Bob Pettit, the first player to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player award, has died at the age of 93. The NBA and the Basketball Hall of Fame announced his death on Thursday. The former power forward won the MVP award twice and led the St. Louis Hawks to the championship in 1958.
A first MVP who became a two-time winner
Created in 1956, the MVP trophy was first awarded to Pettit. He won it a second time in 1959. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971, he is hailed by the institution as a « giant of the game ».
With the Hawks, Pettit won the NBA title in 1958 against the Boston Celtics. In the sixth game, decisive for the championship, he scored 50 points in a 110-109 victory.
A marker among the greats
Standing at 2.06 meters (6 ft 9 in), the American finished his career with 20,880 points. He was the first NBA player to surpass the 20,000-point mark. He also led the league in scoring twice, averaging 31.1 points per game in 1961-1962.
Selected 11 times for the All-Star Game, Pettit was named MVP four times. Only Kobe Bryant has equaled this total, according to the figures released.
Source: – Basketball (www.rtbf.be)
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