Hall of Fame Forward Bob Pettit Dies at 93

Bob Pettit, the first-ever NBA MVP and a 1958 champion with the Hawks, has died at the age of 93.

Bob Pettit, a two-time NBA MVP and 11-time All-Star, died at age 93, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Thursday. The forward won the league's inaugural MVP award in the 1955-56 season and earned the honor again in 1958-59, leading the NBA in scoring both years with averages of 25.7 and 29.2 points per game, respectively.

Pettit secured an NBA championship for the Hawks in 1958 by defeating the Boston Celtics. In the Game 6 clincher of that series, he recorded 50 points, which established a playoff record at the time. Over his 11-year professional career, he reached the NBA Finals four times and was named an All-Star in every season he played. He shares the record for most All-Star Game MVP awards with Kobe Bryant, having won the trophy four times.

Drafted second overall in 1954 by the Milwaukee Hawks, Pettit earned Rookie of the Year honors with averages of 20.8 points and 13.8 rebounds. Before entering the professional ranks, he starred at LSU, where he averaged 31.4 points and 17.3 rebounds during his senior campaign.