NBA Legend and First-Ever MVP Bob Pettit Passes Away at 93
World basketball mourns Bob Pettit, an NBA legend, Hall of Famer, and the league's first-ever MVP, who passed away at the age of 93.
World basketball mourns the passing of Bob Pettit, one of the greatest players in NBA history, who has died at the age of 93. Pettit, considered a trailblazer at the forward position, will forever be remembered as the first player to win the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 1955/56 season. The Basketball Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1971, paid tribute to him, describing him as a true giant of the game.
Pettit's career was marked by historic milestones. He was drafted in 1954 by the Milwaukee Hawks (later the St. Louis Hawks) and played his entire 11-season career with the franchise. In every single one of those seasons, he was selected as an All-Star and twice led the league in scoring. Pettit was also the first player in NBA history to cross the 20,000-point threshold, finishing his career with phenomenal averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game.
His pinnacle season came in 1958, when he led the Hawks to a historic championship victory following a tense finals series against the Boston Celtics. Additionally, he won his second MVP award in 1959 and led his team to two more finals appearances.
Louisiana State University (LSU), where his basketball journey began, also paid tribute to the legendary forward, noting that Pettit redefined the modern forward position and set a high standard for professional basketball. As a tribute to his legacy, his number 50 jersey became the first to be retired in the history of the academic institution.
