When he was a kid like he was not popular in school people laughed at him because he wanted to be a pro player then in eighth grade he made a highschool he scored 47 points per game and one day his father told him he can't afford college but he got a scholarship and proved to the people who where teasing him he could be a pro
Two reasons Pistol Pete isn't remembered as a competitor for greatest of all-time. 1. He played on lousy teams. 2. He hurt his knees just as his career was taking off. -- If I had a lottery pick and was drafting from all the greats, Pistol's name would be on the board.
David Stern allows players to carry and travel on literally almost every possession because he gave up trying to find a bunch of players who could do what he did. Only Jason Williams brought that flare again. Hopefully another player like them could come along, and like them, dribble the right way.
I saw Pete in action in New Orleans folks and he was all that and more. Fast, fluid. And what you can't see is all the other impossible things he did that looked so easy. Trust me folks, Pete was one of the greatest, with no qualifications. Check out Bill Walton talking about him. All the pros in the business will tell you.
@itsspideyman I think any basketball fan should know about Pistol Pete. He might be the only star player than might have been a good coach considering his bloodline (his Dad, Press, was a basketball coach but you know that). He, like the Globetrotters, were WAY ahead of their time. Most of this generation have NO IDEA how much of Pistol's game influenced today's NBA. I witness your comments. Too bad he broke down & if those injuries happened today, he'd be as good or better than he was before.
@itsspideyman Today's medicine is no where near as crude as they were then. Willis McGahee hyperextends his knee and just 2 years later, he's playing football again. With today's medicine, those operations Pistol had would not have been nearly as invasive. Pistol was as fundamentally sound as it got. A great blueprint to guide a young player. I've seen some of his drill videos and if I had a kid (boy or girl) & they wanted to play basketball, those videos are ones I'd have them watch.
I saw him days before he died. He was being honored at the All College Tournament in Oklahoma City. Days later, I am back home and my mom calls me in and told me Maravich had died. So I watched the news story on him after it was announced. It was odd seeing it since I had just seen him days ago and he looked great.
Before Michael Jordan, there was Pete Maravich. The move he made at 3:50 is mind-boggling! I just read his bio (by Mark Kriegel). A good read, that I recommend to any NBA fan. Pete wrestled with many inner demons, until he left the NBA and embraced Christianity. He died of a heart condition that usually kills people before they reach the age of 20. How he lived to 40, at the level of play he maintained, is astounding! RIP Pete. You were one in a million.
@echeva95 he doesn't have to catch the ball, he flipped it from one hand to another.
Per my responses above: ... he passed the ball from his right hand directly to his left hand. The only way to pass the ball from one hand to the next is on the bounce. What made it look slick is the fact that he passed it behind his back. Picture the same move in the front... it's like a cross-over dribble w/o the dribble.
No, its perfectly legal... He kept his hand on top of the ball while dribbling. Its such a creative move, it seems like it has to be illegal but its not.
@spencerlemoine44 see my response to uhmfar above (... he passed the ball from his right hand directly to his left hand. The only way to pass the ball from one hand to the next is via the bounce. What made it look slick is the fact that he passed it behind his back. Picture the same move in the front... it's like a cross-over dribble w/o the dribble.)
@uhmfar I beg to differ... he passed the ball from his right hand directly to his left hand. The only way to pass the ball from one hand to the next is on the bounce. What made it look slick is the fact that he passed it behind his back. Picture the same move in the front... it's like a cross-over dribble w/o the dribble.
@aikibro1 You're absolutely right, it is a double. If he would have went straight up after catching the ball it would've been legal(if he didn't move his pivot foot), but he put it back down first, thus making it a double dribble. Way to cut and paste too, hillarious
@jamesfmac Yeah... I got tired of pointing out the same thing over and over, didn't see the need for the extra keystrokes, lol. By the way, double dribble or not Pistol Pete still kicks ass. I'm just mad I never got to see him for myself. I just pointed out the double-dribble because it's so blatant yet the incompetent refs totally missed it, lol.
@aikibro1 I can't argue with that, he was the man in his time. More than likely the refs just didn't know what to call, I'm pretty sure they had never seen anything even remotely close to what he did back in those days. Also, I've read alot of comments on a few different pistol clips, and everybody compares his ball handling and passing to the same few players. Magic, Kidd, and Nash, but nobody ever mentions Jason Williams who IMO was the closest thing to pistol since the pistol. Am I crazy?
