Hall of Fame guard Hal Greer, known for playing with the Philadelphia Sixers team that won the 1966-67 NBA championship, has passed away at the age of 81. Although his time of death was believed to be this past Saturday, his passing was not officially announced until the following Monday.
What happened?
On Twitter, the Philadelphia 76ers issued the following statement announcing Greer’s passing:
“The 76ers mourn the passing of Hal Greer, an NBA champion, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and team legend.”
According to NBA, the team also issued the following statements during a press release:
“Greer was the first player to have his number retired by the 76ers organization when the team retired his No. 15 in 1976. To further celebrate his place in team history, Greer also became the first player to be honored with a sculpture on 76ers Legends Walk at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in 2017.”
“In addition to his historic contributions on the court, Greer will forever be remembered as a true gentleman who used the tremendous platform of basketball to uplift and inspire others.”
“We extend our deepest condolences and send our love to the Greer family during this difficult time.”
“The 76ers will celebrate Greer’s life and legacy at tonight’s game in South Philadelphia.”
According to ESPN, he was a ten-time All-Star who played with the Sixers for his whole 15-year career, who drafted him with the 13th pick of the 1958 draft. During their 1966-67 title run, Greer averaged 27.7 points over 15 playoff games, helping the team beat their longtime rival, the Boston Celtics. Ultimately, Greer earned over 20,000 points in his career and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
What is Hal Greer’s official cause of death?
USA Today mentioned that Greer passed away after a “brief illness,” but did not expand further than that, adding that he died on Saturday night in Arizona. At this time, however, it is unknown if an official autopsy has clarified his official cause of death. As mentioned, he was 81-years-old at the time of his death.
As this story is developing, more information will be updated as made available.
