Harold Everett Greer was the first African-American to have played on a college team in West Virginia. He developed a precise one-hand shooting shot at Marshall university and set Marshall’s career record for field goal number at .524. Hal Greer was the only player to jump-shot his free throws. He had scored 1,122 games when he retired from the NBA in 1973 and set another league record. At the time of his nomination, he sat in the Top 10 of all time.
What college did Hal Greer go to?
Greer grew up in the town of Huntington, West Virginia, and attended Douglass Junior and Senior High School there. Douglass was a completely black institution, where he played for the school’s men’s basketball team.
Hal Greer – Racial inequalities
When he got to college, Hal Greer had it tougher than others. With racial injustices common across America at the time, it was hard for African-American athletes to make a name for themselves, especially in white colleges. Despite hardships, Greer managed to have a far larger impact than just an incredible basketball play. Not only has he led his university to multiple successes, but he also helped to tear down racial and ethnic barriers.
Since he was a player of such huge caliber and talent, he quickly got a scholarship, becoming the second black sportsman who was granted these honors. While he was beaten by just a couple of months by a football player, Roy Goins, to become a black athlete in a major college team, Greer was the backbone of his squad, whereas the former was a substitute.
Greer’s stand against barriers
Nevertheless, Greer can be considered the first African-American to get a scholarship from such a college. Since MU was sitting in West Virginia, it was predominantly and historically white. Not until seven years later , another black American, Dick Leftridge, became the first to compete for West Virginia University.
Greer was a tremendous scorer for Marshall, averaging over 15 points per game in 1955-56. He would improve in each of his years with the Herd, reaching more than 18 points per game in 1956-57 and nearly 24 per game in 1957-58.
During his stay at Marshall, Greer led the Thundering Herd to a Mid-American Conference title and the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1956. He was named an all-conference player in 1957 and 1958.
Hal Greer – NBA career
Greer, who was chosen by the Syracuse Nationals in the second round of the 1958 NBA Draft, arrived at his first training camp as a scrawny teenager who didn’t believe in himself.
He thought he couldn’t make it for sure, but his hard work, talent, and unusual style of play made him one of the star players for the franchise, and one of the best of all time.
Hal Greer – Syracuse Nationals
In his first season, Greer exhibited the talents that would eventually make him a star. A dangerous, peculiar jump shot, incredibly swift runs to the hoop, and powerful defense would soon prove to be the demise of many teams in the conference.
Although he wasn’t as outstanding as Wilt Chamberlain or other great rookies, he averaged 11.1 points per game off the bench in 1958-59, scoring .454 from the court and .778 on free throws. That season, he made the fourth-best accuracy percentage of the NBA campaign.
Hal Greer – Further improvements
Hal Greer improved during the next two seasons and in 1960-61, he became the go-to player for the Nats. Earning him a trip to the All-Star Game, his 19.6 points per game was a valuable asset, raking only second in the team after Dolph Schayes and his 23.6. Even though the Nationals made their way to the division semifinals, they were swept by the then-dominating Boston Celtics who were on their way to one of the greatest winning streaks in NBA history.
Hal Greer – Schayes out, Greer in
In 1961-62, when injuries started to plague Schayes, Greer took all the spotlight, and it soon became apparent what a tremendous player he is. With a 22.8 point average, 7.4 rpg, and 4.4 apg, he quickly blossomed into a star. In the All-Star Game of 1962, he beat Bob Cousy’s record in assists of 8, contributing 9 of his own, as well as amassed 10 rebounds, only two short of equaling another record of Bill Russell.
Hal Greer – Philadelphia 76ers
After the 1962-63 season, the Nationals relocated to Philadelphia, where they became known as the Philadelphia 76ers. Greer felt right at home in the new environment.
He spent the remaining time of his career in Philadelphia, where he achieved 20 points per game or more for almost seven straight years. Greer was an All-NBA Second Team selection six times and participated in all seven All-Star Games. Chamberlain’s presence aided Greer’s production during the 1964-65 season.
Hal Greer – Best team ever
Greer was a key player on arguably the most excellent team of all time, the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers. That squad, which also featured Chamberlain, Luscious Jackson, Billy Cunningham, Chet Walker, and Wally Jones, won 68 games for a record-breaking 68-13.
Two players in the form of Chamberlain and Greer together contributed 46.2 ppg that season, an average that was enough to lead them to the finals and to a victory over San Francisco Warriors for the NBA championship. In the playoffs, Greer went even crazier, improving his average from the already great 22.1 up to an incredible 27.7.
In 1967-68, Greer made the most memorable individual performance of his career. He shot a career-best .478 in field goals and scored 24.1 ppg, which was fifth in the NBA.
The Sixers had another good year in 1967-68, finishing with a 62-20 record, eight games ahead of second-place Boston in the Eastern Division. However, Philadelphia lost the division finals against the Celtics in seven games after blowing a two-game series lead.
Hal Greer – Chamberlain’s departure
Before the 1968-69 campaign, the Sixers traded Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers, and while they were still a competitive team, they failed to recapture past glory. Following a 55-27 regular season, Philadelphia won just one playoff game in a five-game conference semifinal against Boston.
Greer, who was named an All-Star for the ninth time in 10 years, posted 23.1 points per game, which ranked third in the NBA. He also finished seventh in the league with 23.1 points per game to go along with his seventh selection to the All-NBA Second Team. Cunningham (24.8 ppg) and Greer (23.1) picked up some of Chamberlain’s scoring load, ranking third and seventh in the league, respectively.
Hal Greer – Decline in scoring
Greer had his last great all-around season for the Sixers in 1969-70, when he averaged 22.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Despite being 33 years old, Greer assisted the team to its 12th playoff appearance in his 12 seasons, which ended with a five-game conference semifinal loss against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Greer played three more seasons for the Sixers, with his production and playing time steadily declining each year. Greer also served as the team’s assistant coach in his final season, 1972-73, when he split his time between the bench and the floor, appearing in 38 games and averaging 5.6 points per game.
At season’s end, he retired, bringing a distinguished 15-year playing career to a close. Greer had appeared in more games (1,122) than any other player in NBA history at the time of his retirement. His 21,586 career points and totals for minutes played, field goals attempted, and field goals made were among the all-time top 10.
Hal Greer – Net Worth
Hal Greer was an NBA Hall of Famer who played for the Philadelphia 76ers for 15 seasons. His net worth was estimated at $5 million when he passed away in 2018. As a ten-time All-Star, Greer was one of the most successful and respected players of his generation.
How good was Hal Greer?
Greer’s all-time career leader in points, games, and minutes was so at ease with his signature mid-range jump shot that he employed it at the free-throw line, where he hit 80.1 percent of his tries.
Greer was a prototypical and versatile shooting Hall of Fame guard, as well as a real gentleman of the game. He played with intensity and a continually stern game face, demonstrating his commitment to excellence on the court.
In the 1960s, his haste, bouncy legs, and noteworthy accurate jumper made him one of the NBA’s most prolific offensive players. He shattered the league record with 21,856 points – more than 1,600 ahead of Allen Iverson’s total.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 1996, after his Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Hal Greer was selected to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
What position did Hal Greer play?
He played as a shooting guard and point guard.