@jamesfmac You're absolutely right. I'm not gonna sit here and act like I'm sort of basketball historian or guru, but I know, watched and played a lot of ball (like many others here I'm sure) and for me the easiest comparison can be made to "White Chocolate". Magic, Kidd and Nash can make the spectacular pass, but they do so largely out of necessity... i.e. when it's warranted. Like Jason Williams, Pistol Pete made the spectacular pass as a matter of routine, i.e. whether necessary or not.
Pete will never be considered the greatest basketball player. Because yes he wasn't the teammate , or all around player, that MJ, Kobe, Bill Russell and the other greats are. However, there has never been anyone that can come close to his ball skills, he did things with the ball that even today 30 and 40 years later people are still trying to figure out. He was truly a magician he was one with the ball . And man he could shoot the lights out too!
@qwertyjunk1 Jason Williams is the closest, but he couldn't fill it up like pistol could. Every body keeps throwing Magic, Nash, Kidd, etc. but erverybody leaves out Jason Williams. Jason Williams may not have made the same impact on the league as the other guys that are frequently mentioned in comparison to the pistol, but his passing and ballhandling ablilites are better than all of those guys.
Fantastic. My brother in law once told me he saw Pistol Pete in the pros running full speed bouncing the ball between his legs for at least four dribbles. He told me you could barely see his hands because he moved so fast!
Don't kid yourselves. I love Maravich, saw him play in person once. Might have been the most entertaining player of all time, but hardly the best. Didn't make his teammates better, didn't defend, wasn't a leader. Still, a lot of fun to watch.
@seandeyoung01 What, you're saying he was a great leader, great defender and his teams won championships? Sorry, pal, you're the ignorant one. There are plenty of players who are talented and fun to watch, but aren't "winning" players. Just like there are beautiful women who wouldn't make good wives. Maravich himself would admit to his shortcomings; his teammates certainly did. But his dad created the monster he became. He should have played for another coach who demanded more from him.
@seandeyoung01 I'm afraid you're the one with no clue what he's talking about. I don't need meds, either. You might need something to control your knee-jerk reaction. You said I have no idea what I'm talking about. I just stated facts. Some people don't care for them, though. Hey, pal, we both like Maravich. We'll leave it at that.
A beautiful and unique player. No one like him before, and no like him since. Like so many great athletes of the past, an injury that would be easily treated today shortened his career and diminished his legacy in the memories of many fans. But for those who weren't lucky enough to be around at the time, be assured that Pete was an absolute sensation. His teams were terrible, but Pistol was always worth watching. The Hawks' backcourt of Pistol and Lou Hudson was sure a sweet-shooting duo.
1:19 double dribble?
jlee562 1 day ago
Comment removed
jlee562 1 day ago
damn this dudes known for passing and dribbling, but he's got a pretty ass shot
fhsdawgs377 3 days ago
@fhsdawgs377 What are you talking about? He's always been known for his shooting. That's way he was nicknamed Pistol.
bhamdodger 1 day ago
Ricky Rubio reminds me so much of the Pistol, just with a weaker jump shot.
t0fuwaffles 3 days ago
Pistol Pete Changed the game of basketball. We are blessed to have witnessed his greatness
Goldenstuff23 6 days ago
A shame he couldn't ever play for a decent team.
jab3785 2 weeks ago
The greatest shooter of all time IMO
RaiEDT 2 weeks ago
thats where practice will get you the best passer with ether hand and shooting with ether hand
moecat1000 3 weeks ago
0:52 now that's where the smitty came from
MrLupuss 1 month ago
great!!!
TheMurphy1310 1 month ago
@EFD39 Ricky Rubio. Nuff Said.
bigtoe566 2 months ago
When he was a kid like he was not popular in school people laughed at him because he wanted to be a pro player then in eighth grade he made a highschool he scored 47 points per game and one day his father told him he can't afford college but he got a scholarship and proved to the people who where teasing him he could be a pro
reyaan5 3 months ago
Two reasons Pistol Pete isn't remembered as a competitor for greatest of all-time. 1. He played on lousy teams. 2. He hurt his knees just as his career was taking off. -- If I had a lottery pick and was drafting from all the greats, Pistol's name would be on the board.
