Bob Pettit, the LSU basketball icon and pioneering NBA superstar who became the league’s first Most Valuable Player, has died at the age of 93.
Pettit died peacefully at his home in Metairie, Louisiana, on September 23, 2026, his family confirmed. LSU announced his death the following day, while the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and NBA also paid tribute to one of the most influential players of the early professional era.
Bob Pettit Dies at 93
Born Robert Lee Pettit Jr. on December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Pettit grew into one of the most accomplished basketball players of his generation.
His family described his final moments as peaceful at his Metairie home. In a statement, his family remembered him not only for his basketball accomplishments but also as a kind and humble father.
A specific medical cause of death has not been publicly disclosed by his family, LSU or the NBA.
LSU Career Made Him a Basketball Pioneer
Pettit remained close to his Louisiana roots throughout his life, and his career at LSU established him as one of the school’s greatest basketball players.
He led the Southeastern Conference in scoring during each of his three varsity seasons. As a sophomore in 1952, he averaged 25.5 points per game, followed by 24.9 as a junior and 31.4 as a senior.
He helped LSU reach its first NCAA Final Four in 1953 and guided the Tigers to consecutive SEC championships in 1953 and 1954.
LSU retired Pettit’s No. 50 jersey in 1954, making it the first athletic jersey retired by the university. His legacy is also represented by a bronze statue outside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Bob Pettit at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Lee Pettit Jr. |
| Born | December 12, 1932 |
| Birthplace | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Died | September 23, 2026 |
| Age | 93 |
| Place of death | Metairie, Louisiana |
| College | Louisiana State University |
| NBA team | Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks |
| NBA career | 1954–1965 |
| NBA MVP awards | 2 |
| NBA All-Star selections | 11 |
| NBA All-Star Game MVP awards | 4 |
| NBA championship | 1958 |
| Hall of Fame | Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Cause of death | Not publicly disclosed |
NBA Career With the Hawks
Pettit entered the NBA in 1954 and spent his entire 11-year professional career with the Hawks franchise, which began in Milwaukee before moving to St. Louis.
He became the league’s first MVP when he won the award in 1956 and claimed it again in 1959. He was selected as an NBA All-Star in every season of his career and earned All-Star Game MVP honors four times.
Pettit also led the Hawks to the 1958 NBA championship, defeating the Boston Celtics. In Game 6 of that Finals series, he scored 50 points to help secure the franchise’s first and only NBA championship.
First NBA Player to Reach 20,000 Points
One of Pettit’s most significant statistical milestones came in 1964, when he became the first player in NBA history to surpass 20,000 career points.
He finished his career with 20,880 points and 12,849 rebounds, averaging 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds across 792 regular-season games.
His combination of scoring, rebounding and mobility helped establish the power forward position during the early years of the NBA.
Hall of Fame Legacy
Pettit was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.
His accomplishments continued to receive recognition decades after his retirement. He was named among the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1997 and was later selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
The NBA described him as a player who helped transform the power forward position while setting several league milestones.
Pettit was also one of only three LSU players to reach the Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside Pete Maravich and Shaquille O’Neal.
Remembered by LSU and the NBA
News of Pettit’s death prompted tributes across the basketball community.
LSU remembered its former star as a Tiger legend, while the NBA and Basketball Hall of Fame recognized the impact he had on professional basketball.
His connection to Louisiana remained strong long after his playing career ended. After retiring from basketball, Pettit returned to Baton Rouge and worked in banking and financial consulting. He also remained a regular presence around LSU and New Orleans basketball events in his later years.
For LSU, his name remains permanently connected with the program’s early national prominence. For the NBA, he remains one of the foundational stars who helped shape professional basketball during its formative years.
A Lasting Basketball Legacy
Bob Pettit’s career spanned a period when professional basketball was still developing its national profile. Despite playing before the modern era of widespread television coverage, his accomplishments established him among the defining players of his generation.
He became the first NBA MVP, the first player to reach 20,000 points, a two-time MVP, 11-time All-Star and NBA champion.
Beyond the numbers, Pettit’s legacy lives on through LSU’s retired No. 50 jersey, his Basketball Hall of Fame induction and the generations of players who followed him.
His death at 93 marks the passing of one of the earliest superstars to help establish the NBA as a major professional sports league.
Disclaimer
This article is based on statements from Bob Pettit’s family, LSU, the NBA, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and current reporting reviewed on September 25, 2026. Pettit’s death on September 23, 2026, at age 93 has been confirmed. A specific medical cause of death has not been publicly disclosed by the sources reviewed.