segunda-feira, 24 de janeiro de 2011

Pete Maravich "Pistol Pete"

Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich (June 22, 1947 – January 5, 1988) was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University (LSU) and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game.[1] Maravich died suddenly at age 40 during a pick-up game as a consequence of a previously undetected congenital heart defect. One of the youngest players ever inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Maravich was cited by the Hall as "perhaps the greatest creative offensive talent in history".[2] In an April 2010 interview, Hall of Fame player John Havlicek said "the best ball-handler of all time was (Pete) Maravich."

Early life
Pete Maravich was born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a small steel town in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Maravich amazed his family and friends with his basketball abilities from an early age. He enjoyed a close but demanding father-son relationship that motivated him toward achievement and fame in the sport. His father, Press Maravich, a former professional player-turned-coach, showed Maravich the fundamentals starting when he was seven years old. Obsessively, Maravich spent hours practicing ball control tricks, passes, head fakes, and long range shots.
This dedication and inventiveness manifested itself in early success: Maravich played high school varsity ball at Daniel High School in Central, South Carolina a year before being old enough to attend the school. While at Daniel from 1961 to 1963, Maravich participated in the school's first ever game against a team from an all-black school. In 1963, his father, departing from his position as head basketball coach at Clemson University, joined the coaching staff at North Carolina State. The Maravich family's subsequent move to Raleigh, North Carolina allowed Pete to finish his high school career at Needham B. Broughton High School.[3] His high school years also saw the birth of his famous moniker. From his habit of shooting the ball from his side, as if he were holding a revolver, Maravich became known as "Pistol" Pete Maravich.

[edit] Playing career

[edit] College

While Maravich would tell friends later in life he always desired to play basketball for West Virginia University and was all set to be a Mountaineer, his father was the varsity coach at LSU and his father offered the "Pistol" a spot at LSU. In his first game on the LSU freshman team Maravich put up 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists against Southeastern Louisiana College.[4]
In only three years playing for his father at LSU, Maravich scored 3,667 points — 1,138 points in 1968, 1,148 points in 1969 and 1,381 points in 1970 while averaging 43.8, 44.2 and 44.5 points per game. In his collegiate career, the 6' 5" (1.96 m) guard averaged an incredible 44.2 points per game in 83 contests and led the NCAA in scoring in each of his three seasons.[5]
Maravich's longstanding collegiate scoring record is particularly impressive when two other factors are taken into account. First, Maravich played before the advent of the three-point line. His long-distance shooting skill thus produced far fewer points than would have been the case in a later era. Years later former LSU head basketball coach Dale Brown charted every college game Maravich played, taking into consideration all shots he took. Brown calculated that at the NCAA rule of a three-point line at 19-foot (5.8 m), 9-inches from the rim, Maravich would have averaged thirteen 3-point scores per game, lifting the player's career average to 57 points per game.[6] Second, NCAA rules at the time of Maravich's collegiate career prohibited freshmen from taking part in varsity competition, preventing Maravich from adding to his career record for a full quarter of his time at LSU. During this first year, Maravich scored 741 points in freshmen competition.
More than 35 years later, many of his NCAA and LSU records still stand. Maravich was a three-time All-American. Though he never appeared in the NCAA tournament, Maravich played a key role in turning around a lackluster program that had posted a 3–20 record in the season prior to his arrival.
At Louisiana State University, Maravich was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

[edit] NCAA career statistics


Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field-goal percentage 3P% 3-point field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
Year↓Team↓GP↓GS↓MPG↓FG%↓3P%↓FT%↓RPG↓APG↓SPG↓BPG↓PPG↓
1966–67[7]Louisiana State19.......452....83310.4………43.6
1967–68Louisiana State26.......423....8117.54.0……43.8
1968–69Louisiana State26.......444....7466.54.9……44.2
1969–70Louisiana State31.......447....7735.36.2……44.5
Career[8][9]83...….438....7756.55.1……44.2

