Hal Greer: Born on This Date in 1936
- Jake C
- Jun 26
- 10 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Cover photo: Philadelphia 76ers' guard Hal Greer readies to take a jump shot in a game in 1967. Photo credit: Dick Raphael, 1967 NBAE and Getty Images.
Eighty-nine years ago today, on June 26, 1936, Hall of Fame guard Hal Greer was born.
A native of Huntington, W. Va., Greer attended the segregated Douglass Junior and Senior High School. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, the school also has another famous alumnus in historian and author Carter G. Woodson, who is one of the key figures in African-American history.
After high school, Greer broke the color barrier in West Virginia college sports, becoming the first African-American to receive an athletic scholarship to a predominantly white college in the state when he attended Marshall University.
Greer was a star on the Thundering Herd squad for three seasons, from 1955-1958. Twice, he was named All Mid-American Conference, and in seventy-one games at Marshall averaged 19.4 points on 54.5% shooting and 10.8 rebounds. As a freshman, Greer’s 60% shooting from the field was second in the country, and Marshall won the conference championship. As a result, they received an NCAA Tournament berth. Greer in his senior season averaged 23.6 points and 11.7 assists per game.
In 1958, Greer was drafted 14th overall by the Syracuse Nationals in a draft that saw Seattle University’s Elgin Baylor get drafted to the Minneapolis Lakers. Wayne Embry, a 5-time all-star forward who became a reliable teammate of Oscar Robertson, was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals. Point guard Guy Rodgers, who would go on to make four all-star appearances, was also selected.
The 6 foot, 2 inch, 175 pound Greer played five seasons in Syracuse - from 1958-1963 - before the franchise moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers. In Greer’s rookie season, the Nationals went 35-37 and lost in seven games in the Eastern Division Finals to the Boston Celtics. Dolph Schayes and George Yardley put up big time numbers in the series - 28.4 points and 13.1 rebounds for Schayes and 25.7 points and 10.3 rebounds for Yardley - but it was not enough to take down the mighty Celtics of Russell, Cousy, Frank Ramsey, Bill Sharman, and Tom Heinsohn. Greer averaged 11.1 points per game as a rookie in twenty-four minutes per game (ten shots, 45.5%). In his second NBA season, Greer averaged 13.2 points on 47.6% shooting (twelve shots, twenty-eight minutes per game). The Nationals this time went 45-30 under head coach Paul Seymour and lost in three games (2-1) in the Eastern Division Finals to Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Arizin, and Greer’s draft mate Rodgers. Greer shot 51.2% in the series for 15.7 points per game.
Hal Greer’s Final Three Seasons in Syracuse
1960-61: 19.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 45.1% FG, 77.4% FT, 79 games, 35 mins per game - All-Star
1961-62: 22.8 points (twenty shots per game), 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 44.7% FG, 81.9% FT, 71 games, 38 mins per game - All-Star
1962-63: 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 46.4% FG, 83.4% FT, 80 games, 33 mins per game - All-Star, 2nd team All-NBA
Notable Performances from Hal Greer in 1961 Playoffs
EDSF Game 1 vs. PHW: 25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 10-of-19 FG, 5-of-6 FT
Game 2: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 8-of-16 FG, 10-of-12 FT
Game 3: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 8-of-20 FG, 2-of-4 FT
EDF Game 1 vs. BOS: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 8-of-14 FG, 4-of-6 FT
In the 1963 playoffs, the Nationals met the Royals in the Eastern Division Semifinals where they lost in five games.
Hal Greer Stats vs. Cincinnati Royals in 1963 EDSF
Game 1: 32 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 12-of-21 FG, 8-of-10 FT
Game 2: 22 points, 3 rebounds, 9-of-17 FG, 4-of-5 FT
Game 3: 30 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 11-of-18 FG, 8-of-9 FT
Game 4: 17 points, 3 rebounds, 6-of-16 FG, 5-of-5 FT
Game 5: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6-of-15 FG, 4-of-6 FT
Greer, 27 years old ahead of the 1963-64 season with the Nationals move to Philadelphia, had his best NBA season yet in his sixth campaign. Shooting twenty times per game like he did two seasons earlier, Greer, converting 44.4%, averaged an at-that-time career-high in points (23.3), with 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in nearly forty minutes per game (39.5). He was getting to the free-throw line nearly seven times per game (6.6), and making 82.9%. He played in eighty games. For his output, Greer made All-NBA 2nd team for the second consecutive season and finished sixth in MVP voting despite the team finishing 34-46. He finished tied for sixth in the voting with Baylor and Gus Johnson, the trio situated behind Robertson (1st), Wilt Chamberlain, Russell, Bob Pettit, and Jerry West.
