Norm Grekin

{{Short description|American basketball player (1930–1981)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Norm Grekin

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lb = 180

| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|6|22}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1981|9|29|1930|6|22}}

| death_place = Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| high_school = West Philadelphia
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

| college = La Salle (1950–1953)

| draft_year = 1953

| draft_round = 3

| draft_pick = 16

| draft_team = Philadelphia Warriors

| career_start = 1953

| career_end = 1955

| career_number =

| career_position = Power forward

| years1 = {{nbay|1953|start}}

| team1 = Philadelphia Warriors

| years2 = 1953–1954

| team2 = Pottsville Bolognas

| years3 = 1954–1955

| team3 = Sunbury Mercuries

| highlights =

• NIT champion (1952)
• NIT co-MVP (1952)

| stats_league = NBA

| stat1label = Games played

| stat1value = 1

| stat2label = Personal fouls

| stat2value = 1

}}

Norman Grekin (June 22, 1930 – September 29, 1981) was an American professional basketball player. After playing college basketball for La Salle Explorers, he went on to play for the Philadelphia Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA).{{cite web |title=Norm Grekin NBA stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/grekino01.html |website=Basketball Reference |publisher=Sports Reference, LLC |access-date=30 September 2023}}

Grekin was born in 1930 in Philadelphia. He started playing basketball at the age of 14. After attending West Philadelphia High School, he went on to star at La Salle College from 1950 to 1953.{{cite news |title=Norman Grekin, basketball star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31291201/norm-grekin-nba-player-obituary/ |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=1 October 1981 |page=8-C}} {{Open access}} Grekin led the Explorers to the 1952 National Invitation Tournament championship and was named co-Most Valuable Player with his teammate, Tom Gola.{{cite news|title=La Salle places three players on All-NIT team|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97682142/the-state/|newspaper=The State|date=March 18, 1952|page=16|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = March 15, 2022}} {{Open access}} It was the first time the honor was shared.{{cite news|title=Underdog Wins Fans, Titles in NIT Games|date=March 6, 1953|newspaper=The Record-Argus|page=11|agency=AP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98971921/|access-date=April 3, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} In 1953, Grekin received honorable mention in All-American voting from Newspaper Enterprise Association and United Press International.{{cite news|title=Speed As Well As Size Needed, Basketball Honor Lists Indicate|date=March 8, 1953|newspaper=Great Falls Tribune|page=17|agency=NEA|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98971362/|access-date=April 3, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news|title=Beck, Gola Picked For UP All-American|date=March 5, 1953|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=32|agency=UP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98971187/|access-date=April 3, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} He left La Salle as the second-leading scorer in the school's history.{{cite news|title=Norm Grekin Added To East All-Stars|date=February 25, 1953|newspaper=The Arizona Republic|page=26|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97731962/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2022}} {{Open access}} He was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1967.{{cite news|title=LaSalle Honors Grekin|date=March 23, 1967|newspaper=Delaware County Daily Times|page=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98973273/|access-date=April 3, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}

Grekin was selected in the 1953 NBA draft by the Philadelphia Warriors.{{cite news|title=Warriors sign up Grekin and Iehle|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97685759/standard-speaker/ |newspaper=The Courier-Journal|date=September 29, 1953|page=20|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = March 15, 2022}} {{Open access}} He entered the Marines in September 1953, but he received a medical discharge after 10 days.{{cite news|title=Warriors Sign Ex-LaSalle Aces|date=September 29, 1953|newspaper=The Morning Call|page=27|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97732681/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2022}} {{Open access}} He played in his only game for the Warriors on October 31, where he recorded one personal foul, before being waived in early November. According to Warriors coach Eddie Gottlieb, Grekin did not fit as a playmaker playing at guard.{{cite news|title=Expect Globetrotter Star To Join Philly Warriors|date=November 11, 1953|newspaper=Lebanon Daily News|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98972645/|access-date=April 3, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} Following his brief NBA stint, he played two seasons in the Eastern Professional Basketball League for the Pottsville Bolognas and the Sunbury Mercuries.{{cite news|title=Chanecka bags 21 points; Mercuries lose 5 on fouls|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97684968/the-daily-item/|newspaper=The Daily Item|date=February 8, 1954|page=17|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = March 15, 2022}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Grekin stars for Mercs; Hazelton here tonight|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97683881/the-daily-item/|newspaper=The Daily Item|date=March 6, 1954|page=13|via =Newspapers.com|access-date = March 15, 2022}} {{Open access}}

Grekin died on Septembeeeer 29, 1981, at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was 51.