[edit] Professional

After departing LSU in 1970 (he left after the NIT tournament and did not graduate, and therefore can never be inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame), Maravich was the third selection in the first round of that year's NBA player draft[10] and made league history when he signed a $1.9 million contract — one of the highest salaries at the time — with the Atlanta Hawks. He wasted little time becoming a prime time player by averaging 23.2 points per game his rookie season and being named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. After spending four seasons in Atlanta, Maravich was traded to the New Orleans Jazz for 8 players, where he peaked as an NBA showman and superstar. He made the All-NBA First Team in 1976 and 1977 and the All-NBA Second Team in 1973 and 1978. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1976–77 season with 31.1 points per game. However, Maravich had little in the way of a supporting cast, and the Jazz never had a winning record during his tenure there.
Prior to the 1979–80 season, Maravich moved with the team to Utah. He was waived by the Jazz on January 18, 1980 and was quickly picked up by the Boston Celtics where he played the rest of the season alongside Larry Bird[11] and made the playoffs.
A leg injury suffered during the 1977–78 NBA season led to severe knee problems, and ultimately prompted his retirement two years later in 1980. Pete Maravich was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in May 1987. At age 39, he was one of the youngest players ever inducted.

[edit] NBA career statistics


Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field-goal percentage 3P% 3-point field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

[edit] Regular season


Year↓Team↓GP↓GS↓MPG↓FG%↓3P%↓FT%↓RPG↓APG↓SPG↓BPG↓PPG↓
1970–71Atlanta81…36.1.458….8003.74.4……23.2
1971–72Atlanta66…34.9.427….8113.96.0……19.3
1972–73Atlanta79…39.1.441….8004.46.9……26.1
1973–74Atlanta76…38.2.457….8264.95.21.5.227.7
1974–75New Orleans79…36.1.419….8115.36.21.5.221.5
1975–76New Orleans62…38.3.459….8114.85.41.4.425.9
1976–77New Orleans73…41.7.433….8355.15.41.2.331.1
1977–78New Orleans50…40.8.444….8703.66.72.0.227.0
1978–79New Orleans49…37.2.421….8412.55.01.2.422.6
1979–80Utah/Boston43…22.4.449.667.8671.81.9.6.113.7
Career[9]658…37.0.441.667.8204.25.41.4.324.2

[edit] Playoffs


Year↓Team↓GP↓GS↓MPG↓FG%↓3P%↓FT%↓RPG↓APG↓SPG↓BPG↓PPG↓
1970–71Atlanta5…39.8.377….6925.24.8……22.0
1971–72Atlanta6…36.5.446….8175.34.7……27.7
1972–73Atlanta6…39.0.419….7944.86.7……26.2
1979–80Boston9…11.6.490.333.667.9.7.3.06.0
Career[9]26…29.1.423.333.7843.63.8……18.7

[edit] Career highs

[edit] 40 point games

Maravich scored 50 or more points six times and 40 or more points 35 times in the regular season. Maravich's career high in the playoffs was 37 points.

Points↓Opponent↓Home/Away↓Date↓Season↓FGM↓FGA↓FTM↓FTA↓
68New York KnicksHome01977-02-25 February 25, 19771976–7726431619
51Kansas City KingsHome01976-12-14 December 14, 19761976–7718381518
51Phoenix SunsAway01977-03-18 March 18, 19771976–7721349
50Philadelphia 76ersHome01972-01-16 January 16, 19721971–72182914
50Cleveland CavaliersHome01972-02-05 February 5, 19721971–72202710
50Washington BulletsHome01976-12-26 December 26, 19761976–7723394
49 (OT)Golden State WarriorsAway01976-02-10 February 10, 19761975–76183613
47Atlanta HawksAway01975-02-08 February 8, 19751974–75183711
46Los Angeles LakersAway01977-03-20 March 20, 19771976–7719388
45Phoenix SunsHome01972-11-18 November 18, 19721972–73151518
45 (2 OT)New York KnicksHome01975-10-26 October 26, 19751975–76112326
45Denver NuggetsHome01977-04-10 April 10, 19771976–77131922
44Cincinnati RoyalsAway01971-03-13 March 13, 19711970–7118278
44Philadelphia 76ersHome01972-11-04 November 4, 19721972–73141622
44Boston CelticsHome01977-01-18 January 18, 19771976–771710
44 (OT)Kansas City KingsHome01977-03-25 March 25, 19771976–7719406
43Boston CelticsHome01976-11-02 November 2, 19761976–77179
43Houston RocketsHome01977-02-06 February 6, 19771976–77179
42Philadelphia 76ersHome01972-12-23 December 23, 19721972–731512
42Buffalo BravesHome01973-11-28 November 28, 19731973–74121818
42Seattle SuperSonicsHome01975-01-17 January 17, 19751974–751610
42Cleveland CavaliersAway01977-12-27 December 27, 19771977–78178
41Buffalo BravesAway01971-01-18 January 18, 19711970–71131519
41Golden State WarriorsAway01973-10-27 October 27, 19731973–74177
41Cleveland CavaliersHome01976-11-21 November 21, 19761976–77169
41Cleveland CavaliersHome01977-04-01 April 1, 19771976–77177
41New Jersey NetsAway01977-10-21 October 21, 19771977–78121718
41Kansas City KingsHome01977-11-27 November 27, 19771977–7819343
41San Antonio SpursHome01978-11-10 November 10, 19781978–79
40New York KnicksAway01970-11-24 November 24, 19701970–71176
40Phoenix SunsAway01973-02-16 February 16, 19731972–731510
40Buffalo BravesHome01975-01-19 January 19, 19751974–75176
40Chicago BullsAway01976-03-13 March 13, 19761975–761412
40San Antonio SpursHome01977-02-27 February 27, 19771976–77111820
40Los Angeles LakersHome01977-12-13 December 13, 19771977–7819352

