Bob Pettit: NBA's First MVP Dies at 93

Bob Pettit, the NBA's first Most Valuable Player and an 11-time All-Star, has passed away at the age of 93. The St. Louis Hawks legend died on September 24, 2026, as announced by his alma mater, LSU.

Pettit was instrumental in leading the Hawks to their sole NBA championship in 1958, famously scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6 against the Boston Celtics. He was also the NBA MVP in 1959 and a four-time All-Star Game MVP, a feat matched only by Kobe Bryant.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970, Pettit was a pioneering force at power forward, a position not yet commonly defined. He retired with career averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds, having been the NBA's all-time leading scorer at the time of his retirement.

Pettit's career at LSU also saw him dominate the Southeastern Conference, leading it in scoring for all three of his varsity seasons. He remains one of only three LSU players, alongside Pete Maravich and Shaquille O'Neal, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.