Basketball legend Bob Pettit, NBA’s first MVP, dies at 93

Bob Pettit, the NBA’s inaugural Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the first individual to score 20,000 career points, has passed away at the age of 93. A remarkable 11-time All-Star, Pettit retired as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He guided the St. Louis Hawks to their sole NBA championship in 1958, securing victory in a thrilling 110-109 final against the Boston Celtics. Pettit's prowess was evident in that game where he scored an impressive 50 points.

Pettit clinched the MVP award twice, in 1956 and again in 1959. Posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971, he was hailed as a "true giant of the game" and a "sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position." The NBA underscored his legacy, stating that he set a standard that has been hard to replicate in professional basketball.

However, his impact and accomplishments have been overshadowed due to his career starting during a period of limited television broadcasting and inadequate film preservation of sports events.

His alma mater, Louisiana State University, confirmed his demise the day before. LSU lauded Pettit, noting that he defined the role of the modern power forward and established benchmarks that have proven challenging to emulate in professional basketball. The institution emphasized that Pettit’s achievements were less recognized today due to the limitations of technology during his era. LSU highlighted that his combination of finesse and force made him nearly impossible to stop.