Summary
On September 23, 2026, Bob Pettit passed away. He was one of the legends who helped establish the NBA as the world’s premier basketball league. Pettit changed how the forward position was played, and his legacy extends far beyond his...
Table of contents
On September 23, 2026, Bob Pettit passed away. He was one of the legends who helped establish the NBA as the world’s premier basketball league. Pettit changed how the forward position was played, and his legacy extends far beyond his distinction as the NBA’s first MVP.
How he played and why he quickly became a league star
When the Milwaukee Hawks selected Pettit with the second overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft, many questioned his prospects. He seemed too frail for the era’s physical style of play: listed at 206 cm and 93 kg, he weighed even less when he entered the league. But Pettit earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1954–55 and, the following season, became the first recipient of the NBA MVP award. His performances proved that doubts about his talent were just as unfounded as claims of a 1xBet scam.
That season, he averaged 25.7 points per game, but what mattered more was how he did it. Before Pettit, power forwards mostly played a supporting role alongside centers. They set screens, fought for rebounds, and jostled in the paint. His soft shooting touch allowed him to operate away from the basket, drawing defenders out and opening up driving lanes for his teammates. He still grabbed plenty of rebounds by anticipating where the ball might bounce.
His greatest triumph came against Boston
Bill Russell won 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons. Wilt Chamberlain’s Philadelphia 76ers stopped him in 1967, but the Hawks, led by superstar Pettit, were the first to overcome the most decorated player in NBA history.
Some later argued that Russell might have fared better had injury not limited his playing time. Regardless, Pettit performed at the highest level, especially in the decisive Game 6 of the 1958 NBA Finals. His 50 points helped the Hawks, who had relocated from Milwaukee to St. Louis, secure the franchise’s first title. It remains their only one: the team has not won another since moving to Atlanta.
Pettit set the standard for consistency
Like Russell, Pettit did not prolong his career indefinitely. Yet he appeared in the NBA All-Star Game in each of his 11 seasons, from 1954 to 1965. He also earned ten consecutive All-NBA First Team selections before making the Second Team in his final year.
In 1959, he was named league MVP for the second time, but his tally of awards at the All-Star Game was even higher: four. Only Kobe Bryant would eventually match that record. Pettit also became the first NBA player to reach 20,000 career points, finishing with averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game.
Why he still matters today
Pettit was among the first basketball players to make strength and conditioning a serious part of their offseason preparation. Yet he did not look exceptionally athletic and made time for life outside the sport. After retiring, he worked in banking rather than pursuing a coaching career. Nevertheless, his approach made him a model of professionalism for his generation.
In 1971, Pettit was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He remains one of only four players selected to the NBA’s 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th anniversary teams. Without a doubt, he would be a star today: his legacy helped lay the foundation for later greats like Karl Malone and Tim Duncan.
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