A look inside NBA’s first MVP Bob Pettit’s Milwaukee Hawks career as the Hall of Famer passes away at 93

Bob Pettit, one of the most important players in early NBA history, has died at the age of 93. The basketball legend spent his entire 11-season professional career with the Milwaukee Hawks (now Atlanta Hawks) franchise. He became a dominant scorer and rebounder and helped shape the power forward position.Pettit also made history as the first NBA Most Valuable Player. He won the award twice and was selected to the All-Star team in every season he played. His career included an NBA championship, multiple scoring records and a place among the greatest players of his generation.Who was Bob Pettit?Bob Pettit was a former American professional basketball player who became one of the NBA’s biggest stars during the 1950s and 1960s.Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Pettit initially faced difficulties in basketball. He was cut from his high school varsity team as a freshman and sophomore. He later grew several inches and developed into a star.“I practiced at night with a lamp in the window in my back bedroom, shooting baskets hour after hour,” Pettit once toldNBA.com. “I just learned trial-and-error. Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it. Finally, I learned something.”That work helped him become a standout player at Louisiana State University. Pettit led LSU to conference championships and helped the school reach its first NCAA Final Four in 1953.The Milwaukee Hawks selected Pettit with the second overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft. The franchise later moved to St. Louis, but Pettit remained with the organization throughout his career.He immediately made an impact. Pettit averaged 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game during his rookie season and won Rookie of the Year.In 1956, the NBA introduced its Most Valuable Player award. Pettit became the first player to win it. He captured the MVP award again during the 1958-59 season.Pettit was also a remarkable rebounder. He finished his career averaging 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. He averaged a double-double in every one of his 11 NBA seasons.His biggest team achievement came during the 1958 NBA Finals. The St. Louis Hawks faced the Boston Celtics and won the championship in six games.Pettit finished his NBA career with 20,880 points and 12,849 rebounds. He was an All-Star in all 11 seasons and won the All-Star Game MVP award four times.Pettit retired from professional basketball in 1965. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971.After basketball, he returned to Baton Rouge and worked in banking and financial consulting.The Hawks later retired his No. 9 jersey, preserving his place in franchise history. The Hall of Fame described him as a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position and a true giant of the game.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.