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."[4]
Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (1958–1973)
Greer scored 21,586 points during his 15-season career with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Syracuse Nationals selected Greer with the 13th selection in the 1958 NBA draft.[5][9] 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.[6] 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.[2] As of his death, Greer is the franchise record holder for points scored, field goals, field goal attempts, games played, and minutes played.[10]
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.[8][12]
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.[10] Marshall's men's basketball team retired Greer's No. 16.[6] Marshall University inducted Greer into its Athletics Hall of Fame for his career in basketball and baseball in 1985.[13]
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.[16] Two weeks later, he was announced as part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[17] 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.[18]
Accolades
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),[19] 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)
Personal life
Greer and his wife, Mayme, had a son and two daughters.[20] Greer died on April 14, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona, following a brief illness. The 76ers announced his death on April 16.[9] They honored Greer prior to Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat.[10] 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.[21]
