You are connecting from Lake Geneva Public Library, please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.
Published 2 hours ago • loading... • Updated 1 hour ago
Bob Pettit, LSU basketball legend and NBA Hall of Famer, dies at 93
The Baton Rouge native was a two-time NBA MVP and 11-time All-Star who helped LSU win back-to-back SEC titles.
Bob Pettit, the basketball Hall of Famer and LSU legend, died Wednesday, September 23, at age 93 in Metairie. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame confirmed the passing of the pioneering NBA star.
A Baton Rouge native, Pettit starred at LSU from 1951 to 1954, leading the Tigers to back-to-back SEC championships in 1953 and 1954. He became a two-time All-American before entering professional ranks.
Professionally, Pettit became the first NBA player to surpass 20,000 career points in 1964 and led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA Championship. He earned 11 All-Star selections during his 11-year career.
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970, Pettit's impact remains significant at LSU, where he was the first athlete to have his jersey retired. His legacy reshaped the forward position.
Funeral arrangements remain pending for the basketball icon. Former LSU basketball player Collis Temple honored Pettit's legacy, saying, "I was like a younger brother and good friend to Bob Pettit.
NBA legend Bob Pettit (93) has died. He was an All-Star for 11 seasons, twice the league's MVP, and won the championship with the Hawks in 1958 against the Celtics.