[edit] Top assist games


Assists↓Opponent↓Home/Away↓Date↓
18 (OT)Detroit PistonsHome01973-01-16 January 16, 1973
17Seattle SuperSonicsHome01975-01-17 January 17, 1975
15Seattle SuperSonicsHome01977-11-17 November 17, 1977
15Buffalo BravesHome01978-01-31 January 31, 1978

[edit] Regular season


StatHighOpponentDate
Field goal percentage
Field goals made26vs. New York Knicks01977-02-25 February 25, 1977
Field goal attempts43vs. New York Knicks01977-02-25 February 25, 1977
Free throws made, none missed18—18vs. Buffalo Braves01973-11-28 November 28, 1973
Free throws made, none missed15—15at Milwaukee Bucks01972-01-23 January 23, 1972
Free throws made, one missed17—18at New Jersey Nets01977-10-21 October 21, 1977
Free throws made23 (2 OT)vs. New York Knicks01975-10-26 October 26, 1975
Free throw attempts26 (2 OT)vs. New York Knicks01975-10-26 October 26, 1975
Rebounds15
Steals
Blocked shots

[edit] Later life and death

After the injury forced him to leave basketball in the fall of 1980, Maravich became a recluse for two years. Through it all, Maravich said he was searching "for life." He tried the practices of yoga and Hinduism, read Trappist monk Thomas Merton's The Seven Storey Mountain and took an interest in the field of ufology, the study of unidentified flying objects. He also explored vegetarianism and macrobiotics. Eventually, he embraced evangelical Christianity. A few years before his death, Maravich said, "I want to be remembered as a Christian, a person that (sic) serves Him to the utmost, not as a basketball player."[12]
On January 5, 1988, Pete Maravich collapsed and died at age 40 of a heart attack[13] while playing in a pickup basketball game in the gym at the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena with a group that included James Dobson of Focus on the Family fame. Maravich had flown out from his home in Louisiana to tape a segment for Dobson's radio show that aired later that day. Dobson has said that Maravich's last words, less than a minute before he died, were "I feel great." An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a rare congenital defect; he had been born with a missing left coronary artery, a vessel which supplies blood to the muscle fibers of the heart. His right coronary artery was grossly enlarged and had been compensating for the defect.[14]
"He'll be remembered always", former LSU head basketball coach Dale Brown said on hearing the news of Maravich's death.[cite this quote]
Maravich is buried at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Mausoleum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

[edit] Legacy

At his death, Pete Maravich was survived by his wife, Jackie, and his two sons Jaeson, who was 8 years old, and Josh, aged 5. Only the previous year, Pete had taken Jaeson to the 1987 NBA All-Star Game in Seattle, Washington and introduced him to Michael Jordan.
Since Maravich's children were very young when he died, Jackie Maravich initially shielded them from unwanted media attention, even not allowing Jaeson and Josh to attend their father's funeral.[15] However, a proclivity to basketball seemed to be an inherited trait. During a 2003 interview, Jaeson told USA Today that, when he was still only a toddler, "My dad passed me a (Nerf) basketball, and I've been hooked ever since...My dad said I shot and missed, and I got mad and I kept shooting. He said his dad told him he did the same thing."[16]
Despite some setbacks coping with their father's death and without the benefit his tutelage might have provided, each eventually was inspired to play high school and collegiate basketball, Josh at his father's alma mater, LSU.[16] As of 2008, both men had also signed to play professional basketball with the Santa Barbara Breakers (West Coast Basketball League).[17][18]

