Bob Pettit, the NBA's First MVP and the Hawks' Only Champion, Dies at 93

When Bob Pettit walked away from basketball in 1965, nobody in NBA history had scored more points. He had played 11 seasons and made 11 All-Star teams. He had won the first MVP award the league ever handed out, and he had led the Hawks to the only championship they have ever won.

Pettit died Wednesday at 93, LSU announced. No cause was given.

Ahead of his time

He was 6-foot-9 and played like a power forward before that was a position, and he faced the basket at a time when big men mostly didn't. His rookie year, 1954-55, was the Hawks' last in Milwaukee. By the next season he was the league's MVP and its leading scorer at 25.7 points a game, and he won both again in 1959 at 29.2. Only Kobe Bryant has matched his four All-Star Game MVPs.

His career averages were 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds. His 20,880 points were the record when he retired, and his 12,849 rebounds ranked second. He went into the Hall of Fame in 1970.

Pettit in 1951, when he was at LSU.

Four Finals, all against Boston

Pettit's Hawks met the Celtics in the Finals four times. They lost Game 7 in double overtime in 1957, beat Boston for the title in 1958, then lost in seven in 1960 and again in 1961. Two more wins in the right places and he would have had three rings.

Home in Baton Rouge

He was born in Baton Rouge in 1932 and didn't make his high school varsity until his junior year. As a senior he led Baton Rouge High to a state championship, then stayed home for LSU, where he led the SEC in scoring all three varsity seasons and averaged 31.4 points as a senior. LSU retired his No. 50, a statue of him stands outside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and his No. 9 hangs in Atlanta.

After basketball he went back to Baton Rouge, worked in banking and financial consulting, and kept showing up at LSU and Pelicans games. The Hawks said they are grateful for everything he gave the franchise and the sport.