101 Greats of European Basketball

jkovic coaching Barcelona. Nevertheless, Jugoplastika
won it again behind the brilliant Zoran Savic (27 points),
who would also be a future teammate of Norris in
Barcelona. Norris scored 8 points and pulled down 3
boards, but he was playing after a long hiatus due to a
shoulder injury.
Injuries, the worst enemy
During Norris’ career, his weak spot was injuries,
especially his knees. He missed many games and spent
weeks and even months with Toni Bove, Barcelona’s
physiotherapist, but always came back. In the Spanish
League, where he averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds
over six years, his duels with the late Fernando
Martin of Real Madrid are greater than legend. He also
fought in the paint with Arvydas Sabonis in his prime
as well as great stars and legends like Dino Meneghin,
Radja, Vlade Divac and Panagiotis Fasoulas in European
contests. Norris stood only 2.06 meters, but he looked
bigger because of his big body and long arms.
Jose Luis Galilea, one of his teammates in Barcelona
in the early 1990s, defined Norris in an article for Solo
Basket magazine:
“An old school big man who created from the low
post. An excellent passer thanks to his great understanding
of the game and huge hands, which made the
ball look like a handball. And great character. He was a
man who, despite being a star, was close to anybody
who would approach him. He treated with the same
respect and love the cleaning ladies at Palau Blaugrana
and the President of the Generalitat (the regional government
of Catalonia), the veteran player or the junior
rookie. He was loved by all, even by people who didn’t
follow basketball closely. He was generous in his game
and the way he related to everyone else, on and off the
court. He was a mentor for the youngest ones like Santi
Abad, Lisard Gonzalez, Roger Esteller, Angel Almeida ...
even myself. Young kids that were starting out and trying
to find our place in the professional world. He even
taught me, together with Piculin Ortiz, to speak English.”
I personally met Norris during his last season in Barcelona.
He made for an excellent duo with Savic. Today
it’s always a pleasure running into the man at the Palau
or any place. He continues hosting basketball camps in
and around Barcelona and the kids that attend will get
a chance to learn about basketball and more from one
of the best.
Audie Norris, the idol of Palau.
101 greats of european basketball
Audie Norris
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