What Happened to Robert Lee "Bob" Pettit Jr.?

Robert Lee 'Bob' Pettit Jr. was born on December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His basketball journey began with an unlikely start, as he was cut from his high school varsity team as a freshman and sophomore. However, a significant growth spurt and dedicated practice transformed him into a standout player, leading Baton Rouge High to a state championship in his senior year.

Pettit continued his collegiate career at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he became a three-time All-SEC center and a two-time consensus All-American. His number 50 was retired by LSU in 1954, making him the first athlete in any sport at the university to receive this honor. In the 1954 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Hawks selected Pettit as the second overall pick. He immediately made an impact, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1955, averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.

His career truly blossomed after the Hawks relocated to St. Louis in 1955. Pettit became the NBA's first Most Valuable Player in 1956, a season in which he also led the league in scoring and rebounding. He was an 11-time NBA All-Star, a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection, and a four-time All-Star Game MVP, a record he shares with Kobe Bryant. The pinnacle of his career came in 1958 when he led the St. Louis Hawks to their only NBA Championship, famously scoring 50 points in the decisive Game 6 against the Boston Celtics.

Pettit retired in 1965, still at the peak of his game, as the first NBA player to surpass 20,000 career points (20,880 total). His career averages of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game underscore his dominance. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970 and was later named to the NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams, solidifying his status as one of the greatest power forwards of all time.

After his basketball career, Pettit transitioned successfully into the business world. He worked in the banking industry in Baton Rouge and Metairie for 23 years before moving into financial consulting in 1988. He co-founded Equitas Capital Investors, a financial consulting company, from which he retired in 2006. Bob Pettit remained a respected figure in the sports community and his home state of Louisiana throughout his life. He passed away peacefully on September 23, 2026, at the age of 93.