For the complete list and explanation of criteria and scoring, check out the Philly Fifty page
Longevity – 4
While Greer spent his entire 15-year career with the franchise, the first 5 of those seasons were in Syracuse. Remember, this list is about the city, not the franchises, so Greer gets credit for his 10 seasons in Philadephia.
Peak – 3
Greer was an extremely productive and consistent force, but was never quite at that elite level where you could say he was a top-5 player in the league. In his first 7 seasons with the team he played in almost every game and averaged anywhere from 20.2 to 24.1 ppg. He never finished in the top-5 in ppg, and never made an 1st team all-NBA, though he made 6 2nd teams.
Popularity – 3
Greer is relatively well known because he tops the franchise (including Syracuse) scoring list – but in terms of popularity, his time period was much more about Wilt than him.
Team Success – 3
During his Sixers’ tenure, Greer’s teams were a pedestrian 442-441. However, when Wilt came along, they did win a title in 1966-67 with Greer averaging 22.1 ppg on one of the best teams in NBA history (68-13).
Awards – 4
As I said earlier, Greer was elected 2nd team all-NBA 6 times. He also made the all-star team 7 times while in Philadelphia. In 1967-68 he was the all-star game MVP in a game that included Wilt, Russell, Havlicek, Big-O, West and Baylor, going 8-8 from the field and scoring 21 points in 17 minutes.
Stats – 3
Greer is the franchise leading scorer, but he is the Sixers 3rd leading scorer (Iverson, Erving) and 3rd leading assist man (Cheeks, Iverson). He is also 11th in rebounds, and 6th in win shares.
Historical Standing – 3
Greer is a HOFer with career averages of 19.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, though until Wilt and co. came along, he was putting up big numbers on a very average team.
Excitement – 3
Greer’s best attribute was his jump shot – a great tool to have, but not one that necessarily puts people in the seats.
Total: 26
For the complete list and explanation of criteria and scoring, check out the Philly Fifty page
Popularity – 3
Greer is relatively well known because he tops the franchise (including Syracuse) scoring list – but in terms of popularity, his time period was much more about Wilt than him.>>
Well, yes and no at the same time. Obviously, a charismatic tremendous talent like Wilt is gonna overshadow anyone else. Only a fool would deny that, no matter how much they liked Hal. But one shouldn’t be misled by Wilt’s presence, and the lack of share in the limelight. Harold was more quietly respected, and quite a bit. That lends to popularity of a different tone. He shot 8-8 in an MSG all-star game (MVP), and the reaction to that, as I recall wasn’t exactly so what. People were pretty psyched over that effort. When fortunes turned to the 9-73 season, replacement coach Kevin Loughery benched Greer, giving Freddie Boyd a lot more playing time. Greer drew a good deal of sympathy off what was left of a 76er fan base. 3 on a 4 point scale is probably a fair judgement, but it’s closer to 4 than 2. Hal wasn’t a limelight seeker. But on a club of local Wali Jones, talented Chet Walker, blue collar (attractive popularity trait) Luke Jackson, and still developing Billy Cunningham, Hal Greer still had the respect he deserved. Kareem might not have won without Oscar and later Magic, and Wilt might have had the same fate during his 6er days without Hal. And that’s not to discount the other talents both played with, but the number 2 guys were critical to their success. Better to have been respected than popular, and in respect terms, 4 would be the score.
Hal was the greatest shooting guard Sixers ever had. And I’ve seen ‘em all. Not the sort to go off for 40 (though he did have one 50 pt. game against Russell’s Celts) but always showed up and got his for the cause. Was familiar with words ‘teammate’ and ‘team.’ Played BOTH ends of court. Not an ounce of ham to his game. Patented mid-range shooter, quick release; knew his spots, didn’t jack from beyond 20′. Comfortable posting on baseline (both sides), could outquick “timber” to advantage, dove smartly on Wilt possessions for buckets. An intelligent and leading player. For a long time. With two franchises.
Key cog on competitive Nats, player-coach Schayes’ 76ers’ originals, Wilt’s Champs, Jack’s ruinations (ostensibly, traded smooth scorer Chet Walker for Nova’s/Bulls’ Jim Washington because ‘Big 5 Jim’
could ’press and run’ better); finished tremendous career riding pine on Dejardin’s disaster.
O, Jerry, Sam Jones and Hal Greer – top 4 guards most years in early to mid-60s. Hal kept nice company. #15 was a bankable on-court commodity, an admirable competitor and a quiet winner.
http://www.apbr.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3572
http://www.youtube.com/user/HalGreer15?blend=12&ob=5
Great footage of NBA’s greatest team’s entire playoff run – Cinn, Boston, SF - in ’67, narrated by the late Charlie Swift; includes Hal in game action, and in celebration with fellow former Syracuse Nats F Dave Gambee & head coach Alex Hannum after finally beating Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals, 4-1 (Game 5, 140-116).
During the regular season 6 players averaged in double figures, 10 averaged ~10 mpg & up; only former Penn State guard Bobby Weiss, a future starter and head coach in league, didn’t play much.
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NBA all-time field goals:
#21 Hal Greer 8,504
#22 Allen Iverson 8,467
#23 Charles Barkley 8,435