gold star for USAHOF

13. Norm Van Lier

13. Norm Van Lier

Norm Van Lier played at Saint Francis, and though it was a small school, the Chicago Bulls took him in the Third Round in 1969.  So, this is where run in Chicago started, right?  No.

Before the season started, the Bulls dealt him to Cincinnati, where he won the Assists Title in his sophomore year. Van Lier had an awful start in his third year, and the Royals, who arguably stole him two years before, allowed Chicago to steal him back, and again he was a Bull.

The Point Guard never came close to the 10.1 Assists per Game he had as a Royal in 1970-71, but he was a more complete player.  Van Lier had an eight-year run, where he was named either a First or Second Team All-Defensive Player.  He would also earn Second Team All-Star accolades in 1973-74.  

Defense may have become his calling card, but he still had five straight 12 Point seasons, and he was a three-time All-Star.  Van Lier's skills quickly eroded, and he was waived after the 1977-78 Season.  

With Chicago, Van Lier had respectable averages of 12.2 Points and 6.9 Assists per Game.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Point Guard
  • Acquired: Selected in the 3rd Round, 34th Overall 4/7/69.
  • Departed:

    Traded to the Cincinnati Royals with Dave Newmark for Walt Wesley 10/12/71.

    Acquired (2): Traded from the Cincinnati Royals with a 1972 3rdRound Pick (which would be Frank Russell) for Jim Fox and a 1972 2ndRound Pick (which would be Mike Ratliff) 11/9/71.

    Departed (2): Waived 10/11/78.
  • Games Played: 535
  • Per Game Averages: 35.7 MP
    N/A eFG%**
    .773 FT%
    12.2 PTS
    4.7 RB
    6.9 AST
    1.9* STL
    0.2* BLK

    38 Playoff Games
    40.8 MP
    N/A eFG%**
    .784 FT%
    13.9 PTS
    5.0 RB
    6.2 AST
    1.7* STL
    0.3* BLK     

    *Steals and Blocks were not a stat until the 1973-74 Season.
    **eFG% was not a stat when he played.
  • Advanced Stats: 14.4 PER
    .476 TS%
    6.1 VORP*
    39.1 WS

    38 Playoff Games
    13.4 PER
    .454 TS%
    0.4 VORP*
    1.5 WS     

    *VORP was not a stat until the 1973-74 Season.
  • Played For: Chicago Bulls
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Second Team All-Star (1974)
    First Team All-Defensive (1974, 1976 & 1977)
    Second Team All-Defensive (1972***, 1973, 1975 & 1978)
    All-Star (1974, 1976 & 1977)

    ***Van Lier was traded from Cincinnati during the year.
Tagged under

Related items

More in this category: « 12. Bob Love 14. Tom Boerwinkle »

Comments powered by CComment