Maravich, "Pistol Pete" (Peter P.)
Basketball
b. June 22, 1948, Aliquippa, PA
d. Jan. 5, 1988
Although he was a flashy ball-handler and passer, Maravich was best known for his scoring, as his nickname indicates. He shot early and often and made a high enough percentage to become college basketball's first and only point-a-minute scorer. Playing for his father, Press Maravich, at Louisiana State University, he scored 3,667 points in 83 games for an average of 44.2 a game over his three-year career.
Maravich led the nation in scoring all three years, with averages of 43.8 in 1967-68, 44.2 in 1968-69, and 44.5 in 1969-70. He was a three-time All-American guard and he won the Rupp Trophy and Naismith Awards as the college player of the year in 1970.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder delighted crowds at home and away, dashing up and down the court with his mop of hair flopping and his socks hanging down over his shoes. He joined the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA in 1970, averaged 23.2 points a game, and was named to the league's all-rookie team.
Mononucleosis slowed him in his second season, but he averaged 26.1 points a game in 1972-73 and finished second in scoring with a 27.7 average the following season. Maravich went to an expansion team, the New Orleans Jazz, in 1974. The team moved to Salt Lake City and become known as the Utah Jazz in 1979. Maravich was released in early 1980 and signed with the Boston Celtics. He played out the season with them and then retired.
Maravich led the NBA in scoring with 31.1 points per game in 1976-77. He was twice a first-team all-star and twice named to the second team. He retired in 1980 and died of a heart attack after a pickup playground game.