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NBA Legend Bob Pettit Dies at 93
Confirmed
In Short: Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, the NBA's first Most Valuable Player, has died.
Bob Pettit, a towering figure in basketball history and the NBA's first Most Valuable Player, died Wednesday at the age of 93, according to his family and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pettit, known for his imposing presence on the court, was a dominant force during his 11 seasons with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks.
He was a key player during a time when the NBA was still establishing itself, competing against legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Elgin Baylor.
Pettit's career was marked by numerous accolades, including being named the NBA's first MVP in 1956 and earning the award again in 1959.
He was also a 10-time All-NBA honoree and a four-time All-Star Game MVP, an achievement matched only by Kobe Bryant.
Pettit's versatility on the court was revolutionary; he was one of the first big men to play facing the basket, changing the way the position was played.
In 1958, Pettit led the Hawks to their only NBA championship, scoring 50 points in the final game against the Boston Celtics.
Pettit's impact extended beyond the court. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970 and had his number 50 jersey retired at LSU in 1954.
He was also part of the inaugural College Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2006.
The Basketball Hall of Fame described Pettit as 'a true giant of the game,' highlighting his contributions to the sport.
Pettit's legacy includes being the first player in NBA history to record 20,000 career points, averaging 26.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game over his career.
What this adds
Pettit's death was announced by his family and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Background
In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or on a specific team.
What's confirmed
- Pettit's alma mater, LSU, announced Thursday that he died a day earlier.
- Bob Pettit, an imposing scorer and rebounder for the St.
- Louis Hawks and winner of the NBA’s first Most Valuable Player award in 1956, has died.
- Pettit was an All-American at LSU before going on to the NBA, where he was an All-Star for each of his 11 seasons, all with the Hawks.
- Pettit was a force at a time when the NBA featured the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor.
- But it was also before a time when the NBA was widely seen on television, and Pettit — playing in a smaller market — was denied a larger audience.
- At 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds and with a deeply receding hairline, Pettit was a physical presence at power forward, before such a position became part of basketball’s vocabulary.
- Pettit was the Rookie of the Year in 1955, the last year the Hawks played in Milwaukee before moving to St.
- The news was announced Thursday by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1973 before becoming part of the inaugural College Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2006, Pettit lived in New Orleans after retiring.
What's still developing
- Having starred for Louisiana State University (LSU), Pettit was signed by Milwaukee Hawks in the draft in 1954.
- Pettit helped the Hawks' secure an NBA title by scoring 50 points in a final in 1958 He was the first LSU athlete to have a jersey number retired Bellamy wants more from Wales after loss to Portugal Israel player sent off for celebration mimicking gun Buttler injury halts England as Sri Lanka level series First look: The final chapter in the mystery trilogy starts this Saturday The rise and fall of a transatlantic cocaine empire David Olusoga sheds new light on Britain's slave traders Explore how everyday products ignore women’s real needs How PSG's Ballon d'Or duo are pushing each other on The compromises and power struggles that shaped Fury-Joshua Drinking at football matches - would fans welcome it?
- The team then moved to St Louis, and Pettit stayed with them for the rest of his career which included winning the NBA title in 1958 with victory over the Boston Celtics.
- Pettit starred for LSU before joining the NBA, where he won MVP awards in 1956 and 1959 and helped lead the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 title.
- A native of Baton Rouge, Pettit led LSU to the program's first Final Four appearance in 1953.
- "Dad passed away very peacefully at his home in Metairie, on Wednesday, September 23," the Pettit family said in a statement.