Bob Pettit

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Pettit's legacy is built on a career of firsts and records. He was the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in 1956 and won it again in 1959. He is the only regular season MVP in the history of the Hawks franchise. In the 1958 NBA Finals, he scored a then-playoff record 50 points in Game 6 to clinch the championship for St. Louis. That 50-point close-out performance stood alone until Giannis Antetokounmpo matched it in 2021. Pettit was also the first NBA player to surpass 20,000 career points, finishing with 20,880. He is one of only four players named to all four NBA anniversary teams and, as of 2025, one of only two living members alongside Bob Cousy.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Pettit's career came in Game 6 of the 1958 NBA Finals. With the Hawks leading the series 3-2 against the Boston Celtics, Pettit delivered a performance for the ages. He scored a then-playoff record 50 points, powering the Hawks to a 110-109 victory and the franchise's first NBA Championship. This was the culmination of a season where he averaged 24.6 points and 17.4 rebounds per game and earned All-Star Game MVP honors with a 28-point, 26-rebound performance. The championship was a redemption of sorts, as the Hawks had lost to the Celtics in seven games the previous year despite Pettit's 39 points and 19 rebounds in the deciding Game 7. His 50-point close-out game remains one of the most iconic individual performances in Finals history.

Reader's Guide

The Bob Pettit Era (1954–1965) defines the golden age of the St. Louis Hawks. Drafted 2nd overall by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954, Pettit immediately won Rookie of the Year, averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds. The franchise moved to St. Louis after his rookie season, and Pettit quickly became the face of the team. What defined this era was Pettit's relentless scoring and rebounding. He led the league in scoring in 1956 (25.7 ppg) and again in 1959 (29.2 ppg, an NBA record at the time). In the 1960–61 season, he averaged 20.3 rebounds per game, becoming one of only five players ever to break the 20-rebound-per-game barrier. On February 18, 1961, he scored a career-high 57 points and grabbed 28 rebounds in a win over the Detroit Pistons. This period matters because Pettit established the Hawks as perennial contenders, reaching the NBA Finals four times (1957, 1958, 1960, 1961) and winning the championship in 1958. His 11 consecutive All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA First Team honors, and two MVP awards set a standard of excellence that no Hawk has matched since.

Did You Know?

• Bob Pettit was the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in 1956.
• He scored a then-playoff record 50 points in Game 6 of the 1958 NBA Finals to clinch the championship.
• Pettit was the first NBA player to score more than 20,000 career points.
• He is one of only five players in NBA history to average more than 20 rebounds per game in a season (20.3 in 1960–61).
• Pettit is one of only four players named to all four NBA anniversary teams.

Rise from Humble Beginnings

Robert Lee Pettit Jr. was born on December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His basketball career began with rejection: at Baton Rouge High School, he was cut from the varsity team as both a freshman and sophomore. He played church league basketball as a sophomore and grew five inches in less than a year. His father, a former sheriff and college basketball player, pushed him to practice in the backyard until he improved. The work paid off: Pettit became a starter and made the All-City prep team as a junior. As a 6-7 senior, he led Baton Rouge High to its first state championship in over 20 years. He then played in a North-South all-star game in Murray, Kentucky. In college at LSU, he was a three-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-American. He averaged 27.8 points per game over three varsity seasons, set a then-SEC scoring record of 60 points against Louisiana College, and became the second player in major-college history to average more than 30 points a game. His number 50 was retired by LSU in 1954, the first Tiger athlete in any sport to receive that honor.

Pioneering Professional Dominance

Selected 2nd overall in the 1954 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Hawks, Pettit was initially reluctant to sign until his third cousin, fellow NBA player Frank Brian, convinced him. He signed for $11,000, an all-time high for an NBA rookie at the time. Hawks coach Red Holzman moved him from center to forward during his first training camp, a transition Pettit found difficult. 'In college I played the standing pivot,' he said. 'My back was to the basket. In the pros, I'm always outside. Everything I do is facing the basket now.' Despite the adjustment, Pettit won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1955, averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds. In his second season, he won his first scoring title (25.7 ppg) and led the league in rebounding (16.2 rpg). He also won the first of his four All-Star Game MVP awards. In 1956, he became the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. He won the award again in 1959. Pettit's unique ability to score on offensive rebounds and draw fouls made him unstoppable. As he told basketball historian Terry Pluto, 'Offensive rebounds were worth eight to 12 points a night to me. Then I'd get another eight to 10 at the free-throw line.'

Unmatched Statistical Legacy

Bob Pettit's statistical resume is filled with historic achievements. He was the first NBA player to score more than 20,000 points, finishing his career with 20,880 (a 26.4 average). Of those points, 6,182 (nearly 30 percent) came from free throws. His 12,849 career rebounds were second-most in league history at the time of his retirement, and his 16.2 rebounds per game career average remains third all-time, behind only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He is the Hawks' franchise leader for most career rebounds (12,849) and most rebounds per game (16.2). Pettit averaged at least 20 points and 12 rebounds in each of his 11 NBA seasons. He never finished below seventh in the NBA scoring race. He holds the top two NBA All-Star Game rebounding performances (26 in 1958, 27 in 1962) and has the second-highest All-Star Game points per game average (20.4). He was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times and the Second Team once. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.

Enduring Impact on the Game

Widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time, Pettit's impact on the game is recognized through numerous honors. He is one of only four players named to all four NBA anniversary teams and, as of 2025, one of only two living members alongside Bob Cousy. His number 50 was retired by LSU in 1954, making him the first Tiger athlete in any sport to receive that distinction. Bob Pettit Boulevard in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is named after him. In 1999, he was named Living Legend for LSU at the SEC Basketball Tournament. As of the end of the 2025–2026 regular season, Pettit remains the only regular season MVP in the history of the Hawks franchise. His 50-point performance in Game 6 of the 1958 Finals stood as the most points in a Finals close-out victory until Giannis Antetokounmpo matched it in 2021.