In this SI 60 selection, Curry Kirkpatrick writes about the twilight days in the NBA for Pete Maravich, once the college game's biggest star and always a source of controversy. For the next three decades, he averaged over 44 points a game. Below you will find five separate polls where you can cast your vote for the top player at each position in NBA history. Pete was an LSU Tiger and a New Orleans Jazz player known as Pistol Pete. In an era before the three-point line existed, Maravich averaged more than 44 . pete maravich was exceptional because he would spend hours (up to 9 a day according to him) practicing. 2. His fancy dribbling, sensational passes, and razzle-dazzle style thrilled fans wherever he played. Pistol Pete is considered one of the greatest offensive talents in history, averaging 24 points per game in the NBA and 44 points per game in college, all before the introduction of the 3 point line. Maravich was perhaps the greatest college basketball player ever. "Pistol Pete" Maravich's Greatest NBA Game Ever! Larry Bird is one of the greatest players to have blessed the sport. Stewart won the Wooden Award twice, the . 224,902 views Feb 25, 2017 2.6K Dislike Share Save NBA Subscribe 02.25.1977 Pete Maravich scores his career high of 68 points. He had joined Dr. James Dobson in a pick-up game shortly before he was going to be interviewed on Dr. Dobson's radio show, "Focus on the Family". He's one of the youngest inductees in the Hall Of Fame, probably the greatest ball handler of all time, and made floppy socks look good. 25 Greatest College Basketball Players of All Time One of the greatest college basketball players ever, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shows off his talent. Five different sources of information . Maravich was one of the youngest ever inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Strangely, after breaking a collegiate scoring record, "Pistol Pete" was not selected (and not even named as an alternate) for the 1968 USA Men's Olympic basketball team. A showman renowned for his floppy sweat socks and audacious moves, Maravich rewrote the NCAA record books. Charles Barkley Believes Andrew Wiggins Got Overrated As The 1st Overall Pick In The NBA Draft: "This Is A Great Situation When You're The 4th Or 5th Best Player On The Team. In 1976-77, he led the league in scoring before knee problems forced him into retirement in 1980. According to 'Pistol" Pete Maravich, Larry Bird was the best player in the league, however, wasn't the best in any particular skill. Pete Maravich Professional Basketball Career Pete Maravich was selected third overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1970 NBA Draft. Apr 3, 2016 #1 For those of you younguns that never got a chance to see the Pistol play, you missed out on seeing the best college basketball player in history. He got injured in the NBA and it ruined him. No. Anybody familiar with the sport of basketball has probably heard of Pete Maravich. He played 10 seasons in the NBA, earning five trips to the NBA All-Star Game and one league scoring title. Ever." His college record of an average of 44.2 points per game is considered one of the unbreakable records in all of sports, which was even more remarkable because he achieved it prior to the 3-point line and . There is no doubt that Stephen Curry is a NBA Legend in the Making. He retired from basketball in 1980. Five different sources of information . Spending his entire career with the Boston Celtics, Larry Legend had every attribute to make himself the perfect basketball player - reliable handles, accurate shooting, incredible . | Mike Powell/Getty Images With March Madness upon us, it's always fun to see who on the court might be the next big NBA superstar. Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University (LSU) and for three NBA teams. He played 10 seasons in the NBA, once leading the league in scoring. He was honored with the retirement of his number by both the Jazz and the Pelicans, who noted his contributions to basketball in the state. Maravich scored 10 points in those final 169 seconds. He had a strong start to his career, averaging over 23 points per game in his rookie season, which was the ninth-best in the league that year and earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie 1 st team. Might as well start out with a bang. During his lifetime he became a high school phenom, one of the greatest college basketball players of all-time, and the face of a new NBA franchise created just for him. When You're Number 1, People Expect You To Be A Franchise Player." 