Bob Pettit was one of the first big men to play facing the basket because of his strong, lean, graceful physique. But apart from that, Bob Pettit’s determination, toughness, and persistence differed him from his competition; he disdained being outperformed by others.
Despite his 27.8 points per game average throughout his collegiate career, many people doubted that Robert E. Lee Pettit, Jr. could make the transition from college to the NBA’s rough-and-tough scene. Despite being undersized, Pettit was the Milwaukee Hawks’ first pick in 1954 and spent his entire 11-year career with the team.
Bob Pettit was a six-time All-Star and the first player to win both an NCAA Championship and an NBA title, as well as earning his first MVP in 1956. As a testament to his consistency, Peter played in 11 consecutive All-Star Games, was named All-Star Game MVP more times than any other player, and led the Hawks to the 1958 NBA championship. When he retired in 1965, Bob Pettit was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 20,880 points and second all-time rebounder with 12,849 rebounds in league history.
What high school did Bob Pettit go to?
It was on the college level that his hoops career began to take shape. As a freshman and sophomore, he was cut from the varsity basketball team at Baton Rouge High School; however, as a junior, he re-joined the team. He played church league basketball as a sophomore and grew five inches in less than a year.
His father, the sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish, pushed him to perfect his abilities in the Kemmerly backyard until he became better. He would practice all the time, before and after school, and even at night. Pettit was a true titan when it came to work and practice.
It paid off: as a junior, he was named to the All-City prep squad and developed into a starter for Baton Rouge High. As a 6-7 senior, Pettit led Baton Rouge High back to state supremacy after over 20 years. Pettit was then chosen to participate in the North-South all-star game at Murray, Kentucky.
Where did Bob Pettit go to college?
After a superb high-school performance, Pettit was given a scholarship to Louisiana State University. Twice, he received All-America honors for his efforts to score points and grab rebounds, and he averaged 27.4 points during his college years at LSU. He had grown five inches in height by the time he graduated from LSU as a senior.
His jersey number 50 was retired at LSU, with Pettit becoming the first athlete who received such honors. Apart from that, he was also named a Living Legend of the LSU, inducted into the college’s hall of fame, and even has a street named after him in Louisiana’s Baton Rouge, the Bob Pettit Blvd.
Bob Pettit – NBA career in Milwaukee Hawks
Bob Pettit’s first season wasn’t without fireworks. The winner of the 1955 Rookie of the Year Award, Pettit demonstrated his fierce attitude right from the beginning. Even though his posture was seen as a hindrance, he would stand his ground against much bigger opponents. Taking the All-Star honors as the second NBA rookie ever, he was on his way to a 10-time streak of being chosen for the All-NBA squad. Pettit averaged 20.4 ppg and 13.8 rpg.
Even though Pettit could be happy with his performance, the season ended on a bitter note. The Hawks finished with a 26-46 record, in last place in the Western Division.
Bob Pettit – St. Louis Hawks
The following season saw the Hawks relocating from Milwaukee to St. Louis. That campaign went a bit better and, led by Pettit and his 25.7 ppg, they amassed 33 wins. He was once again chosen to the All-Star Team, this time winning an MVP scoring 20 points, getting 7 assists, and rebounding 24 times.
The next year would be turbulent for the St. Louis Hawks due to multiple changes in coaches and players. In 1956-57 they added a promising rookie in the form of Cliff Hagan as well as Ed Macauley in exchange for drafting rights of Bill Russell, who would go on to become a legend in his own rights.
Apart from the switch-ups in the team’s roster, that year would end in one of the most unexpected and phenomenally thrilling runs in the postseason. The Hawks, who finished with a measly 34-48, edged out Minneapolis Lakers and the Fort Wayne Pistons for the Western Division title.
