Pete Maravich - LSU Athletics

Jan. 5, 2013, marks the 25th anniversary of the death of the great Pete Maravich, one of the most remarkable athletes in the history of all of sports. In an era when players were only eligible for three years – and there was no three-point shot – Pistol Pete became, and remains, the highest scoring player in the history of college basketball. No one has ever challenged his records and there is no reason to believe anyone ever will. After leaving LSU, he went on to become a five-time NBA All-Star and he is a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1988, LSU’s Assembly Center was named in his honor. There has never been another like the great “Pistol” Pete Maravich, and today we remember him fondly.

ALL-CENTURY TEAM MEMBER

Full Name: Peter Press MaravichBorn: 6/22/47 in Aliquippa, PaDied: 1/5/88High School: Daniel (Clemson, S.C. from 1961-63); Needham Broughton (Raleigh, N.C. from 1963-65); Edwards Military Institute (Salemburg, N.C. from 1965-66)College: LSU (freshman team in 1966-67; Three-year Varsity letterwinner from 1967-1970)

Pete Maravich was billed as the one who would put Louisiana basketball on the map from the first day he joined his father Press at LSU. People weren’t disappointed. His freshman year they packed the old John M. Parker Agricultural Center (known as the “Cow Palace”) to watch the freshman team and then left quickly as the varsity Tigers won just three games in 1967.

By Pete’s senior year, the Tigers would improve to 20-8 and wind up in New York City at the National Invitation Tournament, a fitting place for the big-city Maravich Show to close its LSU run.

To those who never saw him play live, but only watched what few games were on television or listened on radio, the Maravich story at LSU may seem larger than life. But his skills were perfected through hours and hours of repetitious drills at all hours of the day and night and in all kinds of settings.

Maravich ended up receiving the richest contract ever offered a college player at the time to sign with the Atlanta Hawks ($1.9 million), but during his 10-year career with the Hawks, the New Orleans and Utah Jazz and the Boston Celtics, his dream of a championship wasn’t fulfilled.

Maravich’s Records and Highlights:

• All-Time NCAA Career Scoring Leader with 3,667 points, an average of 44.2 points for 83 games.
• Ranks first, fourth and fifth for most points in a single season in NCAA history. Averaged 44.5 points in 1970, 44.2 points in 1969 and 43.8 points in 1968.
• Scored 69 points vs. Alabama, Feb. 7, 1970.
• Led LSU to the NIT Final Four in 1970, its first postseason appearance in 16 years.
• Unanimous first-team All-American in 1968, 1969, 1970.
• Naismith Award winner in 1970.
• Member of the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame after 10-year career with Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans and Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics.
• Named one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players in 1997.

LSU Career Highlights:Three-year letter winner (1967-70)The Sporting News College Player of the Year (1970)Naismith Award Winner (1970)The Sporting News All-America First Team (1968, 1969, 1970)Three-time AP and UPI First-Team All-America (1968, 1969, 1970)Holds NCAA career record for most points (3,667, 44.2 ppg, three-year career) in 83 gamesHolds NCAA career record for highest points per game average (44.2 ppg)Holds NCAA record for most field goals made (1,387) and attempted (3,166)Holds NCAA record for most free throws made (893) and attempted (1,152)Holds NCAA record for most games scoring at least 50 points (28)Holds NCAA single-season record for most points (1,381) and highest per game average (44.5 ppg) in 1970Ranks 1st, 4th and 5th for most points in a single season in NCAA history, averaging 44.5 points in 1970, 44.2 points in 1969 and 43.8 points in 1968.Holds NCAA single-season record for most field goals made (522) and attempted (1,168) in 1970Holds NCAA single-season record for most games scoring at least 50 points (10) in 1970Holds NCAA single-game record for most free throws made (30 of 31) against Oregon State on Dec. 22, 1969Led the NCAA Division I in scoring with 43.8 ppg (1968); 44.2 (1969) and 44.5 ppg (1970)The 44.5 ppg average ranks best in NCAA history; 44.2 ppg (fourth); 43.8 ppg (fifth)Averaged 43.6 ppg on the LSU freshman team (1967)Scored a career-high 69 points vs. Alabama (Feb. 7, 1970); 66 vs. Tulane (Feb. 10, 1969); 64 vs. Kentucky (Feb. 21, 1970); 61 vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 11, 1969); Holds LSU records for most field goals in a game (26) against Vanderbilt on Jan. 29, 1969 and attempted (57) against VanderbiltAll-Southeastern Conference (1968, 1969, 1970)Led LSU to the NIT Final Four in 1970, its first post-season appearance in 16 yearsIn 1988, Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer signed legislation changing the official name of LSU’s home court to the Maravich Assembly CenterIn 1970, Maravich led LSU to a 20-8 record and a third place finish in the NITAll-Time NCAA Career Scoring Leader with 3,667 points, an average of 44.2 points for 83 games.

