{
  "id": 9908840,
  "title": "NBA’s first MVP Pettit dies aged 93",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/nbas-first-mvp-pettit-dies-aged-93",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T04:19:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/nbas-first-mvp-pettit-dies-aged-93/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bob Pettit, who became the first recipient of the NBA's MVP award, has passed away at the age of 93. This award was initially presented in the 1955-56 season, with Pettit winning it twice - in 1955-56 and 1958-59, when he was the leading scorer in both of those seasons. The Basketball Hall of Fame confirmed his death, describing him as \"a true giant of the game\" and \"a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionised the forward position during his career.\"\n\nPettit was a consistent presence in the NBA, earning an All-Star selection every single season of his 11-year career. He also reached the remarkable milestone of scoring 20,000 points, a feat that set him apart from his peers. The NBA recognized his unique contributions by naming him the first player to receive the prestigious MVP title four times and the first to become a four-time All-Star Game MVP. Pettit initially played for Louisiana State University (LSU) and was selected in the 1954 draft by the Milwaukee Hawks. After the team relocated to St. Louis, Pettit remained with the Hawks throughout his career, which culminated in their championship win in 1958 against the Boston Celtics.\n\nBeyond his MVP accolades, Pettit led the Hawks to two more NBA Finals in 1960 and 1961, and he retired from the game in 1965 with an impressive career average of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. His honors included being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971, as well as having his number 50 jersey retired at LSU in 1954 - the first athlete in LSU history to receive such recognition. The university's website paid tribute to Pettit, stating that he defined what a modern power forward should be in the NBA and established standards that have been difficult to match in professional basketball. No specific cause of death was disclosed.",
  "summary": "Bob Pettit, the first man to receive the NBA’s MVP (most valuable player) award, has died aged 93. Pettit won the award twice, in its first year in 1955-56 and again in 1958-59, when he topped the scoring charts in both seasons. The Basketball Hall of Fame confirmed Pettit’s death, describing him as “a true […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "NBA Hall of Famer Bob Pettit dies at 93",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/nba-hall-of-famer-bob-pettit-dies-at-93",
        "published": "2026-09-24T21:07:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Bob Pettit, imposing Hawks great and first NBA MVP, dies at 93",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/bob-pettit-imposing-hawks-great-and-first-nba-mvp-dies-at-93",
        "published": "2026-09-24T22:08:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Bob Pettit, NBA Hall of Famer and its first MVP, dies at 93",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/bob-pettit-nba-hall-of-famer-and-its-first-mvp-dies-at-93",
        "published": "2026-09-25T00:34:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Basketball legend Bob Pettit, NBA’s first MVP, dies at 93",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/basketball-legend-bob-pettit-nbas-first-mvp-dies-at-93",
        "published": "2026-09-25T05:34:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}