Pete Maravich might not have been the greatest basketball player of his generation, but he was unquestionably the most exciting and entertaining. A magician at handling or shooting the ball and the most prolific scorer in college basketball history, "Pistol Pete" was as recognizable as he was flashy. If the mop of brown hair and floppy gray socks didnt give him away, the behind-the-back dribbling and between-the-legs passes did. Maravich first captured the nations attention while playing basketball for his father at Louisiana State University, averaging an incredible 44.2 points per game over three years and earning college player-of-the-year honors in 1970. He went on to play for ten years in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics, garnering NBA First Team honors twice and Second Team honors two other times. In 197677 he led the league in scoring with an average of 31.1 points, including a 68-point outburst in a game against the New York Knicks.
"Pistol Pete" was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Less than a year later, at the age of 40, he collapsed while playing basketball with friends and died an hour later.
While he has been gone for more than fifteen years, his on-court showmanship and off-court charisma endure for millions of basketball fans who fondly remember him. In Pete Maravich: Magician of the Hardwood, players, coaches, friends, fans, and relatives recall the soft-spoken man who turned away from heavy drinking and turned toward God. Maravichs life is an inspiration for all who love the game of basketball and appreciate the contributions made by one of the best ever to play it.