Professional Basketball Career | Full Bio from NBA.com:Drafted: Atlanta Hawks, 1970 (third overall)Transactions: Traded to New Orleans Jazz, 5/3/74; Jazz move to Utah, 1979; Waived by Utah, 1/17/80; Signed with Boston, 1/22/80 NBA Atlanta Hawks (1970-74)NBA New Orleans Jazz (1974-79)NBA Utah Jazz (1979-80)NBA Boston Celtics (1979-80)

Pro Playing Highlights: NBA All-Rookie Team (1971)All-NBA First Team (1976, 1977)All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1978)Five-time NBA All-Star (1973, 1974, 1977-1979)Scored 15,948 points (24.2 ppg) in 658 gamesLed the NBA in scoring (31.1 ppg) in 1977, his career bestScored a career-high 68 points (12th best in history) against the New York Knicks on Feb. 25, 1977Led the NBA in most field goals attempted in 1974 (1,791) and 1977 (2,047)Shares NBA single-game record for most free throws made in one quarter (14) on Nov. 28, 1973 against Buffalo and most free throws attempted in one quarter (16) on Jan. 2, 1973 against ChicagoMember of the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame after 10-year career with Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans and Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics (1987) NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)

Pete Maravich was billed as the one who would put Louisiana basketball on the map from the first day he joined his father Press at LSU. People weren’t disappointed. His freshman year they packed the old John M. Parker Agricultural Center (known as the “Cow Palace”) to watch the freshman team and then left quickly as the varsity Tigers won just three games in 1967. By Pete’s senior year, the Tigers would improve to 20-8 and wind up in New York City at the National Invitation Tournament, a fitting place for the big-city Maravich Show to close its LSU run.

To those who never saw him play live, but only watched what few games were on television or listened on radio, the Maravich story at LSU may seem larger than life. But his skills were perfected through hours and hours of repetitious drills at all hours of the day and night and in all kinds of settings.

Maravich ended up receiving the richest contract ever offered a college player at the time to sign with the Atlanta Hawks ($1.9 million), but during his 10-year career with the Hawks, the New Orleans and Utah Jazz and the Boston Celtics, his dream of a championship wasn’t fulfilled. Pete was finding that life wasn’t very fulfilling either. There were hard times when he went in search of something to make his life complete. He had money, he had fame. He didn’t have real happiness. But in 1982, Pistol Pete accepted Jesus Christ.

He began enjoying life, enjoying times with his wife and children. Television executives were discovering his knowledge of the game again as a color commentator and best of all for LSU fans, a rift that grew between star and college had diminished and was forgotten.

But the Pistol’s life suddenly ended on Jan. 5, 1988, just over a month after appearing at the Assembly Center for an emotional ceremony to formally present a portrait of Pete and his father to him.

Other honors

Member of LSWA Top 25 Louisiana Athletes of the Century,1999Member First-Team LABC All Louisiana Team of the Century, 1999Member Sports Magazine’s Top 10 Men’s College Players of the Century, 1999Member of National Basketball Association Hall of FameHonored as 2003 “Legend” at the SEC Basketball Tournament

