NBA Wordle #76
Saturday, September 19, 2026 · already played
The answer
Spoiler for the puzzle of Saturday, September 19, 2026. Today's puzzle is not revealed anywhere on this page.
LIER
Norm Van Lier
G · 1969–1979
Norm Van Lier's career
Norm Van Lier played 10 seasons between 1969 and 1979, across 3 franchises — Kings, Bulls and Bucks. Over 746 regular-season games he averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7 assists, finishing with 8,770 career points. He was 3× All-Star and 1× All-NBA.
He entered the league in the 1969 draft, taken 34th overall in the second round, well outside the picks that carry guarantees. That makes him a product of the 1960s, and his career totals should be read against the pace and rules of that period.
Across a solid career of 10 seasons he was a rotation piece at 11.8 points per game. He was a genuine playmaker, not just a finisher.
- Games
- 746
- PPG
- 11.8
- RPG
- 4.8
- APG
- 7
- Points
- 8,770
- Rebounds
- 3,596
- Assists
- 5,217
- 3PM
- 0
Teams
- Kings · 1970–1972
- Bulls · 1972–1978
- Bucks · 1979
Honours
3× All-Star · 1× All-NBA · 8× All-Defensive
About the answer
The answer was LIER — 4 letters, made up of 4 distinct letters and beginning with L.
The optional hint offered that day read: “Point guard · debuted 1969”.
Why this was a fair answer
Answers are never obscure by design: the pool is every NBA All-Star who debuted in the 1969-70 season or later, plus current players carrying a real scoring role. Norm Van Lier qualifies on the first route, with 3 All-Star selections — a repeat selection.
With 3 franchises on his record, the shared-team clue was a genuine filter rather than a giveaway. The debut arrow was the fastest way in: anyone opening with a modern player would have been sent back decades immediately. He never won a title, which quietly rules out a large share of the most-guessed names.
Play it yourself
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