44. "During World War I, a great flu epidemic swept the Northeast and claimed . "Pistol Pete" was the youngest player ever inducted into the Basketball Hall . See more ideas about pistol pete, pete, pistol. Maravich was one of the offensive greats, a precision shooter and dynamic ball handler - even John Havlicek (known as the greatest ball handler of all time) said . When You're Number 1, People Expect You To Be A Franchise Player." Pistol Pete was a prolific shot chucker who averaged about 40 FGAs a game because his dad was the coach for LSU and let him stat pad as much as he wanted. Twenty seven years ago this month, in January, 1988, perhaps the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball, Pete Maravich, died at the age of 40. Pete Maravich IMO is one of the most overrated players. Maravich was the SEC Player of the Year all three seasons and won the National Player of the Year in 1969 and 1970. Was Pistol Pete the best basketball player? . Whenever doing such a task as ranking the best college basketball players ever, many things need to be taken into account, but more on that in a second. Yes he scored 44 PPG without a 3 point line. Pete Maravich is among the very best players who ever played for the Jazz franchise and had been selected as a member of the All-Time Utah Jazz NBA team by 2K. Peter Press Maravich (June 22, 1947 - January 5, 1988) was a American basketball player known for his ballhandling, shooting abilities, and creative passing . The short-lived star duo Pete Maravich is best known for his days with the Hawks and the Jazz, with which he notched 5 All-Star appearances, 4x All-NBA selections, and a scoring championship in. It doesn't matter, because this style of play does not lead to winning. 68 Points vs Knicks! Transactions. Maravich averaged just over 44 points per game, with his per-season averages slowly climbing from 43.8 points per game in 1968 to 44.2 in 1969 and peaking at 44.5 points per game in 1970. Jerry West was the best I ever played with. 2. Aug 23, 2013 - Explore MICHAEL COLELLO's board ""PISTOL" PETE MARAVICH ! Pete Maravich (Louisiana State) College . He led the league in points in 4 different seasons, making 12 All-Star appearances, and even having his number 44 jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs. 2 given how well he shot from distance from 1984-92 in the NBA. Maravich was born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, and raised in the Carolinas. he was the greatest basketball player ever . But LSU went 22-10 on the season, and even when Maravich played lights out, LSU was beatable. In 1970, Maravich scored 1,381 points, averaging 44.5 per game both good for the most ever. He could do it all and was a truly a magician on the court. -- Basketball great "Pistol" Pete Maravich's college letterman jacket sold for nearly $117,000 at an auction over the weekend, more than 50 years after his record-setting career at Louisiana State University. Maravich was one of the most fun players for fans to watch in the 1970s with his flashy style, behind-the-back and no-look passes and fancy dribbling. BATON ROUGE, La. Pete Maravich may not have become the greatest player ever, as his dad had created and pushed him to be. The 1970-71 Topps basketball set also has cards of those who were the superstar veterans of the time. Pete Maravich (LSU, 1967-1970) Career Averages: 44.2 points per game | 6.4 rebounds per game | 5.1 assists per game There's never been a better offensive player in college basketball history than "Pistol" Pete Maravich and it's not even debatable. This mix about my favourite basketball player, Pete Maravich. And before his tragic death in 1988 at the young age of 40, Maravich was one of those people. When he tragically died in 1988, "Pistol Pete" eerily foreshadowed his own demise. http://www.slamonline.com/college-hs/pete-maravich-scoring-record/#YqI8vV6TRorGRcVi.97 UKhoopCat, GridCats, ib4ky and 7 others M March 23, 1970: Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1970 NBA Draft. 