The 1956-57 finals are the stuff of legend. Facing the much stronger Boston Celtics who posted a much better 44-28 record, the Hawks were deservedly seen as underdogs. Still, in heart-wrenching seven games, they managed to put up a fight nobody expected. Following a 4-game tie, they took one each once again and the Hawks forced a Game 7. In a two-overtime game, the Celtics won by just two points after a buzzer-beater.
Bob Pettit – NBA Finals Run
St. Louis came back the next season to win a franchise record-breaking 41 games and claim the division crown after being strengthened due to a near-victory of the previous year’s playoffs. Pettit scored 24.6 points per game and grabbed 17.4 rebounds, earning All-Star Game MVP honors with 28 points and 26 boards.
In Game 5 of the conference semifinals, Boston and St. Louis met in The Finals for the second consecutive year. With a two-point victory in Game 1, the Hawks took an early lead in the series, but a Celtics triumph in Game 2 tied it up. When Russell sprained his ankle in Game 3, the tide turned firmly in favor of St. Louis; with a win over Boston in Game 4, Atlanta won two games on its own to take back control of the series.
Bob Pettit – A Well-deserved NBA Championship
Russell had a single minute of action in Game 6, which took place in St. Louis, before being hobbled by an injury and turning in a poor performance. Pettit was outstanding, scoring 50 points to set a playoff record. The Hawks won by one point, 110-109, to take the title away from the Celtics.
Even with Pettit’s great output, the Hawks were unable to regain the league title in the next three years. In 1959, when the Lakers eliminated them in the Western Division finals, they lost their chance to repeat as champions.
During the 1960 season, St. Louis met Boston in The Finals for the third time, but this time they lost in seven games.
In 1961, the Hawks and the Celtics met for the championship for the fourth time in five years, with Boston winning in five games.
Bob Pettit – A Steady Decline
In the 1961-62 campaign, the franchise began to decline, even with Pettit putting up career-bests of 31.1 points and 18.7 rebounds. He was also called on to serve as the team’s head coach for the final six games of the season and he managed to win four when filling that position.
During the 1962-63 season, once again, Pettit’s contributions to the score were invaluable, and the team made it to the playoffs only to be swept by the now-relocated Los Angeles Lakers.
The 1963-64 season was a near repeat of the previous year. St. Louis ended second in the division once more, before being knocked out of the division finals in seven games this time by the San Francisco Warriors. During the regular season, Pettit averaged 27.4 points and 15.3 rebounds to earn his tenth and final selection to the All-NBA First Team.
Bob Pettit – Final Years in NBA
Pettit lost 50 games due to a knee injury in 1964-65, his first season was missed because of an ailment. It was the first time he had been sidelined for more than a few games due to an issue. Despite the fact that he had a knee problem, Pettit averaged 22.5 points per game. The Hawks recorded another second-place finish in the Western Division but were eliminated in the semifinal round of the playoffs.
At the conclusion of the 1964-65 season, Pettit was 33 years old and felt it was time to retire. He retired having amassed 20,880 points (26.4 ppg), which remains the most ever recorded in the NBA, and his 12,849 rebounds put him second all-time.
Despite the fact that he played for 11 years, Pettit never had a season in which his average dipped below 20 points. He also never missed an All-Star Game during the course of his 11 years in the league. His rebounding numbers were equally amazing: he never averaged fewer than 10 rebounds per game throughout his career and his career mark was 16.2—the game career average remains third-best in NBA history behind Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
Bob Pettit – Net Worth
Bob Pettit is an NBA Hall of Famer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the first superstars of the NBA, and his net worth is estimated to be between $2 million and $5 million. He is considered to be one of the most successful players in NBA history.
Bob Pettit – Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 1971, he was chosen to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the NBA All-Time team in 1996.
Does Bob Pettit have a ring?
During his 11 seasons, Pettit was an All-Star and chosen for the All-NBA First Team 10 times. He only missed out on being picked for the Second Team once. Additionally, he never ended a season lower than seventh in scoring and left with two MVP awards as well as an NBA championship ring.