In the 1964 playoffs, Greer in the Eastern Division Semifinal loss to Robertson and the Royals registered games of 29 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists (8-of-19 from the field, 13-of-14 free-throws) in Game 2 and in Game 4 tallied a near triple-double with 22 points (8-of-25 from the the field, 6-of-7 from the line), 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Over the next five seasons, Greer made All-NBA 2nd team again, which continued his streak of seven consecutive 2nd team appearances from 1962-63 through to 1968-69.
The 1964-65 version of the 76ers finished 40-40 and defeated the Royals 3-1 in the Eastern Division Semifinals before losing to the Boston Celtics 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals. The team acquired Chamberlain on January 15, 1965 with the core of their upcoming ‘67 championship team starting to take shape (Greer, Chamberlain, Chet Walker, and Luke Jackson would be joined by Wali Jones and Billy Cunningham the following season). Greer averaged 20.2 points (eighteen attempts), 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 43.3% shooting in seventy games in ‘64-‘65. He shot 81.1% from the line.
Notable Performances from Hal Greer in 1965 Playoffs
EDSF Game 1 vs. CIN: 37 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 13-of-30 FG, 11-of-12 FT, 53 mins (OT)
Game 2: 22 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 10-of-18 FG, 2-of-3 FT, 44 mins
Game 3: 30 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 11-of-27 FG, 8-of-11 FT, 48 mins
Game 4: 25 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 9-of-22 FG, 7-of-8 FT
EDF Game 1 vs. BOS: 27 points, 4 rebounds, 10-of-21 FG, 7-of-10 FT, 41 mins
Game 2: 29 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 11-of-23 FG, 7-of-8 FT, 48 mins
Game 4: 27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 11-of-21 FG, 5-of-6 FT, 50 mins (OT)
Game 5: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-for-26 FG, 10-of-12 FT, 48 mins
Game 6: 20 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 9-of-21 FG, 2-of-3 FT, 48 mins
In 1965-66, the 76ers received their first full campaign from Chamberlain as the all-world center in seventy-nine games posted 33.5 points and 24.6 rebounds and was named league MVP, the first of three consecutive Most Valuable Player recognitions for him. Greer played eighty games, played forty-two minutes per night to Chamberlain’s forty-seven, and averaged 22.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 44.5% shooting from the field and 80.4% from the line.
The 76ers, fifty-five wins during the regular season, lost to the Celtics in five games in the ‘66 Eastern Division Final. Greer’s best games in that series were a near triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists (7-of-22 from the field, 5-of-6 from the line) in Game 3 and 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists on 11-of-24 shooting (3-of-4 from the line) in Game 4.
The 1966-67 Sixers under head coach Alex Hannum set an NBA record for wins, going 68-14, and are regarded as one of the best teams in league history. They defeated the Cincinnati Royals three games to one in the Eastern Division Semifinals, defeated the Boston Celtics in five games in the Eastern Division Finals, and beat the San Francisco Warriors - who were led by a 23-year-old Rick Barry - in six games in the Finals. The team’s 125.2 points per game were tops in the NBA, and their 115.8 points given up was the third fewest. Greer averaged 22.1 points on 45.9% shooting and 78.8% from the line, with 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He played in eighty games and averaged thirty-nine minutes. In the regular season, he averaged 25.4 points per game against the Lakers. Walker was a Hall of Fame forward, Cunningham was a key role player (and another Hall of Famer), and Luke Jackson was a rugged inside player and rebounder. Guard Wali Jones had his best season as a pro averaging 13.2 points per game.
Notable Performances from Hal Greer in 1967 Playoffs
EDSF Game 1 vs. CIN: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 8-of-23 FG, 7-of-10 FT
Game 2: 28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 12-of-24 FG, 4-of-4 FT
Game 3: 33 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 15-of-31 FG, 3-of-4 FT
Game 4: 30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 14-of-27 FG, 2-of-2 FT
EDF Game 1 vs. BOS: 39 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 17-of-35 FG, 5-of-5 FT, 48 mins
Game 3: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 9-of-24 FG, 12-of-14 FT, 48 mins
Game 4: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 10-of-17 FG, 8-of-11 FT, 48 mins
Game 5: 32 points, 4 assists, 12-of-28 FG, 8-of-11 FT, 47 mins
NBA Finals Game 1 vs. SFW: 32 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 13-of-29 FG, 6-of-9 FT, 46 mins
Game 2: 30 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 13-of-30 FG, 4-of-4 FT, 44 mins
Game 4: 38 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 15-of-35 FG, 8-of-9 FT, 46 mins
In the ‘67 postseason, Greer averaged 27.7 points per game.
The 1967-68 Sixers went 62-20 as Chamberlain led the league in total assists and garnered his third straight MVP award. Greer played in all eighty-two games for the first time in his career (he would do so again in ‘68-’69), and averaged 24.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 47.8% shooting (twenty attempts) and 76.9% from the line in forty minutes per game. The 76ers defeated the New York Knicks in six games in the Eastern Division Semifinal and lost to the Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Division Final.