25. The Best Basketball Players to Ever Play the Game Are Here. . Devin Booker. He vowed that his son would become a better player than he ever was. John Stockton. Oklahoma City had just hosted the greatest college basketball player of all time. Atlanta Hawks guard Pete Maravich leaps and passes during a 1973 against the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden. It doesn't Stewart (UConn, 2012-16): She did the ultimate: not just four NCAA titles, but named the Most Outstanding Player of the Women's Final Four all four times. He is already considered one of the top 5 NBA point guards ever and will eventually be considered one of the best NBA players as he continues to break records and change the way the game is played! Lew Alcindor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson are all in the set of 175 cards but the Pete Maravich rookie card is the card to have from 1970-71 Topps, and one of the top basketball cards ever made. Height: 6'5 bb bb Pete Maravich, also known as "The Pistol" or "Pistol Pete" was known for being one of the most creative offensive talents of all time. Pete Maravich From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Peter Press Maravich (June 22, 1947 - January 5, 1988), known by his nickname Pistol Pete, was an American professional basketball player. A March 1941 newspaper report recounted Coach Bee calling Press the greatest basketball player he had ever seen, and one who deserved to be an All-American. If your choice is not listed, you may . Pete Maravich is arguably the greatest college basketball player of all time. Although the LSU basketball team never reached the NCAA Tournament during Maravich's tenure, but they were much better due to hit 43.8 shooting percentage during his career. February 2, 1970: Traded by the San Francisco Warriors (as a future 1970 1st round draft pick) with Clyde Lee to the Atlanta Hawks for Zelmo Beaty. Pistol Pete went on to a very successful professional basketball career. Pete: My dream is to get a college scholarship to play basketball, and I'm gonna be, the first man to make a million dollars playing pro-basketball. On NBA 2K22, this All-Time Version of Pete Maravich has an Overall 2K Rating of 95 with a Build of a 2-Way Threat. Remembering "Pistol" Pete Maravich. Pete Maravich is No. That of course is not the case, retiring with zero NBA titles. If having a great nickname guaranteed a championship then "Pistol Pete" Maravich would have won 10 championships. However, Press was never a star player and this severely haunted him. !..MY CO-FAVORITE PLAYER EVER", followed by 110 people on Pinterest. Danny Ferry (Duke, 1985-1989): He was at least as good at basketball as Jay Bilas is at Twitter. . . Announcer: But change came slowly, in 1959. "Pistol" Pete Maravich and Larry Bird were teammates on the Celtics Julius Erving said Pete Maravich was the most skilled basketball player he ever saw. what was exceptional is now the norm and the bar is constantly raised. Bird, of course, quickly became one of the best players in the NBA and is considered by many to be one of the best players of all time. LSU's Pete Maravich holds the NCAA records for career points (3,667) and scoring average (44.2). Booker stans insist he . Also, I want to play in a championship team and get a big ring that says I was one of the best basketball players ever. Bill Walton (UCLA) Pete Maravich IMO is one of the most overrated players. Teams: Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans/Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics Years Active: 1971-1980 Accolades: Hall of Fame, 5x All-Star, 4x All-NBA, scoring leader If you were a hoops-loving nerd in the 1980s there's a good chance you owned a well-worn VHS copy of Pistol Pete's Homework Basketball.The four-part collection featured Pete Maravich showing off the dribbling drills and . "Dad was the only survivor of 10 children," the book states. . . "perhaps the greatest creative offensive talent in history" (1) "In an April 2010 interview, Hall of Fame player John Havlicek said "the best ball-handler of all time was (Pete) Maravich."" - Hall of famer John Havlecik Most points per game doesn't make you the greatest, but if they did, Pete would still have to be up there with the greatest. Pete left college as the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, totaling 3,667 points with a scoring record of 44.2 points per game. When evaluating the top passers in NBA history, one might be tempted to make a fast break for the record books and simply count down which players had the most assists. . Maravich was one of the youngest ever inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He finished with 53 points (32 in the second half) on 18 of 36 shooting. Gervin was one of the most durable players through his 17-year career, playing in the ABA, the NBA, the CBA and even in Spain and Italy, being one of the most terrifying scorers the game has ever seen. Part of this is due to a knee injury that saw him play just 658 games in 10 NBA seasons, but even in that time - and constantly battling with the knee problem - he became a five-time NBA All-Star and was the NBA scoring