Bob Pettit, NBA legend and the league’s first MVP, dies at 93

Bob Pettit, a legend of American basketball, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the first winner of the NBA MVP award, has died at the age of 93. The former player died at his home in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans, his family announced. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Pettit played 11 seasons in the NBA, between 1954 and 1965, for the Milwaukee Hawks and St. Louis Hawks. He was selected to 11 All-Star Games, won the season MVP title twice and the award for the All-Star Game's most valuable player four times.

In the 1957-1958 season, he led the St. Louis Hawks to the only NBA title of his career, defeating the Boston Celtics in the final. Pettit was named MVP of the series, averaging 29.3 points and 17 rebounds. In the deciding game, he scored 50 points, becoming the first player to reach that mark in an NBA final.

Originally from Baton Rouge, Pettit played at LSU before being selected second overall in the 1954 draft. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971, and his number 9 jersey was retired by the Hawks franchise.