Bob Pettit, NBA legend and league's first MVP, dead at 93

Bob Pettit, the pioneering forward who captured the National Basketball Association’s very first Most Valuable Player award and carried the St. Louis Hawks to their lone championship, has died at the age of ninety-three. His passing on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at his home in Metairie, Louisiana, was announced by Louisiana State University on Thursday, September 24, 2026, with his family remembering him as a kind, humble, and gentle soul, according to reporting by Wafb. No cause of death was given.

Born Robert Lee Pettit Jr. On December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the future Hall of Famer developed his craft after a late growth spurt that saw him make his high school varsity squad as a junior. His father worked in law enforcement and served as the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff. As a senior, Pettit led Baton Rouge High School to a state championship, attracting more than a dozen college offers. He chose to stay home and star locally for the LSU Tigers. Because freshmen could not play on the varsity squad during that era, he began making history as a sophomore, leading the Southeastern Conference in scoring across all three of his varsity seasons and pushing the program to its inaugural NCAA Final Four appearance in 1953, according to WAFB and the Associated Press. His dominance in Tiger Town earned him the distinction of becoming the first athlete in any sport to have his jersey number retired by LSU, with his No. 50 permanently honored.

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Selected by the Milwaukee Hawks with the second overall pick in the 1954 Nba Draft, Pettit claimed Rookie of the Year honors for the 1954-55 campaign before the franchise relocated to St. Louis. Standing six-foot-nine and weighing 205 pounds with a deeply receding hairline, he redefined the power forward position by playing facing the basket rather than solely with his back to the paint. He was selected as an All-Star in every single season of his professional career, securing four All-Star Game MVPs—an elite mark matched only by Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, as reported by outlets including the New York Post and Nba.

The defining moment of his professional career arrived in the 1958 championship series. Facing the powerhouse Boston Celtics, Pettit delivered an iconic 50-point, 19-rebound performance in Game 6 to clinch a 110-109 victory and secure the franchise's only title, momentarily interrupting Boston's historic dynasty.

Pettit walked away from the game at age thirty-two after the 1964-65 season, driven partly by a balky knee and partly by the stark financial realities of the era when a bank in Louisiana offered a financial opportunity in banking and financial consulting that made far more sense for his family. He finished his career with regular-season averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game across 792 games. At the time of his retirement, his 20,880 points were the most in NBA history, making him the league's first 20,000-point scorer, while his 12,849 rebounds ranked second.

Tributes poured in from across the sports landscape following the news. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame praised him as a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position, noting in a statement reported by Basketball News and other outlets:

"The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame mourns the passing of Bob Pettit, a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position during his career. The 11-time NBA All-Star and 2-time MVP retired as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and left an enduring legacy. He led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA championship over the Boston Celtics. The Basketball Hall of Fame salutes this true giant of the game."

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, via X and multiple outlets

The Atlanta Hawks organization also emphasized his enduring cultural footprint at State Farm Arena, where his retired No. 9 jersey hangs. Colleagues and former peers, including former LSU basketball player Collis Temple, shared memories of his competitive fire and grace, recalling how Pettit always reached out and supported him as a good friend and mentor.

Memorial and funeral arrangements remain pending, with family and university officials expected to share further details in the coming days. On the hardwood, the Atlanta Hawks franchise opens its 2026-27 regular season on October 21 against the Orlando Magic, with their home opener scheduled for October 24 against the Houston Rockets at State Farm Arena, where tributes to the late legend are anticipated.