champion in 1977 when . Greatest NBA Passers Ever. Carr, Don Chaney, Rick Robey, Danny Ainge, Robert Parrish, and "Pistol" Pete . Bill Russell. Pete Maravich was a Louisiana basketball legend who is regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He was the son of Press Maravich, who had been a guard with the Youngstown Bears of the National Basketball League in 1945-46 and with. To this day, Indiana State has only been ranked in the AP poll when . Eight years later, at the age of 40, he passed away suddenly while playing a pickup basketball game . When healthy and at his peak, Maravich was a hellish offensive player, a five-time All-Star, twice named All-NBA First Team, and led the league in scoring at 31.1 ppg in 1977-78 when he dropped 68. It was a seemingly normal pickup basketball game at First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, California. No. Maravich was born June 22, 1947, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. The auction of various Maravich memorabilia, conducted by Grey Flannel Auctions of Scottsdale, Arizona, netted over . In 1967, Pete made the leap to varsity as a sophomore and never took a look back. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game. In 1987, he became the youngest player ever inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame and was elected into college basketball's Hall of Fame in 2006. YardbarkerOn This Day: Pete Maravich Traded from Hawks to Jazz - Sports 20 greatest point guards ever: The HoopsHype list ResearchTopic:"Pistol" Pete Maravich Suppose you want to write a report about "Pistol" Pete Maravich, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players ever. he was the greatest basketball player ever . NBA legend Red Auerbach was the president of the Celtics during his tenure. Yes he scored 44 PPG without a 3 point line. Part of this is due to a knee injury that saw him play just 658 games in 10 NBA seasons, but even in that time - and constantly battling with the knee problem - he became a five-time NBA All-Star and was the NBA scoring champion in 1977 when . Check out their profiles, autographed cards, and videos! He still is the NCAA's all-time significant scorer with 3,667 total points a full 40 years later. Pete Maravich died playing pickup basketball January 5, 1988 of an apparent heart . Jazzman Pete Maravich joins John Stockton and Karl Malone in being named one of the 75 greatest players to ever play the game. But Pistol's NBA highlights can be found with a couple of clicks, and even more impressive is that 50 years after he left LSU . While with the Celtics, winners of six titles during his tenure, Ray worked with the likes of Bird, Cowens, Dennis Johnson, Nate Archibald, Kevin McHale, Bill Walton, Cedric Maxwell, M.L. His father Press Maravich played professional basketball for a living. It's tough to be one of the most overrated players in NBA history as a 22-year-old, but Booker is well on his way. YardbarkerOn This Day: Pete Maravich Traded from Hawks to Jazz - Sports 20 greatest point guards ever: The HoopsHype list ResearchTopic:"Pistol" Pete Maravich Suppose you want to write a report about "Pistol" Pete Maravich, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players ever. Stephen Curry Compared to Pistol Pete Maravich. He accomplished this without the benefit of a three-point line and despite the fact that NCAA . Pistol Pete Maravich rolled into the gym. Maravich is an NBA legend and was inducted into the fall of hame in 1987; he holds nearly ever. There was a line, however, in Pete's autobiography - Pistol Pete: Heir to a Dream (1987, Premier Publishers, by Pete Maravich and Darrel Campbell, with Frank Schroeder) published only months before Pete's 1988 death - that glaringly caught my eye. He was . Years later, many would say the same . 45. Pete Maravich on NBA 2K22. Pete Maravich. Pete Maravich was born on June 22, 1947 in Alquippa Pennsylvania. Facebook; Twitter; This Day in History: "Pistol Pete" Maravich's Greatest NBA Game Ever: 68 Points vs Knicks! Charles Barkley Believes Andrew Wiggins Got Overrated As The 1st Overall Pick In The NBA Draft: "This Is A Great Situation When You're The 4th Or 5th Best Player On The Team. Pete Maravich was one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. "Pistol" Pete Maravich. . (AP Photo) Rayville native Elvin Hayes is our choice as the 11th greatest Louisiana athlete of. the social situation and incentives systems are aligned such that all players are able to spend the majority of their free time practicing and playing on organized teams. Pete Maravich. Pete Maravich, college basketball's all-time scoring leader, died in Pasadena Tuesday morning, after collapsing during a pickup game at a church gym. Photo courtesy of Jackie Maravich. 