LSU and NBA Legend Bob Pettit Dies at 93

Pettit was a consensus All-American during his time at LSU and went on to have a distinguished NBA career. He received the league's MVP award twice, in 1956 and 1959, and was an 11-time NBA All-Star from 1955 to 1965. He contributed significantly to the St. Louis Hawks, leading the team to the NBA Championship in 1958 and earning four All-Star Game MVP awards.

In 1954, Pettit became the first player in any sport to have his jersey number, 50, retired by LSU, and the number 9 was retired by the Hawks when they moved to Atlanta. He was also inducted into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame that same year.

A statue of Pettit was unveiled at the Maravich Center in February 2016, with his grandchildren assisting in the ceremony before a large audience at an LSU game.

During his college career, Pettit led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in scoring for three consecutive years, averaging 25.5 points in 1952, 24.9 points in 1953, and 31.4 points per game in 1954. He was the second player in major college basketball history to average over 30 points per game, and also averaged 13.1, 13.9, and an LSU-record 17.3 rebounds per game.

In his senior season, Pettit set an SEC scoring record with 60 points in a game against Louisiana College. His early basketball career, however, did not indicate the success that followed; he struggled initially and was cut from his high school varsity team before eventually leading Baton Rouge High to its first state championship in over 20 years.

Pettit’s remarkable journey continued after LSU, where he was drafted second overall by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954 and signed for an NBA rookie record of $11,000. He earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1955, averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.

The Hawks reached the NBA Finals in 1957 but lost to the Boston Celtics. They redeemed themselves in 1958 by winning the championship, with Pettit scoring 50 points in the decisive Game 6, a record that stood until 2021.

Over his career, which concluded in 1965, Pettit scored a total of 20,880 points, becoming the first player to surpass the 20,000 points milestone. His rebounding total of 12,849 was the second-highest in league history at the time of his retirement.

In 1971, Pettit was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was honored on all four NBA anniversary teams. He is also enshrined in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and was part of the inaugural class of the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Pettit's influence on the game defined what a modern power forward should be, showcasing a blend of finesse and strength that made him a formidable player. His legacy is commemorated through his retired jerseys and monument, reminding future generations of his significant contributions to LSU basketball and the NBA.

Funeral arrangements are currently pending.