NBA Legend Bob Pettit, LSU Star and Hall of Famer, Passes Away at 93

Bob Pettit, a towering figure in early NBA history, known for his formidable scoring and rebounding prowess with the St. Louis Hawks and the recipient of the league's inaugural MVP award in 1956, has passed away at the age of 93. Louisiana State University (LSU), Pettit's alma mater, announced his death on Thursday, stating he died a day prior, though the cause was not disclosed.

Pettit's illustrious career began after an All-American collegiate tenure at LSU. He played all 11 of his NBA seasons with the Hawks, earning an All-Star selection in each. He famously led the Hawks to their sole championship in 1958, defeating the formidable Boston Celtics. His individual accolades include two NBA MVP awards (1956 and 1959) and a record-tying four All-Star Game MVP honors, a feat only matched by Kobe Bryant.

Standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing 205 pounds, Pettit was a physical and revolutionary presence, excelling at power forward—a position not yet formally defined in basketball. He was also one of the first big men to play facing the basket, breaking from the traditional back-to-the-basket style. Pettit was remarkably durable, rarely missing a game. He was named Rookie of the Year in the 1954-55 season, the Hawks' final year in Milwaukee before relocating to St. Louis.

He quickly established himself as a dominant scorer, leading the league with 25.7 points per game in his MVP-winning 1955-56 season, and again in 1959 with 29.2 points. Pettit retired after the 1964-65 season with career averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds. At the time of his retirement, he held the NBA's career scoring record with 20,880 points and was second in rebounds with 12,849. His exceptional contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970. The Hall of Fame lauded him as a