Bob Pettit, NBA Legend and First MVP, Dies at 93
The 11-time All-Star led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA championship and holds numerous league records.
Bob Pettit, a towering figure in basketball history and the NBA's inaugural Most Valuable Player, has died at the age of 93. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame confirmed his passing on Thursday.
Pettit's illustrious 11-season career was spent entirely with the Hawks franchise, beginning in Milwaukee and later moving to St. Louis. His impact on the game was profound, establishing him as one of the league's premier scorers and rebounders.
He was instrumental in guiding the Hawks to four NBA Finals appearances, culminating in their championship victory in 1958 against the Boston Celtics. In a pivotal Game 6 of that series, Pettit set a playoff record at the time by scoring 50 points.
His individual accolades include two NBA MVP awards, earned during the 1955-56 and 1958-59 seasons. In both of those MVP campaigns, Pettit led the NBA in scoring, averaging 25.7 and 29.2 points per game, respectively. He also claimed Rookie of the Year honors in his debut season, averaging 20.8 points per game.
The Hall of Fame paid tribute to Pettit, describing him as "a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position." The organization noted that Pettit retired as the NBA's all-time leading scorer and left an "enduring legacy," saluting him as a "true giant of the game."
Pettit's remarkable performance in All-Star Games is also noteworthy; he was named the All-Star Game MVP on four occasions, a distinction matched only by Kobe Bryant.
Before his NBA success, Pettit made his mark in college basketball, starring for the LSU Tigers and helping them reach their first NCAA Final Four in 1953. During his senior season at LSU, he averaged 17 rebounds and an NCAA-leading 31.4 points per game.