FavreianVengeance 3 months ago
This guys inspires me.
tuldoklipunan87 4 months ago
Damn! Magic Johnson must have watched these vids to learn his trade.
HarryHardcash 7 months ago 3
damn 3:00 look at tht perfect left hand behind the back pass ha his passes look effortless
freshquest62 7 months ago
Supposedly Pete would have his dad drive him to school while he would bounce the basketball out the car window.
fairalways 7 months ago
Amazing dribbling skills.
ElectricRocklee 8 months ago
David Stern allows players to carry and travel on literally almost every possession because he gave up trying to find a bunch of players who could do what he did. Only Jason Williams brought that flare again. Hopefully another player like them could come along, and like them, dribble the right way.
EFD39 10 months ago 7
@EFD39 you are so right-- could'nt have said it better myself--- hope this season starts on dec 25 like they said----
2323giggity 3 months ago
@EFD39 I agree. They all seem to carry and take the "A" train.
Soulblackman 6 days ago
Awesome video.
EFD39 10 months ago
He died so young ...people forget how good he was.
spazmando 10 months ago
I saw Pete in action in New Orleans folks and he was all that and more. Fast, fluid. And what you can't see is all the other impossible things he did that looked so easy. Trust me folks, Pete was one of the greatest, with no qualifications. Check out Bill Walton talking about him. All the pros in the business will tell you.
itsspideyman 11 months ago
@itsspideyman I think any basketball fan should know about Pistol Pete. He might be the only star player than might have been a good coach considering his bloodline (his Dad, Press, was a basketball coach but you know that). He, like the Globetrotters, were WAY ahead of their time. Most of this generation have NO IDEA how much of Pistol's game influenced today's NBA. I witness your comments. Too bad he broke down & if those injuries happened today, he'd be as good or better than he was before.
johnduncan77 8 months ago
@itsspideyman Today's medicine is no where near as crude as they were then. Willis McGahee hyperextends his knee and just 2 years later, he's playing football again. With today's medicine, those operations Pistol had would not have been nearly as invasive. Pistol was as fundamentally sound as it got. A great blueprint to guide a young player. I've seen some of his drill videos and if I had a kid (boy or girl) & they wanted to play basketball, those videos are ones I'd have them watch.
johnduncan77 8 months ago
I saw him days before he died. He was being honored at the All College Tournament in Oklahoma City. Days later, I am back home and my mom calls me in and told me Maravich had died. So I watched the news story on him after it was announced. It was odd seeing it since I had just seen him days ago and he looked great.
acehighpat 11 months ago
3:49, awesome!
9DodgeFan 1 year ago
he had some funky passes this video
iGameiBall1 1 year ago
rip
bustballz 1 year ago
Before Michael Jordan, there was Pete Maravich. The move he made at 3:50 is mind-boggling! I just read his bio (by Mark Kriegel). A good read, that I recommend to any NBA fan. Pete wrestled with many inner demons, until he left the NBA and embraced Christianity. He died of a heart condition that usually kills people before they reach the age of 20. How he lived to 40, at the level of play he maintained, is astounding! RIP Pete. You were one in a million.
ftsjr 1 year ago
pistol magic nash bird cousy the most technically skilled players to step on the harwood
ON3SM3LLYN1G 1 year ago
Gracias por todo, Pete!!!
petermihm 1 year ago
how many different numbers did this guy have and which one did he have for the longest
mosessilverman 1 year ago
man, he woulda made a great laker
ZoomZip 1 year ago
@ZoomZip When Jerry West retired, they should've made a mad push to get him.
PeekaPeep 1 month ago
This is the ultimate Pistol kid mix, big props for gates 69
EduSanjuan777 1 year ago
Best white player of all time, right there with Larry Bird, and the sickest ballhandling ever.
EduSanjuan777 1 year ago
the begging of basketball was by pistol
johnwall2wizards 1 year ago
first time i've watched footage of the Pistol play and he sick.
dojawizard420 1 year ago
you cant have a nickname like that and NOT be a straight-up badass on the court
Torriskills 1 year ago
Pure class. What a fantastic player...
casoncello 1 year ago
even chuck norris couldnt make pistol look bad
TheSipe2 1 year ago
That behind-the-back move @ 1:20 is illegal... that's actually a double dribble.
aikibro1 1 year ago
@aikibro1 It isn't. He didn't catch the ball
echeva95 1 year ago
@echeva95 it is a double dribble but w/e pistol pete was amazing, who doesn't have at least one violation in a highlight reel.
