Full Breakdown
Bob Pettit, NBA’s First MVP and Louisiana State University (LSU) Legend, Dies at 93
By Drooid · · How we work
The Passing of a Basketball Pioneer
Bob Pettit died on September 23 at his home in Metairie, Louisiana, at age 93. LSU issued a tribute, calling him “LSU basketball” and noting his lasting involvement in the Baton Rouge community. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Career Highlights and Records
- Points: 20,880 career points, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader at retirement.
- Rebounds: 12,849 career rebounds, the second-most at the time he left the league.
- Averages: 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game over 11 seasons.
- MVPs: First NBA Most Valuable Player award in 1955-56 and a second MVP in 1958-59.
- All-Star Game MVPs: Four times, a feat matched only by Kobe Bryant.
- Championship: Led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA title, scoring 50 points in Game 6 on April 12, 1958.
- Hall of Fame: Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970 (class of 1971 per some outlets) and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1973.
- College Honors: Three-time first-team All-SEC; LSU retired his No. 50 jersey in 1954, the first LSU number ever retired.
Early Life and Collegiate Success
Born in 1932 in Baton Rouge, Pettit joined the varsity at Baton Rouge High School as a junior and led the school to a state championship as a senior. At LSU he led the SEC in scoring each season, averaging 25.5, 24.9 and 31.4 points, and helped the Tigers win SEC titles in 1953 and 1954 and reach their first Final Four in 1953. His senior year produced 31.4 points and 17.3 rebounds per game, records that stood until Pete Maravich broke the scoring mark in 1968.
Professional Career and Legacy
The Milwaukee Hawks selected Pettit with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft. After the franchise moved to St. Louis in 1955, he spent his entire 11-year NBA career with the Hawks, winning Rookie of the Year in 1955, the league’s inaugural MVP the next season, and a second MVP in 1959. His 50-point performance on April 12, 1958 secured the Hawks’ lone championship. Pettit retired after the 1964-65 season, leaving as the league’s all-time scoring leader and the Hawks’ franchise leader in rebounds (12,849) and rebounds per game (16.2). He later co-founded a consulting firm in Baton Rouge and retired in 2006.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Pettit family’s personal statement highlighted his peaceful passing and his character as a father.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Multiple outlets reported the death but did not provide a cause. The New York Times, USA Today, and CBS Sports all noted the absence of details regarding the circumstances of his passing. No official medical information has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was like a younger brother and good friend to Bob Pettit,” — Collis Temple
- “Bob Pettit, the NBA’s first Most Valuable Player in 1956 and the first player in league history to reach the 20,000-point plateau, died Wednesday,” — The Athletic