Bob Pettit is a retired professional basketball player from the United States of America. He played in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Hawks/St Louis Hawks. In 1958, he helped lead the team to win the NBA Championships.
He was also named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice and an NBA All-Star 11 times. In addition, he has also been named to the 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams.
| Position | Power Forward |
| Height / weight | 2.06 m / 93 kg |
| Born | 12 Dec 1932 |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
| Nickname | The Bombardier from Baton Rouge |
Player Profile and Personal Life
Robert E. Lee Pettit Jr. was born on December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the United States of America. He stands 206 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 93 kg. He is right-handed and he played power forward and center.
After his career in the NBA, he worked in the banking industry in Louisiana. He co-founded Equitas Capital Investors.
High School and College Career
He attended Baton Rouge High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Later, he committed to play college basketball for Louisiana State University from 1951 to 1954.
In 1954, he was named to the Consensus First-team All-American. The year before that, he was named to the 1953 Consensus Second-team All-American.
Professional Career
Pettit was drafted into the NBA in 1954. He was the second overall pick and was selected in the first round by the then-Milwaukee Hawks.
He would play for the Hawks from 1954 to 1965 and was part of the team when they moved to St Louis and became the St. Louis Hawks.
From 1955 to 1965, he was named an NBA All-Star 11 times. Also in 1955, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. In 1956 and 1959, he was the NBA Scoring champion. He also led the league in rebounds in 1956.
In 1958, he helped lead the Hawks to win the NBA Championship. In 1956 and 1959, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player and in 1956, 1958, 1959, and 1962, he was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP.
Pettit retired from the NBA in 1965. The Atlanta Hawks later retired jersey number 9 in his honor. He was also named to the 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA Anniversary Teams. Pettit was also later named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Career Highlights
- 1958 - NBA champion
- 1956, 1959 - NBA Most Valuable Player
- 1955–1965 - NBA All-Star
- 1956, 1958, 1959, 1962 - NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 1955–1964 - All-NBA First Team
- 1965 - All-NBA Second Team
- 1955 - NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1956, 1959 - NBA scoring champion
1956 - NBA rebounding leader
- NBA anniversary team (25th, 35th, 50th, 75th)
No. 9 retired by the Atlanta Hawks
- 1954 - Consensus first-team All-American
1953 - Consensus second-team All-American
- No. 50 retired by LSU Tigers
Career NBA Statistics
- Points - 20,880 (26.4 ppg)
- Rebounds - 12,849 (16.2 rpg)
Assists - 2,369 (3.0 apg)
- Basketball Hall of Fame as player, 1971
- College Basketball Hall of Fame, 2006
