NBA Legend, Bob Pettit during the 71st NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio.(Photo by Tyler Kaufman/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA – Bob Pettit, an imposing scorer and rebounder who won the NBA’s first Most Valuable Player award with the St. Louis Hawks, died Wednesday at 93, his alma mater LSU announced Thursday.
LSU basketball pioneer
What we know:
LSU announced Thursday that Pettit died Wednesday, though the university provided no cause of death.
Pettit starred at LSU as a sophomore after leading Baton Rouge High School to a state title, going on to top the Southeastern Conference in scoring during all three of his varsity seasons.
His No. 50 jersey is retired by LSU, where a bronze statue of him stands outside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
NBA championship legend
What we don’t know:
Officials have not yet released details regarding funeral arrangements or memorial services.
Dominant professional legacy
The backstory:
Pettit entered the NBA as the Rookie of the Year in 1955 during the Hawks’ final season in Milwaukee before moving to St. Louis.
Standing 6-foot-9 and weighing 205 pounds, he became an All-Star in each of his 11 professional seasons, winning the inaugural NBA MVP in 1956 and another in 1959.
He led the Hawks past the Boston Celtics for the 1958 NBA title and finished his career averaging 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game.
Life after basketball
Dig deeper:
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970, Pettit retired to Baton Rouge after his playing career to work in banking and financial consulting.
He remained a frequent attendee at LSU and New Orleans Pelicans games in recent years.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Associated Press, which covered the announcement from LSU and historical NBA records, as well as the Atlanta Hawks.