Bob Pettit: NBA Stats, Death, Height, Age, Racist Claims, Now and Net Worth

Bob Pettit was one of the defining stars of the early NBA and a pioneer of the power-forward position. The St. Louis Hawks legend became the NBA’s first Most Valuable Player, won two MVP awards overall, captured the 1958 NBA championship and made the All-Star team in every season of his 11-year career.

Pettit’s name has returned to the spotlight following news of his death at age 93 in September 2026. His remarkable statistics and Hall of Fame career remain central to his legacy, while questions about his role in the controversial Cleo Hill episode have also led to renewed discussion about race and the NBA of the 1960s.

Bob Pettit NBA career

Robert Lee Pettit Jr. was born on December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Louisiana State University and became one of the leading college players of his era before entering the NBA.

The Milwaukee Hawks selected Pettit with the second overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft. The franchise subsequently moved to St. Louis, where Pettit became its centerpiece.

Pettit immediately made an impact. He won Rookie of the Year in 1955 after averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.

His breakout came the following season. In 1955-56, Pettit averaged 25.7 points and 16.2 rebounds and became the first NBA player to win the league MVP award.

He later won another MVP award in 1959.

Bob Pettit stats

Pettit finished his NBA career with outstanding numbers. According to NBA.com, his career averages were:

Pettit scored 20,880 points during his career and collected 12,849 rebounds. When he retired, he was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and ranked second in career rebounds.

He never averaged fewer than 20 points in a season and never missed an All-Star Game during his 11-year career. He also earned 10 consecutive All-NBA First Team selections.

Bob Pettit height and weight

Bob Pettit was listed at 6-foot-9 (2.06 meters) and 205 pounds.

His combination of size, mobility, shooting and rebounding made him unusual for his era. He was also capable of playing center, although his primary position was forward. NBA.com describes him as one of the early big men who could effectively face the basket rather than relying exclusively on post play.

Bob Pettit and the 1958 NBA championship

Pettit’s biggest team achievement came in 1958.

The St. Louis Hawks defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals to win the franchise’s only championship during its St. Louis era. Pettit delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career in Game 6.

He scored 50 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in the championship-clinching victory.

The Hawks reached the Finals four times during Pettit’s career. They lost to Boston in 1957, 1960 and 1961, with the 1957 and 1960 series going seven games.

Bob Pettit death: What happened?

Bob Pettit died on September 24, 2026, at age 93.

LSU announced his death on September 24, stating that Pettit had died the previous day. The university did not announce a cause of death. The NBA also confirmed his passing and honored him as a two-time MVP, 11-time All-Star and Hall of Famer.

His death marked the passing of one of the last major stars from the NBA’s formative years.

Pettit had lived in Baton Rouge after his basketball career and later worked in banking and financial consulting. In his later years, he remained connected to LSU and attended New Orleans Pelicans games.

How old was Bob Pettit?

Bob Pettit was 93 years old when he died.

He was born on December 12, 1932, and died in September 2026, shortly before his 94th birthday.

Was Bob Pettit racist?

Questions about whether Bob Pettit was racist are connected primarily to the controversial treatment of Cleo Hill, a Black guard drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in 1961.

Hill was selected eighth overall after starring at Winston-Salem State. He played 58 NBA games in the 1961-62 season and averaged 5.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He never played another NBA game.

Accounts of the situation differ.

Former Hawks coach Paul Seymour reportedly believed Pettit, Cliff Hagan and Clyde Lovellette did not want Hill receiving a major offensive role. Seymour was subsequently fired after refusing to reduce Hill’s role, according to accounts of the episode.

Race has therefore been part of the historical discussion surrounding Hill’s treatment. However, the available accounts do not establish a simple, uncontested conclusion that Pettit personally acted from racial prejudice.

Importantly, Hill himself later rejected the idea that race was the main reason for his problems, saying the issue was about points and playing opportunities rather than race.

Pettit’s own explanation also disputed the racial interpretation. As a result, descriptions of Pettit as a racist remain a contested historical characterization rather than an established fact.

The broader context is important. St. Louis had serious racial tensions during this period, and the Hawks organization was operating during an era when racial discrimination affected professional sports. Historians and journalists have documented the difficult environment surrounding Black players in St. Louis.

Bob Pettit Hall of Fame career

Pettit was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.

His honors include:

• 2-time NBA MVP
• 1-time NBA champion
• 11-time NBA All-Star
• 4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
• 10-time All-NBA First Team
• NBA Rookie of the Year
• First player to reach 20,000 career points
• NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• Member of all four NBA Anniversary Teams

His four All-Star Game MVP awards were a record shared only by Kobe Bryant until Pettit’s death.

What was Bob Pettit doing after the NBA?

Pettit retired following the 1964-65 season at 32 years old. A knee problem limited him to 50 games during his final campaign, but he still averaged 22.5 points.

After basketball, he returned to Baton Rouge and pursued a career outside professional sports. He worked in banking and financial consulting and maintained links with LSU and basketball.

Unlike many modern NBA stars, Pettit did not spend decades playing in the spotlight after retirement. His post-NBA career was largely focused on business and private life.

Bob Pettit net worth

There is no authoritative public figure for Bob Pettit’s net worth.

Some online biography websites have estimated his wealth at around $5 million, but that number should be treated as an estimate rather than a verified financial figure. Public records do not provide a reliable accounting of his assets, investments, property and lifetime earnings.

Pettit’s playing career came during an era when NBA salaries were dramatically lower than today’s contracts. He later built a professional career in banking and financial consulting, which contributed to his finances after basketball.

Therefore, claims about his exact net worth should be presented cautiously.

Bob Pettit’s legacy

Bob Pettit’s importance to NBA history goes beyond his statistics.

He was the first NBA MVP, the first player to reach 20,000 points and one of the league’s first superstar forwards. His career helped establish the power forward as a major offensive position.

His 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game remain remarkable numbers. He also played his entire professional career with the Hawks organization, making him one of the most recognizable figures in franchise history.

Pettit’s legacy also exists within the complicated history of the NBA’s early years. The Cleo Hill controversy continues to generate debate about race, team dynamics and discrimination in professional basketball. The historical record contains conflicting explanations, so the issue should be discussed with appropriate context rather than reduced to a single definitive claim.

Bob Pettit: Quick facts

FAQs

When did Bob Pettit die?

Bob Pettit died on September 24, 2026, at the age of 93. LSU announced his death and did not provide a cause of death.

How tall was Bob Pettit?

Bob Pettit was listed at 6-foot-9, or approximately 2.06 meters.

What were Bob Pettit’s NBA stats?

He averaged 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game over his 11-season NBA career.

How many NBA championships did Bob Pettit win?

Pettit won one NBA championship. The St. Louis Hawks defeated the Boston Celtics in the 1958 NBA Finals.

Was Bob Pettit racist?

Claims about Pettit’s involvement in racial discrimination are primarily connected to the 1961-62 Cleo Hill controversy. Historical accounts disagree about whether Hill’s treatment was motivated by racism, playing-time concerns or both. Hill himself said the issue was about points rather than race.

What was Bob Pettit’s net worth?

An exact figure has not been reliably established publicly. Some websites have estimated his net worth at approximately $5 million, but that figure is not independently verified.

How many MVP awards did Bob Pettit win?

Pettit won two NBA MVP awards, in 1956 and 1959. He was also selected as All-Star Game MVP four times.

Why is Bob Pettit important in NBA history?

Pettit was the league’s first MVP, a two-time MVP, 11-time All-Star and 1958 NBA champion. He was also the first player to reach 20,000 NBA points.