[edit] Memorabilia

Maravich's untimely death and mystique have made memorabilia associated with him among the most highly prized of any basketball collectibles. Game-used Maravich jerseys bring more money at auction than similar items from anybody other than George Mikan, with the most common items selling for $10,000 and up and a game-used LSU jersey selling for $94,300 in a 2001 Grey Flannel auction. [19] The signed game ball from his career-high 68 point night on February 25, 1977 sold for $131,450 in a 2009 Heritage auction. [20]

[edit] Honors, books and films

[edit] Video game depictions

[edit] Collegiate awards

  • The Sporting News College Player of the Year (1970)
  • USBWA College Player of the Year (1969, 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)
  • Led the NCAA Division I in scoring with 43.8 ppg (1968); 44.2 (1969) and 44.5 ppg (1970)
  • Averaged 43.6 ppg on the LSU freshman team (1967)
  • Scored a career-high 69 points vs. Alabama (01970-02-07 February 7, 1970); 66 vs. Tulane (01969-02-10 February 10, 1969); 64 vs. Kentucky (01970-02-21 February 21, 1970); 61 vs. Vanderbilt (01969-12-11 December 11, 1969)
  • Holds LSU records for most field goals made (26) and attempted (57) in a game against Vanderbilt on 01969-01-29 January 29, 1969
  • All-Southeastern Conference (1968, 1969, 1970)
  • #23 Jersey retired by LSU (2007)
  • In 1970, Maravich led LSU to a 20–8 record and a third place finish in the National Invitation Tournament

[edit] Collegiate records

  • Points, career: 3,667 (three seasons)
  • Highest scoring average, points per game, career: 44.2 (3,667 points/83 games)
  • Points, season: 1,381 (1970)
  • Highest scoring average, points per game, season: 44.5 (1,381/31) (1970)
  • Games scoring 50 or more points, career: 28
  • Games scoring 50 or more points, season: 10 (1970)
  • Field goals made, career: 1,387
  • Field goals made, season: 522 (1970)
  • Field goal attempts, career: 3,166
  • Field goal attempts, season: 1,168 (1970)
  • Free throws made, game: 30 (in 31 attempts), vs. Oregon State, 01969-12-22 December 22, 1969

[edit] NBA awards


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Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009)

  • NBA All-Rookie Team
  • All-NBA First Team (1976, 1977)
  • All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1978)
  • Five-time NBA All-Star (1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979)
  • Led the league in scoring (31.1 ppg) in 1977, his career best
  • Scored a career-high 68 points against the New York Knicks on Feb. 25, 1977
  • #7 jersey retired by the Utah Jazz (1985)
  • #7 jersey retired by the Superdome (1988)
  • NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)
  • #7 jersey retired by the New Orleans Hornets (2002), even though he never played for them—one of only four players to have a number retired by a team they did not play for.

[edit] NBA records

Free throws made, quarter: 14, Pete Maravich, third quarter, Atlanta Hawks vs. Buffalo Braves, 01973-11-28 November 28, 1973
Free throw attempts, quarter: 16, Pete Maravich, second quarter, Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls, 01973-01-02 January 2, 1973
  • Broken by Ben Wallace on 02005-12-11 December 11, 2005
Second pair of teammates in NBA history to score 2,000 or more points in a season: 2, Atlanta Hawks (1972–73)
Maravich: 2,063Lou Hudson: 2,029
Third pair of teammates in NBA history to score 40 or more points in the same game: New Orleans Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets, 01977-04-10 April 10, 1977
Maravich: 45Nate Williams: 41David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets also scored 40 points in this game.
Ranks 4th in NBA history — Free throws made, none missed, game: 18—18, Pete Maravich, Atlanta Hawks vs. Buffalo Braves, 01973-11-28 November 28, 1973
Ranks 5th in NBA history — Free throws made, game: 23, Pete Maravich, New Orleans Jazz vs. New York Knicks, 01975-10-26 October 26, 1975 (2 OT)
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