Up to date Sept. 24, 2026, 6:51 p.m. ET
Corridor of Famer Bob Pettit, the primary NBA participant to succeed in 20,000 factors and one among 5 gamers to make the All-Star workforce in every season of his profession, died Wednesday, Sept. 23. He was 93.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame introduced Pettit’s passing in a publish on social media, however didn’t present any extra particulars. A explanation for loss of life has not but been revealed.
“The Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame mourns the passing of Bob Pettit, a modern, expert huge man who revolutionized the ahead place throughout his profession,” the publish learn. “The 11-time NBA All-Star and 2-time MVP retired because the all-time main scorer in NBA historical past and left an everlasting legacy. He led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA championship over the Boston Celtics. The Basketball Corridor of Fame salutes this true big of the sport.”
Throughout his 11-year profession with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks, Pettit gained Rookie of the Yr in 1955 and MVP in 1956, the primary time the award was ever furnished, and 1959.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was named to the NBA’s seventy fifth anniversary workforce and is one among 4 gamers to make all 4 NBA anniversary groups — twenty fifth, thirty fifth, fiftieth and seventy fifth.
He was additionally one among 5 gamers in NBA historical past to make an All-Star workforce each season of his profession, becoming a member of Paul Arizin, Jerry West, Julius Erving and Yao Ming. Pettit was additionally voted All-Star Recreation MVP a document 4 occasions.
Pettit averaged 26.4 factors per recreation in his profession and is the Hawks’ all-time chief in rebounds (12,849). His profession 16.2 rebounds per recreation is the third highest in league historical past, trailing solely Wilt Chamberlain and Invoice Russell. He is also the franchise chief in free throws made and makes an attempt.
Pettit can also be among the many High 3 in franchise historical past in profession video games performed, subject objectives, assists and triple-doubles.
Pettit turned the primary NBA participant to attain 20,000 factors on Nov. 13, 1964, and gained his lone NBA championship in 1958. He entered the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame in 1970.
Pettit performed faculty basketball for LSU and was inducted into the college’s Athletic Corridor of Fame in 1954.
Pettit helped the Tigers attain the 1953 NCAA Ultimate 4. He was named an All-American in 1953 and 1954 earlier than being drafted with the No. 2 general decide by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954. LSU retired his jersey the identical 12 months, the primary Tigers’ jersey retired in any sport.
Pettit was inducted into the Louisiana Sports activities Corridor of Fame in 1973 and in February 2016, he was was honored with a statue on the basketball plaza of the Maravich Middle at LSU.
LSUsports.web recounts how Pettit was not a right away basketball star as an adolescent, and as a sophomore at Baton Rouge Excessive Faculty, he was lower from the varsity workforce. By the point he was a senior, he had led Baton Rouge Excessive to its first state championship in additional than 20 years and acquired gives from quite a few schools, together with hometown LSU.
“I by no means performed basketball till I used to be … a junior in highschool,” Pettit as soon as informed NBA.com. “I practiced at evening with a lamp within the window in my again bed room, capturing baskets hour after hour. I simply discovered trial-and-error. Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it. Lastly, I discovered one thing.”
