who witnessed his games came away with stories of moves, shots and passes no one had ever seen before. Maravich's style and ball handling skill was completely original and his scoring was unstoppable. The 3 point shot hadn't been instituted in the NBA during Pistol's career, otherwise his average would have been over 30 per game. No Lie.
In College at LSU, Maravich set NCAA Division 1 scoring records across the board in only 3 years. Basketball games with Maravich became more like Mardi Gras gatherings. As a freshman on the freshman team, fans packed the courts to watch Maravich dazzle and score 44 per game. The LSU Varsity team would come to the court only to see the thousands of fans clearing the arena, for 'the show' had already left the building.
Players like Julius Erving and Isaiah Thomas speak of "Pistol" as this guy who had a way & a game all his own. His shot so accurate and crisp. His passes so quick and on target. His teammates always said if you weren't paying attention, Pete would hit you in the face with the ball because he'd deliver a pass whenever & wherever you'd least expect it. Maravich's dexterity with the basketball made him a pleasure for all fans to watch, but even his peers couldn't help but marvel at the game he possessed.
One of the 50 Greatest NBA Players Ever, "Maravich lived 100 years in a 40 year span" as Dr. J put it. He inspired a generation of basketball players like Magic
Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, ushering the NBA from obscurity to mainstream. Pete died of heart failure at the age of 40 due to a congenital heart
defect. His legacy lives on through his family & friends and the droves of people he touched with his game.
#123 1970-71 Topps Basketball Rookie Card measures 4 & 11/16 x 2 & 1/2
Click the Link for another cool shot of Pistol Pete.
Got the nickname "Pistol" from a writer that saw him play
as a child. Said he drew the ball from his hip like a gunfighter.
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