MARAVICH’S LSU VARSITY CAREER STATISTICS

Year	G	FG	FGA	PCT.	FT	FTA	PCT.	REB	AVG.	PF-D	AST.	PTS-AVG.
1967-68	26	432	1,022	.422	274	338	.810	195	7.5	85-5	105	1,138-43.8
1968-69	26	433	976	.444	282	378	.746	169	6.5	77-2	128	1,148-44.2
1969-70	31	522	1,168	.447	337	436	.773	164	5.3	89-0	192	1,381-44.5
TOTALS	83	1387	3,166	.438	893	1,152	.775	528	6.4	251-7	425	3,667-44.2

LSU Game-by-Game Stats

1966-67+ (17-1, 6-1 SEC) – Freshman Team
Opponent (Score)	FG	FGA	Pct.	FT	FTA	PCT.	REB.	ASST.	FOUL	TP	Attend.
Southeastern (W, 119-70)	19	41	.463	12	15	.800	14	11	3	50
Baton Rouge Hawks (W, 83-79)	9	31	.290	16	20	.800	22	8	2	34
at Loyola (W, 74-72)	13	32	.406	8	12	.667	8	3	3	34
Tulane (W, 96-78)	15	38	.395	6	10	.600	12	9	2	36
at Mississippi St. (W, 113-80)	13	30	.433	9	10	.900	9	9	4	35
at Ole Miss (W, 97-76)	15	31	.484	13	16	.813	8	4	1	43
at Auburn (W, 88-73)	17	28	.607	10	12	.833	6	5	3	44
Bordens (W, 98-68)	17	30	.567	6	9	.667	11	18	1	40
Southern Miss (W, 97-82)	Did not play
at Tulane (W, 69-68 OT)	13	39	.333	5	7	.714	8	6	4	31
Baton Rouge Hawks (W, 111-84)	26	51	.510	14	16	.875	9	9	3	66
Loyola (W, 105-59)	20	36	.556	10	10	1.000	14	4	3	50
St. Mark’s (W, 136-89)	15	38	.395	20	21	.952	11	7	3	50
Auburn (W, 108-71)	21	41	.512	15	18	.833	7	4	4	57
at Southern Miss (W, 94-86)	15	29	.517	12	12	1.000	11	4	2	42
Mississippi St. (W, 106-71)	19	32	.504	15	17	.882	5	8	2	53
Ole Miss (W, 110-98)	14	41	.341	17	21	.810	15	9	4	45
at Tennessee (L, 75-74)	12	36	.333	7	9	.778	6	6	4	31
SEASON TOTALS	273	604	.452	195	234	.833	176	124	48	741
SEC TOTALS	111	239	.464	86	103	.835	56	45	22	308

43.6 ppg. + freshman team; statistics do not count toward NCAA totals

 

1967-68 (14-12, 8-10 SEC)
Opponent (Score)	FG	FGA	Pct.	FT	FTA	PCT.	REB.	ASST.	FOUL	TP	Attend.
Tampa (W, 97-81)	20	50	.400	8	9	.889	16	4	1	48	7,500
at Texas (W, 87-74)	15	34	.441	12	16	.750	5	5	2	42	6,000
Loyola (W, 90-56)	22	43	.512	7	11	.636	9	4	2	51	8,000
at Wisconsin* (L, 96-94)	16	40	.400	10	13	.769	9	6	5	42	10,410
vs. Florida St.* (L, 130-100)	17	41	.415	8	10	.800	5	9	3	42	11,138
Ole Miss (W, 81-68)	17	34	.500	12	13	.923	11	3	4	46	8,700
Mississippi St. (W, 111-87)	22	40	.550	14	16	.875	8	3	2	58	8,700
Alabama (W, 81-70)	10	30	.333	10	11	.909	6	5	3	30	10,000
Auburn (W, 76-72)	20	38	.526	15	17	.882	9	1	2	55	9,000
at Florida (L, 97-90)	9	22	.409	14	17	.824	10	8	5	32	7,000
at Georgia (W, 79-76)	14	37	.378	14	17	.824	11	5	3	42	14,000
at Tulane (W, 100-91)	20	42	.476	12	15	.800	5	8	4	52	5,500
Clemson (W, 104-81)	14	29	.483	5	6	.833	6	2	5	33	8,700
Kentucky (L, 121-95)	19	51	.373	14	17	.824	11	2	3	52	5,500
Vanderbilt (L, 99-91)	22	57	.386	10	15	.667	6	3	4	54	9,000
at Kentucky (L, 109-96)	16	38	.421	12	15	.800	8	3	4	44	11,700
Tennessee (L, 87-67)	9	34	.265	3	3	1.000	6	0	5	21	8,330
at Auburn (L, 74-69)	18	47	.383	13	13	1.000	6	1	1	49	2,602
Florida (W, 93-92 OT)	17	48	.354	13	15	.867	7	3	4	47	8,000
Georgia (L, 78-73)	20	47	.426	11	18	.611	4	2	4	51	8,300
at Alabama (W, 99-89)	24	52	.462	11	13	.846	12	3	2	59	15,014
at Mississippi St. (W, 94-83)	13	38	.342	8	12	.667	7	7	4	34	5,500
Tulane (W, 99-92)	21	47	.447	13	15	.867	5	0	3	55	8,800
at Ole Miss (L, 87-85)	13	26	.500	14	16	.875	4	8	2	40	8,500
at Tennessee (L, 74-71)	7	18	.389	3	4	.750	3	1	5	17	13,000
at Vanderbilt (L, 115-86)	17	39	.436	8	11	.727	6	9	3	42	11,094
SEASON TOTALS	432	1,022	.422	274	338	.810	195	105	85	1,138	231,188
SEC TOTALS	274	696	.394	199	243	.819	135	67	60	773	165,140

