Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Here is detailed information about basketballer Norm Van Lier:
Player Profile
- Full Name: Norman Joseph Van Lier
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: April 1, 1947
- Hometown: East Chicago, Indiana, USA
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm)
- Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 2 inches
- Shoe Size: Size 11 (US)
- Number: Wore #6 during his career
- Position: Point Guard
- High School: East Chicago Washington High School (East Chicago, Indiana)
- College: LaSalle University
- NBA Draft: 1969, 2nd round, 22nd overall pick by the Cincinnati Royals
- Teams Played For:
- Cincinnati Royals (1969–1971)
- Chicago Bulls (1971–1978)
- St. Louis Hawks (1978)
- Championship Rings: None
- Kids: Not publicly documented
- Siblings: Not much information available on siblings
Player Archetype / Play Style
Norm Van Lier was a hard-nosed floor general in the purest old-school sense, a pass-first point guard who mixed playmaking with relentless perimeter defense and emotional edge. At 6-foot-1 and 173 pounds, he was not physically imposing by size alone, but he played with toughness, balance, and constant pressure, using quick hands and full-game intensity to disrupt opposing guards. Offensively, his role centered on running the team, creating shots for others, and controlling tempo rather than piling up points, though he could still chip in as a steady secondary scorer when needed. Defensively, he was the kind of guard who set the tone at the point of attack, earning a reputation as one of the league’s most feared backcourt defenders during his Bulls years. In full, Van Lier’s style was built on grit, passing vision, and nonstop competitiveness, making him the sort of point guard who could shape a game through toughness and control as much as through box-score volume. (NBA)
NBA.com — Norm Van Lier | Guard | Chicago Bulls
Basketball Reference — Norm Van Lier
Chicago Bulls — Ring of Honor – Norm Van Lier | Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls — Bulls great Norm Van Lier | 1947 – 2009