NBA's first MVP Pettit dies aged 93

Bob Pettit, the inaugural recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, passed away at the age of 93. Pettit claimed the MVP title twice, in the inaugural 1955-56 season and again in 1958-59, when he led the scoring in both campaigns. The Basketball Hall of Fame described him as "a true giant of the game" and a "sleek, skilled big man who revolutionised the forward position during his career".

He was also named an NBA All-Star in every one of his 11 seasons and was the first player to reach the 20,000-point milestone. The NBA hailed Pettit as the first MVP, first 20,000-point scorer and first four-time All-Star Game MVP. After his collegiate career at Louisiana State University (LSU), Pettit was drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954.

The team relocated to St Louis, where Pettit spent the remainder of his career, culminating in an NBA championship victory in 1958 against the Boston Celtics. He made two more Finals appearances with the Hawks in 1960 and 1961 before retiring in 1965. Pettit's career averages were 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971, and his number 50 jersey was retired at LSU in 1954, the first LSU athlete to receive such an honor.

No cause of death was disclosed. LSU paid tribute to Pettit on its website, stating that he "defined what the modern power forward should be in the NBA and set standards that have been hard to duplicate in professional basketball."