Notable Performances from Hal Greer in 1968 Playoffs
EDSF Game 2 vs NYK: 24 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 9-of-20 FG, 6-of-8 FT, 42 mins
Game 3: 27 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 8-of-16 FG, 11-of-12 FT, 49 mins (2OT)
Game 5: 38 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 12-of-27 FG, 14-of-15 FT, 44 mins
Game 6: 35 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 15-of-30 FG, 5-of-5 FT, 46 mins
EDF Game 1 vs. BOS: 27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 12-of-33 FG, 3-of-4 FT, 45 mins
Game 3: 31 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 12-of-31 FG, 7-of-9 FT, 41 mins
Game 4: 28 points, 4 rebounds, 9-of-16 FG, 10-of-14 FT, 44 mins
Game 6: 40 points, 4 rebounds, 15-of-24 FG, 10-of-13 FT, 46 mins
Game 7: 22 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 8-of-25 FG, 6-of-6 FT, 44 mins
In July of 1968, the 76ers traded Chamberlain to the Lakers, and in 1968-69 Greer made All-NBA 2nd team for the final time in his career. The 32-year-old averaged 23.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on 45.9% shooting and 79.6% from the line, playing 40 minutes per game and for the second consecutive season playing all eighty-two games. The Sixers lost in five games in the Eastern Division Semifinals. In Game 4 of the series, Greer posted 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists on 8-of-15 from the field and 8-of-12 from the line in forty-two minutes.
Greer made his final all-star appearance during the 1969-70 season, playing eighty games and thirty-eight minutes per game at age 33. He averaged 22.0 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds with shooting percentages of 45.5% from the field and 81.5% from the line. The Sixers went 42-40, with only Jackson, Jones, Cunningham, and Matt Guokas remaining with Greer from the ‘67 title team. Twice in the ‘70 Eastern Division Semifinal (a 4-1 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks) Greer scored at least 20 points. In Game 1, he shot 10-of-19 in thirty-five minutes for 20 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, and in Game 2 put up a line of 24 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds on 9-of-20 from the field and 6-of-6 from the line in forty-four minutes.
In the 1970-71 season, Greer averaged 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on 43.1% shooting (seventeen attempts, down from nineteen the previous season) in thirty-eight minutes per game. In their third season under the legendary Jack Ramsay, the 76ers went 47-35 and lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Baltimore Bullets in seven games. Greer, 34 years old, in his final career playoff series averaged 17.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds on 43.4% shooting, playing an average of thirty-eight minutes. Cunningham led the Sixers in the series with 25.9 points and 15.4 rebounds, while guard Archie Clark, who was acquired in the Chamberlain deal, averaged 23.6 points per game in the series.
Greer’s next-to-last NBA season saw the Sixers go 30-52 before a 9-73 record in ‘72-’73 that set a still-standing league record for single-season futility. In 1971-72, Greer started fifty-two of eighty-one games and averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds on 44.9% shooting (77.4% from the line) in thirty minutes per game. In Greer’s final season of ‘72-’73, he started seventeen of thirty-eight games and averaged 5.6 points per game in twenty-two minutes per game.
Over his fifteen-year career, Greer in 1,182 games averaged 19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 45.2% shooting (seventeen attempts) and 80.1% from the free-throw line in thirty-six minutes per game. Against the Celtics on February 21, 1964, Greer registered his career-high in points, scoring 50 (with 8 rebounds and 7 assists) on 19-of-39 shooting. From 1960 through to 1972, he played 946 of 970 possible regular season games, a symbol of durability while playing through hamstring issues and shoulder arthritis.
In author Wayne Lynch’s 2002 book Season of the 76ers, the appendix, which includes descriptions of each player on that ‘67 title team, says of Greer, “Ranks as one of the best middle-distance shooters in league history…is one of the circuit’s swiftest men and can go all the way through or stop for a jumper on the fast break…his one-handed jumper on free-throws is distinctive.”
No doubt, Greer had a smooth and futuristic jump shot. His form was picture-perfect.
Chamberlain in his 1973 autobiography Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door says of Greer, “At guard, we had Hal Greer, one of the all-time top scorers and assist men.”
Peruse the 76ers’ records, and you will notice that Greer, fifty-two years after his playing career ended, still holds many career franchise records. They include:
Points: 21,586
Games: 1,122
Minutes: 39,788
Field Goals: 8,504
Field-Goal Attempts: 18,811
He is also second in Sixers' history in assists, with 4,540. Only Maurice Cheeks accumulated more.
Greer’s No. 15 was retired by the 76ers in 1976. His jersey was the first to ever be retired by the franchise. In 1982, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 1985 was inducted into the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame. He was honored with a sculpture on the 76ers’ Legends Walk in 2017, the first player in franchise history to receive that recognition.
Greer became ill in 2018, and passed away shortly thereafter on April 14, 2018 at the age of 81.
On what would have been his 89th birthday, we remember the former Sixers' star.
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