| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 22, 1930 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 29, 1981 (aged 51) Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | West Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| College | La Salle (1950–1953) |
| NBA draft | 1953: 3rd round, 16th overall pick |
| Selected by the Philadelphia Warriors | |
| Playing career | 1953–1955 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Career history | |
| 1953 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1953–1954 | Pottsville Bolognas |
| 1954–1955 | Sunbury Mercuries |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Games played | 1 |
| Personal fouls | 1 |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Norman Grekin (June 22, 1930 – September 29, 1981) was an American professional basketball player. After playing college basketball for La Salle Explorers, he went on to play for the Philadelphia Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1]
Grekin was born in 1930 in Philadelphia.[1] He started playing basketball at the age of 14. After attending West Philadelphia High School, he went on to star at La Salle College from 1950 to 1953.[2] Grekin led the Explorers to the 1952 National Invitation Tournament championship and was named co-Most Valuable Player with his teammate, Tom Gola.[3] It was the first time the honor was shared.[4] In 1953, Grekin received honorable mention in All-American voting from Newspaper Enterprise Association and United Press International.[5][6] He left La Salle as the second-leading scorer in the school's history.[7] He was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1967.[8]
Grekin was selected in the 1953 NBA draft by the Philadelphia Warriors.[1][9] He entered the Marines in September 1953, but he received a medical discharge after 10 days.[10] He played in his only game for the Warriors on October 31, where he recorded one personal foul,[1] before being waived in early November. According to Warriors coach Eddie Gottlieb, Grekin did not fit as a playmaker playing at guard.[11] Following his brief NBA stint, he played two seasons in the Eastern Professional Basketball League for the Pottsville Bolognas and the Sunbury Mercuries.[12][13]
Grekin died on September 29, 1981, at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was 51.[2]
- ^ a b c d "Norm Grekin NBA stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "Norman Grekin, basketball star". Philadelphia Inquirer. October 1, 1981. p. 8-C. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "La Salle places three players on All-NIT team". The State. March 18, 1952. p. 16. Retrieved March 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Underdog Wins Fans, Titles in NIT Games". The Record-Argus. AP. March 6, 1953. p. 11. Retrieved April 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Speed As Well As Size Needed, Basketball Honor Lists Indicate". Great Falls Tribune. NEA. March 8, 1953. p. 17. Retrieved April 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Beck, Gola Picked For UP All-American". The Philadelphia Inquirer. UP. March 5, 1953. p. 32. Retrieved April 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Norm Grekin Added To East All-Stars". The Arizona Republic. February 25, 1953. p. 26. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "LaSalle Honors Grekin". Delaware County Daily Times. March 23, 1967. p. 24. Retrieved April 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Warriors sign up Grekin and Iehle". The Courier-Journal. September 29, 1953. p. 20. Retrieved March 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Warriors Sign Ex-LaSalle Aces". The Morning Call. September 29, 1953. p. 27. Retrieved March 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Expect Globetrotter Star To Join Philly Warriors". Lebanon Daily News. November 11, 1953. p. 14. Retrieved April 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chanecka bags 21 points; Mercuries lose 5 on fouls". The Daily Item. February 8, 1954. p. 17. Retrieved March 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Grekin stars for Mercs; Hazelton here tonight". The Daily Item. March 6, 1954. p. 13. Retrieved March 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
