |date=October 20, 1974 |page=47 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1980, Greer coached the Philadelphia Kings of the Continental Basketball League.{{cite web |url=http://phillysportshistory.com/2011/06/21/the-short-lived-cocaine-funded-philadelphia-kings/ |title=» The Short-Lived, Cocaine Funded Philadelphia Kings Philly Sports History |publisher=Phillysportshistory.com |access-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417023811/http://phillysportshistory.com/2011/06/21/the-short-lived-cocaine-funded-philadelphia-kings/ |url-status=dead }} He also coached the basketball team for Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

File:Marshall University Basketball Hal Greer Statue 2022.jpg in 2022]]

Greer's hometown has honored his success by holding "Hal Greer Day" in 1966, and by renaming 16th Street, which carries West Virginia Route 10 as the main artery between the campus/downtown area and Interstate 64, as "Hal Greer Boulevard" in 1978.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/_zapp/breaking-huntington-native-nba-legend-greer-dies-at-age/article_4bcfbd86-4184-11e8-aa07-c72ad4a50bf3.html |title=BREAKING: Huntington native, NBA legend Greer dies at age 81 {{pipe}} News |publisher=herald-dispatch.com |date=February 10, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2018}}

In 1976, the Philadelphia 76ers retired Greer's uniform number, No. 15; he was the first 76ers' player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired. Marshall's men's basketball team retired Greer's No. 16.{{cite web |url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/marshall_university/marshall-basketball-legend-hal-greer-dies-at/article_bc6b90c9-6762-5c9b-9cf5-74bc726b44ed.html |title=Marshall basketball legend Hal Greer dies at 81 {{pipe}} Marshall University |publisher=wvgazettemail.com |access-date=April 17, 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Marshall University inducted Greer into its Athletics Hall of Fame for his career in basketball and baseball in 1985.{{cite web |url=http://herdzone.com/hallfame/mars-hallfame.html |title=Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame |publisher=Herdzone.com |date=November 14, 1970 |access-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417023631/http://www.herdzone.com/hallfame/mars-hallfame.html |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

In 1982, Greer was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with Slater Martin, Frank Ramsey, Willis Reed, coach Clarence Gaines, and contributor Alva Duer.{{cite web|last=Rogers |first=Thomas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/21/sports/reed-named-to-hall-of-fame.html |title=Reed Named to Hall of Fame – The New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=February 21, 1982 |access-date=April 17, 2018}} Greer is recognized as one of the first African-American athletes enshrined in a major sports hall of fame from West Virginia.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. The 76ers installed a statue of Greer at their training complex in 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/76ers-unveil-statue-honoring-HOF-guard-Hal-Greer.html |title=76ers unveil statue honoring HOF guard Hal Greer |publisher=Philly |date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2018}}

In 2021, Greer was honored at Marshall University with the dedication of a bronze statue created in his likeness and an unveiling ceremony with many of his family members in attendance. The statue is located adjacent to the Cam Henderson Center, the home of Marshall basketball, and was placed on a marble base surrounded by four benches and newly planted trees.{{cite web|last=Payne |first=Leah |url=https://www.marshall.edu/news/2021/10/09/marshall-university-honors-hal-greer-with-dedication-of-statue-on-huntington-campus/ |title=Hal Greer honored with dedication of statue on Huntington campus |work=marshall.edu |date=October 9, 2021 |access-date=October 10, 2021}} Two weeks later, he was announced as part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.{{cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/75 |title=NBA's 75 Anniversary {{pipe}} NBA.com |website=www.nba.com |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019025017/https://www.nba.com/75 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |url-status=dead}} To commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Greer as the 70th greatest player in NBA history.{{Cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2926507/2021/11/08/nba-75-at-70-sixers-great-hal-greer-was-a-silent-assassin-with-his-mid-range-jumper/|title=NBA 75: At 70, Sixers great Hal Greer was a silent assassin with his midrange jumper|first=Rich|last=Hofmann|website=The Athletic|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}

• Averaged 22 ppg to lead 76ers to NBA Championship (1967)
• Played in 10 consecutive NBA All-Star Games (1961–70)
• NBA All-Star Game MVP (1968)
• Set record for most points scored in a quarter (19) during an All-Star Game (1968)
• Seven-time All-NBA Second Team (1963–69)
• Scored 21,586 career points (40th all-time),{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291208002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216070826/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291208002 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 16, 2009 |title=Rondo scores his 11 in fourth as Celtics pull away from Bucks |publisher=ESPN |date=December 9, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2018}} including 50 in one game vs. Boston Celtics
• Scored 1,876 points in 92 playoff games and 120 points in 10 All-Star Games
• His jerseys were retired by Marshall University (#16) and the Philadelphia 76ers (#15)

Greer and his wife, Mayme, had a son and two daughters.{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/04/hal_greer_dead_nba_syracuse_philadelphia.html |title=Hal Greer dead: Syracuse Nats basketball legend, 76ers NBA champion dies at 81 |date=April 16, 2018 |publisher=syracuse.com |access-date=April 16, 2018}} Greer died on April 14, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona, following a brief illness. The 76ers announced his death on April 16.{{cite news|title=Hall of Famer, Philadelphia 76ers legend Hal Greer dies at 81|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/04/16/hall-famer-philadelphia-76-ers-legend-hal-greer-dies-81/519969002/|access-date=April 16, 2018|work=USA TODAY|language=en}} They honored Greer prior to Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat. For the remainder of the playoffs, the Sixers wore a black armband on the sleeve of their jersey with a small patch with the number 15.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20180416/SPORTS/180419812 |title=Sixers center Joel Embiid's status for remainder of series up in the air|publisher=The Trentonian |date=April 16, 2018 |access-date=April 17, 2018}}

{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

• List of NBA career scoring leaders
• List of NBA franchise career scoring leaders
• List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
• List of NBA career minutes played leaders
• List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Hal Greer}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120911202104/http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/harold-e-hal-greer Basketball Hall of Fame profile]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Greer, Hal}}

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