Pete Maravich
Pete Maravich, known as "Pistol Pete," was an influential American basketball player born on June 22, 1947, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Growing up in a basketball-centric environment, with his father serving as a coach, Maravich developed a passion for the game from an early age. He gained recognition during his time at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he shattered numerous scoring records, culminating in a college career total of 3,667 points and a remarkable average of 44.2 points per game.
After college, Maravich was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, where he faced challenges in team acceptance but later thrived with the New Orleans Jazz, showcasing his unique playing style characterized by creativity and flair. His career continued with the Boston Celtics, but knee issues led to his retirement in 1981. In the years following his playing career, Maravich found fulfillment through family, business, and his faith. Tragically, he passed away from a heart attack in 1988 after a pickup game.
Maravich's legacy endures through his innovative playing style and his contributions to both NCAA and NBA history, solidified by his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. His work with youth and his efforts to give back to the community have also left a lasting impact.
Pete Maravich
Basketball Player
- Born: June 22, 1947
- Birthplace: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
- Died: January 5, 1988
- Place of death: Pasadena, California
Sport: Basketball
Early Life
Peter Press “Pistol Pete” Maravich was born June 22, 1947, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Pete was the first of two children born to Peter “Press” and Helen Maravich. Pete’s father was a basketball coach, so Pete’s involvement in the game was almost a requirement. Press developed his son’s interest for the game and did a masterful job of creating a youngster hungry for basketball. With his father a coach, the opportunities were present for Pete to become one of the top scorers in basketball history.
The Road to Excellence
From an early age, Pete was developed by his father for a life in basketball. When Pete was too young to play the game, he watched his father shoot baskets in the backyard. Pete itched to try it himself. His father would not allow it, trying to instill a desire for the sport that would be unparalleled.
Pete received a basketball as a Christmas present one year, and the time had arrived for him to learn of his father’s extensive plan for his future. Pete’s basketball debut took place at Daniel High School in Clemson, North Carolina, where his father was the coach of the Clemson Tigers of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Pete was a 90-pound eighth-grader and was constantly jeered and teased by other children, as he was considerably smaller than his teammates. Although at first he was ignored on the basketball court because of his size, when Pete was given the opportunity to contribute he did so with great success.
In 1963, the Maravich family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina; Pete’s father became the assistant coach at North Carolina State University. Pete attended Needham-Broughton High School. At this point, he had grown to almost 6 feet in height. Still very skinny, young Pete was eager to display his rapidly developing talents to his new coach.
When Pete graduated from high school, he was still rather slight in build. He and his father decided that another year would be helpful before Pete tried college basketball. Pete left Needham-Broughton with a 32-points-per-game average to attend Edwards Military Academy in Salemburg, North Carolina.
“Pistol Pete” was 6 feet 4 inches tall and preparing for his college career. When his father accepted the head coaching position at Louisiana State University (LSU), Pete signed to play under his father. However, Pete was not happy with the move because LSU was primarily a football school at the time.
The Emerging Champion
Averaging 43 points per game on the freshman team his first year at LSU, Pete was eager to begin his varsity experience. He did so with a bang, averaging 43.8 points per game and setting a collegiate record.
Pete’s junior year at LSU was another success. His two-year total of 2,097 points broke both Bob Pettit’s LSU career scoring record and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) record for the most points in two seasons. His total of 1,148 points that season was the second-highest in NCAA history up to that time.
In his final season at LSU, he set still more records. Pete broke Oscar Robertson’s NCAA career scoring record, Elvin Hayes’s NCAA single-season scoring record, and Calvin Murphy’s NCAA single-game record all in the same year. He finished his college career with 3,667 points and a 44.2-points-per-game average, both records.
Pete signed a million-dollar contract with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. At the time, the contract was the largest in professional sports. Although all seemed to be going well, the anger of some veteran players over Pete’s large salary made his acceptance into the NBA difficult.
After four years with the Hawks and no positive changes regarding his acceptance on the team, Pete was traded to the New Orleans Jazz for the 1974-1975 season. Pete’s desire to be on a championship team seemed less likely to be fulfilled, but his free-flowing, aggressive, and creative style of play blended much better with the young team. Pete played with New Orleans through the middle of the 1979-1980 season, when he was traded to the Boston Celtics.
Continuing the Story
Pete had difficultly finding a place on the Celtics with stars such as Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Dave Cowens, and Nate Archibald. During the remainder of the 1979-1980 season with Boston, his ailing knees bothering him, Pete was used primarily as a substitute. The Celtics were defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs.
At the beginning of the 1980-1981 season, Pete lost his desire to play the game and decided to retire. He worked hard at maintaining his interests with business ventures and his family: his wife Jackie and their two boys, Jaeson and Joshua.
The final years of Pete’s life were made difficult by the death of his father, Press, in 1987, and the memories of his life’s incomplete goals and dreams. Pete found peace and happiness as a born-again Christian and in travel, speaking engagements, clinics, and television commentary. On January 5, 1988, Pistol Pete died of a heart attack shortly after a pickup basketball game.
Summary
Pete Maravich became a crusader for youngsters, attempting to enrich their lives and give back some of what he believed he had been blessed with in his life. His accomplishments during that last phase of his life will not soon be forgotten. Meanwhile, Pete as court magician—his baggy socks, long hair, fancy dribbling, pinpoint passes through his legs and behind his back, and numerous records—will survive in NCAA and NBA lore. His induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987 marked his farewell to the basketball world. “The Pistol,” however, will never be forgotten.
Bibliography
Berger, Phil. Forever Showtime: The Checkered Life of Pistol Pete Maravich. Dallas, Tex.: Taylor, 1999.
Federman, Wayne, and Marshall Terrill. Maravich. Wilmington, Del.: Sport Classic Books, 2006.
Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2003.
Kriegel, Mark. Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich. New York: Free Press, 2007.
Towle, Mike. I Remember Pete Maravich: Personal Recollections of Basketball’s Pistol Pete by the People and Players Who Knew Him. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland House, 2000.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. Pete Maravich: Magician of the Hardwood. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland House, 2003.