Norm Van Lier

American basketball point guard who played in the NBA from 1969-1979, known for his tenacious defense and three All-Star selections with Chicago Bulls

Norman Allen Van Lier was born in East Liverpool, Ohio in 1947. Cincinnati Royals selected him ninth overall in the 1969 NBA Draft. His 10-season career produced 11.9 points and 6.7 assists per game along with three All-Star appearances. He was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team three times — one of the more consistent defensive guards of his era. He was the primary defensive stopper for the Chicago Bulls during his competitive 1970s years alongside Bob Love and Chet Walker. His combination of tenacity, anticipation and willingness to defend the opponent's best guard every night made him one of the more respected players of his era despite never playing on a championship team. He spent much of his post-playing career as a broadcast analyst for Chicago Bulls games, becoming one of the most familiar voices in Bulls basketball history. He died in February 2009 aged 61. He was known for his competitive fire — he played through injuries that would have ended other careers and defended with an intensity that his coaches consistently cited as setting the tone for the entire team.

Defensive specialist point guard with exceptional court vision and leadership skills

One of the greatest defensive point guards in NBA history, known for his intensity and basketball IQ

• All-Star 3x
• All-NBA Defensive First Team 3x
• NBA 50th Anniversary Team consideration