15 15. According to 'Pistol" Pete Maravich, Larry Bird was the best player in the league, however, wasn't the best in any particular skill. 'Pistol Pete', Pete Maravich is one of the biggest legends in the history of the league. Spending his entire career with the Boston Celtics, Larry Legend had every attribute to make himself the perfect basketball player - reliable handles, accurate shooting, incredible . Maravich is an NBA legend and was . via wikipedia.org. Pistol Pete, as he was called, was an amazing talent. He has a total of 39 Badges in which 2 . He was honored with the retirement of his number by both the Jazz and the Pelicans, who noted his contributions to basketball in the state. Pete Maravich, college basketball's all-time scoring leader, died in Pasadena Tuesday morning, after collapsing during a pickup game at a church gym. Considered "pound for pound" one of the greatest NBA players ever, his smooth crossover has been imitated by fans and NBA player alike for years now. Lee was sent as the player to be named later on October 4, 1974. Pete was an LSU Tiger and a New Orleans Jazz player known as Pistol Pete. Pete Maravich was a Louisiana basketball legend who is regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Pat Riley, now Head coach of the Miami Heat, said: "Pete was the original.He was the best ball handler I ever saw. The . 1 on that list, but Bird is probably No. Read more The Top 30 Men's College Basketball . GO NOW. Pete Maravich failed to fulfill his father's dream that he become the best basketball player ever, but his effort wasn't in vain. Maravich was a five-time NBA All-Star and was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He holds the record for most points scored all time, the most points in a single season, highest career scoring average, most games with at least 50 points, and most field goals in a career in NCAA Division I men's basketball . "Pistol" Peter Maravich (1947 - 1988) was an NBA basketball player. Pistol Pete was a prolific shot chucker who averaged about 40 FGAs a game because his dad was the coach for LSU and let him stat pad as much as he wanted. 5. Pete Maravich is undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, and considering the number #7 isn't one of the most popular numbers worn in the NBA, this spot was easy to give . lauded as one of the most creative offensive talents of all time, Maravich was a 5-time All-Star, an NBA. He saw action in 73 games and led the NBA in scoring with a career-best 31.1 ppg. Reggie Williams (Virginia Military Institute, 2004-2007): Here we have the third-most famous athlete ever named "Reggie Williams" who played for a team that never went .500 on the year. Panini Pete Maravich Basketball Sports Trading Card Singles, Pete Maravich Basketball Utah Jazz Sports Trading Cards, Basketball 9 Graded Pete Maravich Sports Trading Cards, Hall of Fame Autographed Postcard, 7 Graded Pete Maravich Basketball Sports Trading Cards, Seton Hall Pirates NCAA Basketball Original Autographed Items, Pete Rose Rookie . Born in the hard-scrabble steel town of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, on June 22, 1947, Peter Maravich left this Earth far too soon at the age of 40. A major knee injury in 1978 doomed his chance for a greater legacy. Peter Press Maravich (June 22, 1947 - January 5, 1988) was an American Basketball player. His LSU basketball stats are some of the best ever set by any collegiate basketball player. A collection . And Pete is the best I've ever seen."-Elgin Baylor "I've got a lot of Pistol Pete in my game."-Steve Nash "Like a master chess player, Pete Maravich saw things that nobody else did."-Bill Walton "He was the greatest ball handler I've ever seen in my life. Pete Maravich could go off on opposing teams and score 50 or 60 like it was nothing, he could score from anywhere on the court, and he still holds all of the college records and he didn't even play as a freshman. "I knew Pete Maravich was supposed to be special, and when you went to see him, it was much better than you anticipated," Humphries said. The following season was Maravich's finest as a professional. Stemming from his incredible work ethic, which was started at a young age by his father, the dedication to the game of basketball paid off, as Pistol Pete averaged 44.2 ppg during his college career with LSU. Larry Bird is one of the greatest players to have blessed the sport. AP Photo.