Andrew Pace
Pete Maravich, also known as Pistol Pete Maravich, was an American professional basketball player. He played in the NBA for 10 years, from 1970 to 1980, and during his career, he played in 658 games, averaging 24.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. Maravich was known for his exceptional ball-handling skills and was considered one of the greatest creative offensive talents in the history of the game. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987, and his jersey number has been retired by the Jazz, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Atlanta Hawks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Pete Maravich |
| Nicknames | Pistol Pete |
| Birth Date | June 22, 1947 |
| Birthplace | Aliquippa, Pennsylvania |
| Height | 6-foot 5-inch (1.96-metre) |
| Teams | LSU Tigers, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, Boston Celtics |
| NBA Draft Year | 1970 |
| NBA Seasons | 10 |
| Points Per Game | 24.2 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 4.2 |
| Assists Per Game | 5.4 |
| Inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | 1987 |
| Death Date | January 5, 1988 |
| Death Cause | Heart attack |
| Age at Death | 40 |
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What You'll Learn
Pete Maravich's NBA career
Pete Maravich, nicknamed "Pistol Pete", was a legendary American basketball player. He played in the NBA for 10 years, from 1970 to 1980, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Maravich was born on June 22, 1947, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and showed exceptional basketball skills from an early age. His father, Press Maravich, was a professional basketball player-turned-coach, who taught him the fundamentals of the game.
Maravich attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he starred on the Tigers basketball team. Due to NCAA rules at the time, he initially played for LSU's freshman team, scoring an impressive 43.6 points per game. In his sophomore year, he moved up to varsity and began a scoring rampage, averaging over 43 points per game across the next three seasons and leading the nation in scoring. Maravich finished his college career with numerous NCAA records, including most career points (3,667) and the highest career scoring average (44.2 points per game).
In 1970, Maravich was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft. He played four seasons for the Hawks, facing some challenges with team dynamics due to his contract and style of play. Despite this, Maravich made an immediate impact, averaging 23.2 points per game in his first season and earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team.
In 1974, Maravich was traded to the New Orleans Jazz, an expansion team that was preparing for its inaugural season. He spent the majority of the rest of his career with the Jazz, although his first season with the team was a struggle, with his scoring average dropping to 21.5 points per game. However, he worked on other aspects of his game and recorded career highs in rebounds and steals.
Maravich's finest season as a professional came in 1977-78, when he led the NBA in scoring with 31.1 points per game and was selected for the All-NBA First Team. He was named to the NBA All-Star Game five times during his career and was also a four-time member of the All-NBA Team. Maravich's career came to an end in 1980 due to injuries, and he retired with impressive career averages of 24.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
Despite not winning any championships, Maravich's impact on the game was significant. He was known for his creative offensive skills, ball-handling abilities, and flamboyant style of play. His jersey number has been retired by the Jazz, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Atlanta Hawks, and he has been honoured by the NBA on multiple occasions, including being named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
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Nicknames and moniker
Pete Maravich was known by the nickname "Pistol" Pete, owing to his habit of shooting the ball from his side, as if holding a revolver. "Pistol Pete" was quite a common nickname at the time, with people in Ohio, New Jersey, and California, as well as a horse in Iowa and a car salesman in Wisconsin, all answering to the name.
Maravich's remarkable passing ability also earned him the nickname "Houdini" around LSU's campus when he was a freshman. This was because he had a knack for making unexpected passes that would surprise both teammates and opponents.
Maravich wore "Pistol" on the back of his jersey for most of his career, sometimes with and sometimes without quote marks.
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Maravich's college basketball career
Pete Maravich, also known by his nickname "Pistol" Pete Maravich, was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Louisiana State University (LSU) from 1966 to 1970, where he starred on the Tigers basketball team. Maravich is the all-time leading NCAA Division I men's scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game.
Maravich's father, Press Maravich, was a professional basketball player-turned-coach and was the head coach of the LSU Tigers during Maravich's time at the university. Maravich's habit of shooting the ball from his side, as if holding a revolver, earned him his famous moniker, "Pistol" Pete.
During his freshman year at LSU in 1966-67, Maravich was unable to play varsity due to NCAA rules at the time. Instead, he played for the freshman team and scored an impressive 43.6 points per game. In his sophomore season, Maravich began the greatest scoring rampage in NCAA history, averaging 43.8, 44.2, and 44.5 points per game over the next three seasons. He led the nation in scoring each year and set an NCAA record for most points (1,381) during his senior season. Maravich's accomplishments were even more remarkable considering they were achieved before the adoption of the three-point line and shot clock.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Maravich stood out for his all-around game. During his college career, he recorded multiple games with high scores, including 69 points against Alabama, 66 points against Tulane, 64 points against Kentucky, and 61 points against Vanderbilt. He holds LSU records for most field goals made (26) and attempted (57) in a single game. Maravich's outstanding college career led to him being selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1970 NBA Draft, where he played for four seasons before being traded to the New Orleans Jazz.
Maravich's impact on the college game was recognized long after his graduation. In 2005, ESPNU named him the greatest college basketball player of all time. Maravich's legacy at LSU was also commemorated, with the university's basketball court being renamed the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in his honour.
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Maravich's death
Pete Maravich, also known as "Pistol Pete", was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. He died just a year later, on January 5, 1988, at the young age of 40.
Maravich suffered a heart attack while playing in a pickup basketball game in Pasadena, California. He was playing with a group that included the evangelical author James Dobson, at the First Church of the Nazarene. Maravich collapsed and died of heart failure, with those present recalling the sight of him lying on his stomach, foaming at the mouth. It was later discovered that Maravich had been born without a left coronary artery, which supplies blood to the muscle fibres of the heart. The right artery had compensated for the imbalance but was overwhelmed, and this ultimately led to his untimely death.
The loss of Maravich, a basketball legend, left a lasting mark on the basketball world and beyond. His memorabilia became highly prized, with game-used jerseys and signed balls selling for tens of thousands of dollars at auction. Maravich's legacy continued to be honoured, with Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer renaming LSU's basketball court the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in his memory.
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Teams and trades
Pete Maravich, also known as "Pistol Pete", was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1970 NBA draft, where he played for four seasons. Maravich was not well-liked by the team's veterans, who resented his large contract. Despite this, he made an immediate impact in his first season, scoring 23.2 points per game and being named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.
In 1974, Maravich was traded to the New Orleans Jazz, an expansion team, where he spent the majority of the rest of his career. The Jazz were looking for a marquee player to generate excitement among their new fans, and Maravich, with his exciting style of play and celebrity status in Louisiana, was a perfect fit. In his first year with the Jazz, Maravich scored 21.5 points per game but shot a career-worst 41.9% from the field. The team struggled in their first season, posting a 23–59 record, the worst in the NBA.
In 1979, the Jazz moved to Salt Lake City, becoming the Utah Jazz. Maravich moved with the team, but his knee problems were worsening, and he appeared in only 17 games early in the 1979-80 season. His final season was split between the Jazz and the Boston Celtics.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Pete Maravich was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.
Pete Maravich was known by the nickname "Pistol" Pete.
Pete Maravich was known for his spectacular shooting and ballhandling skills. He was a prolific scorer and is considered one of the greatest creative offensive talents in the history of the game.
Pete Maravich passed away on January 5, 1988, at the age of 40. The cause of death was a heart attack while playing a pickup basketball game.
Pete Maravich played for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics during his 10-year NBA career.
