BOBPETTIT
ATLANTA HAWKSBob Pettit — NBA champion, 2× MVP, 11× All-Star, the first player to reach 20,000 career points. Career stats, bio and legacy of the St. Louis Hawks' scoring and rebounding pioneer.
1×NBA CHAMPION
2×NBA MVP
11×ALL-STAR
Bob Pettit biography — NBA career story, legacy, championships, awards and personal background.
Career timeline, milestones, and place among all-time greats.
Cut from his high school team as both a freshman and sophomore, Bob Pettit rebuilt himself through relentless practice into the first player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points. Born December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Height 6 ft 9 in (206 cm).
He played at LSU (1951–1954), a two-time consensus All-American who led the Tigers to the 1953 Final Four. Drafted 2nd overall by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954, he played his entire 11-season career with the franchise as it relocated to St. Louis, winning Rookie of the Year in his debut season.
Pettit was the NBA's first-ever Most Valuable Player in 1956 and won the award again in 1959. He led the Hawks to the franchise's only NBA championship in 1958, scoring a then-playoff-record 50 points in the clinching Game 6 win over Bill Russell's Celtics. He made the All-Star team in all 11 of his seasons and the All-NBA First Team ten times.
Career totals: 20,880 points (26.4 ppg), 12,849 rebounds (16.2 rpg), 2,369 assists (3.0 apg) over 792 games — both his points and rebounds totals were NBA records at his retirement in 1965.
His No. 9 was retired by the Atlanta Hawks. Named to the NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.
Bob Pettit quick facts — Height 6'9. 26.4 PPG career average. Championship years: 1958.
Height, weight, draft year, and years in the league.
Bob Pettit awards and honors — Championship years: 1958.
Major individual and team accolades with seasons won.
2x11x
11x
2xBob Pettit career statistics summary — 26.4 PPG career average.
Regular-season averages and totals across the full NBA career.
Bob Pettit career highs — best single-game performances in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Personal records with dates and opponents.
vs DET
vs MNL
vs LAL
vs DET
vs BOS
Bob Pettit advanced stats — PER, win shares, BPM and overall impact metrics.
Impact measured beyond traditional box score statistics.
Bob Pettit playoff stats — postseason points, rebounds, assists and games played.
Postseason production across every playoff run.
Bob Pettit All-Star Game stats — appearances, minutes and showcase performance.
Mid-season exhibition stats across every All-Star selection.
→Bob Pettit NBA transactions — trades, signings and team changes by date.
Team moves and dates across every NBA stop.
FAQ about Bob Pettit — rings, MVP awards, career stats, height.
Answers to the most searched questions about championships and career honors.
Bob Pettit averaged 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists per game in the regular season.
Players similar to Bob Pettit — statistical peers by position, peak seasons and career arc.
All-time comparisons with the closest playing profile.
NoteThe club shown in the profile isn't necessarily the player's last team, but the one he's most associated with and that defined his career. See the full team history in the Transactions section.