43.8 ppg. * Milwaukee Classic

1968-69 (13-13, 7-11 SEC)
Opponent (Score)	FG	FGA	Pct.	FT	FTA	PCT.	REB.	ASST.	FOUL	TP	Attend.
at Loyola (W, 109-82)	22	34	.647	8	9	.889	7	11	1	52	6,600
at Clemson (W, 86-85)	10	32	.313	18	22	.818	4	4	3	38	9,800
Tulane (L, 101-99 2OT)	20	48	.417	15	20	.750	7	2	4	55	9,067
Florida (W, 93-89 OT)	17	32	.531	11	15	.733	8	5	3	45	9,089
Georgia (W, 98-89)	18	33	.545	11	16	.688	10	5	3	47	8,940
vs. Wyoming ** (W, 84-78)	14	34	.412	17	24	.708	6	2	2	45	5,500
vs. Oklahoma City ** (W, 101-85)	19	36	.528	2	5	.400	8	7	2	40	8,800
vs. Duquesne ** (W, 94-91)	18	36	.500	17	21	.810	2	6	3	53	9,000
at Alabama (L, 85-82)	19	49	.388	4	4	1.000	10	5	4	42	10,100
at Vanderbilt (L, 94-92)	15	30	.500	8	13	.615	4	3	3	38	11,100
at Auburn (L, 90-71)	16	41	.390	14	18	.778	5	5	3	46	11,200
Kentucky (L, 108-96)	20	48	.417	12	14	.857	11	2	3	52	7,475
Tennessee (L, 81-68)	8	18	.444	5	8	.625	4	2	5	21	9,731
Pittsburgh (W, 120-79)	13	34	.382	14	18	.778	8	11	3	40	8,269
Ole Miss (L, 84-81 OT)	11	33	.333	9	13	.692	11	5	4	31	10,137
Mississippi St. (W, 95-71)	14	32	.438	5	6	.833	11	10	3	33	7,637
Alabama (W, 81-75)	15	30	.500	8	12	.667	5	6	1	38	9,309
at Tulane (W, 110-94)	25	51	.490	16	20	.800	10	1	4	66	5,000
at Florida (L, 95-79)	14	41	.341	22	27	.815	6	2	2	50	5,646
Auburn (W, 93-81)	20	44	.455	14	15	.933	3	5	3	54	8,261
Vanderbilt (L, 85-83)	14	33	.424	7	8	.875	8	8	3	35	9,485
at Kentucky (L, 103-89)	21	53	.396	3	7	.429	5	2	4	45	11,500
at Tennessee (L, 87-63)	8	18	.444	4	8	.500	3	7	3	20	13,300
at Ole Miss (L, 78-76)	21	39	.538	7	11	.636	3	1	2	49	7,374
at Mississippi St. (W, 99-89)	20	49	.408	15	19	.789	4	5	2	55	5,100
at Georgia (W, 90-80 2OT)	21	48	.438	16	25	.640	6	4	4	58	10.458
SEASON TOTALS	433	976	.444	282	378	.746	169	128	77	1,148	227,878
SEC TOTALS	292	671	.435	175	239	.732	117	82	55	759	165,842

