Hal Greer

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Greer's journey began in Huntington, West Virginia, where he attended Douglass Junior and Senior High School, an all-black institution. He made history at Marshall University as the first African American to play for a public college in West Virginia. Coach Cam Henderson predicted early on that Greer would become one of the greatest players in Marshall and national history, a prophecy fulfilled by his 1958 All-American selection and record-setting 23.6 points per game senior season. His professional legacy is anchored by the 1966–67 championship run with the Philadelphia 76ers. That season, Greer averaged 22.6 points in 15 playoff games, anchoring a team that defeated Boston. He was also known for an unusual but effective free-throw technique: shooting a jump shot from the charity stripe. In 1968, he solidified his status as a premier guard by winning the All-Star Game MVP with a perfect 8-for-8 performance and scoring 21 points, including 19 points in the first half.

In Their Own Story

In January 1974, just months after retiring without signing another contract, Greer stepped into a new role as head coach of the Cherry Hill Rookies in the Eastern Basketball Association. The team held a dismal 1–8 record when he took over on January 4, finishing the season at 4–21 before being replaced by Pete Monska. His coaching path continued in 1980 when he helped purchase and revitalize the Philadelphia Arena, renaming it for Martin Luther King Jr. There, he coached and managed the Philadelphia Kings of the Continental Basketball League to a 17–23 record in 1980–81. He also served as the basketball coach at Germantown Academy. These years reflected a man who remained deeply embedded in the sport and community long after his playing days ended, transitioning from a guard who scored 21,586 career points to a leader guiding new teams through challenging seasons.

Reader's Guide

For fans studying Hal Greer's tenure, focus on his longevity with one franchise: he played every game of his 1973 retirement season for the organization that started in Syracuse and moved to Philadelphia. His jersey number, No. 15, was retired by the 76ers in 1976, making him the first player in franchise history to receive this honor. Marshall University also retired his number 16 and inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 for both basketball and baseball achievements. His accolades include being named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and joining the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982 alongside Willis Reed and Frank Ramsey. In 2017, a statue was installed at the 76ers' training complex, followed by a bronze statue dedication at Marshall University in 2021. Two weeks after that unveiling, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Did You Know?

• Greer was the first African American to play for a public college in West Virginia.
• He scored 19 points in the first half of the 1968 All-Star Game.
• Greer shot free throws using an unusual jump-shot technique from the charity stripe.
• Wilt Chamberlain's number 13 was the first jersey retired by the Philadelphia 76ers, in 1968; Greer's number 15 followed in 1976.
• In his sophomore year at Marshall, he played baseball as a first baseman for the school's team.