44.2 ppg. ** All-College Tournament

1969-70 (22-10, 13-5 SEC)
Opponent (Score)	FG	FGA	Pct.	FT	FTA	PCT.	REB.	ASST.	FOUL	TP	Attend.
Oregon St. (W, 94-72)	14	32	.438	15	19	.789	5	7	1	43	10,286
Loyola (W, 100-87)	18	36	.500	9	10	.900	6	6	4	45	8,524
Vanderbilt (W, 109-86)	26	54	.481	9	10	.900	10	5	1	61	10,648
at Tulane (W, 97-91)	17	42	.405	12	19	.632	4	5	3	46	5,200
Southern Cal (L, 101-98)	18	43	.419	14	16	.875	6	4	3	50	11,005
at Clemson (W, 111-103)	22	30	.733	5	8	.625	6	9	3	49	7,232
at Oregon St. (W, 76-68)	8	23	.349	30	31	.968	1	8	3	46	10,388
at UCLA (L, 133-84)	14	42	.333	10	12	.833	4	7	4	38	12,961
vs. St. John’s ^ (W, 80-70)	20	44	.455	13	16	.813	8	1	2	53	7,433
vs. Yale ^ (L, 97-94)	13	28	.464	8	11	.727	5	8	4	34	7,433
Alabama (W, 90-83)	22	42	.524	11	18	.611	7	2	4	55	9,647
Auburn (L, 79-70)	18	46	.391	8	11	.727	6	2	4	44	10,486
at Kentucky (L, 109-96)	21	44	.477	13	15	.867	5	4	4	55	11,500
Tennessee (W, 71-59)	12	23	.522	5	7	.714	4	9	3	29	8,658
Ole Miss (W, 109-86)	21	46	.457	11	15	.733	5	12	3	53	11,856
Mississippi St. (W, 109-91)	21	40	.525	7	9	.778	3	6	4	49	8,886
at Florida (W, 97-75)	20	38	.526	12	16	.750	9	7	1	52	7,300
at Alabama (L, 106-104)	26	57	.456	17	21	.810	5	4	3	69	15,043
Tulane (W, 127-114)	18	45	.400	13	15	.867	4	6	3	49	8,174
Florida (W, 94-85)	16	35	.457	6	10	.600	6	8	2	38	8,483
at Vanderbilt (W, 99-89)	14	46	.304	10	13	.769	5	3	2	38	15,581
at Auburn (W, 70-64)	18	46	.391	10	15	.667	8	4	4	46	12,268
Georgia (W, 88-86)	17	34	.500	3	6	.500	2	6	3	37	10,224
Kentucky (L, 121-105)	23	42	.548	18	22	.818	4	7	4	64	8,950
at Tennessee (L, 88-87)	10	24	.417	10	13	.769	7	6	2	30	14,000
at Ole Miss (W, 103-90)	13	43	.302	9	14	.643	9	4	3	35	9,132
at Mississippi St. (W, 97-87)	22	44	.500	11	13	.846	2	8	4	55	5,200
at Georgia (W, 99-88)	16	37	.432	9	10	.900	3	11	2	41	15,000
vs. Georgetown # (W, 83-82)	6	16	.375	8	12	.667	6	5	2	20	16,021
vs. Oklahoma # (W, 97-94)	14	33	.424	9	13	.692	8	9	1	37	19,500
vs. Marquette # (L, 101-79)	4	13	.308	12	16	.750	1	9	3	20	19,500
vs. Army # (L, 75-68)	Did not play
SEASON TOTALS	522	1,168	.447	337	436	.773	164	192	89	1,381	336,519
SEC TOTALS	336	741	.453	179	238	.752	97	108	53	851	192,862

46.6 ppg. ^ Rainbow Classic# 1970 National Invitation Tournament (Madison Square Garden, New York City)