And do any of you guys think steve nash comes close to his playing style. CLOSE not match
Huvang08 1 year ago
@echeva95 he doesn't have to catch the ball, he flipped it from one hand to another.
Per my responses above: ... he passed the ball from his right hand directly to his left hand. The only way to pass the ball from one hand to the next is on the bounce. What made it look slick is the fact that he passed it behind his back. Picture the same move in the front... it's like a cross-over dribble w/o the dribble.
aikibro1 1 year ago
@aikibro1
No, its perfectly legal... He kept his hand on top of the ball while dribbling. Its such a creative move, it seems like it has to be illegal but its not.
spencerlemoine44 1 year ago
@spencerlemoine44 see my response to uhmfar above (... he passed the ball from his right hand directly to his left hand. The only way to pass the ball from one hand to the next is via the bounce. What made it look slick is the fact that he passed it behind his back. Picture the same move in the front... it's like a cross-over dribble w/o the dribble.)
aikibro1 1 year ago
@aikibro1
No it isn't. It is absolutely sick, though.
uhmfar 1 year ago
@uhmfar I beg to differ... he passed the ball from his right hand directly to his left hand. The only way to pass the ball from one hand to the next is on the bounce. What made it look slick is the fact that he passed it behind his back. Picture the same move in the front... it's like a cross-over dribble w/o the dribble.
aikibro1 1 year ago
@aikibro1 You're absolutely right, it is a double. If he would have went straight up after catching the ball it would've been legal(if he didn't move his pivot foot), but he put it back down first, thus making it a double dribble. Way to cut and paste too, hillarious
jamesfmac 11 months ago
@jamesfmac Yeah... I got tired of pointing out the same thing over and over, didn't see the need for the extra keystrokes, lol. By the way, double dribble or not Pistol Pete still kicks ass. I'm just mad I never got to see him for myself. I just pointed out the double-dribble because it's so blatant yet the incompetent refs totally missed it, lol.
aikibro1 11 months ago
@aikibro1 I can't argue with that, he was the man in his time. More than likely the refs just didn't know what to call, I'm pretty sure they had never seen anything even remotely close to what he did back in those days. Also, I've read alot of comments on a few different pistol clips, and everybody compares his ball handling and passing to the same few players. Magic, Kidd, and Nash, but nobody ever mentions Jason Williams who IMO was the closest thing to pistol since the pistol. Am I crazy?
jamesfmac 11 months ago
@jamesfmac You're absolutely right. I'm not gonna sit here and act like I'm sort of basketball historian or guru, but I know, watched and played a lot of ball (like many others here I'm sure) and for me the easiest comparison can be made to "White Chocolate". Magic, Kidd and Nash can make the spectacular pass, but they do so largely out of necessity... i.e. when it's warranted. Like Jason Williams, Pistol Pete made the spectacular pass as a matter of routine, i.e. whether necessary or not.
aikibro1 10 months ago
R.I.P. Pistol.
MrJhepna 1 year ago
Pete will never be considered the greatest basketball player. Because yes he wasn't the teammate , or all around player, that MJ, Kobe, Bill Russell and the other greats are. However, there has never been anyone that can come close to his ball skills, he did things with the ball that even today 30 and 40 years later people are still trying to figure out. He was truly a magician he was one with the ball . And man he could shoot the lights out too!
qwertyjunk1 1 year ago
@qwertyjunk1 Jason Williams is the closest, but he couldn't fill it up like pistol could. Every body keeps throwing Magic, Nash, Kidd, etc. but erverybody leaves out Jason Williams. Jason Williams may not have made the same impact on the league as the other guys that are frequently mentioned in comparison to the pistol, but his passing and ballhandling ablilites are better than all of those guys.
jamesfmac 11 months ago
1:09 to 1:12 my favorite. Man he made that player look like a rookie!
seandeyoung01 1 year ago
Fantastic. My brother in law once told me he saw Pistol Pete in the pros running full speed bouncing the ball between his legs for at least four dribbles. He told me you could barely see his hands because he moved so fast!
77guy777 1 year ago
Scary to think what he would have done with a 3 point line in college or the pros.
BufordStone 1 year ago
pure genus
28sinclair 1 year ago
Don't kid yourselves. I love Maravich, saw him play in person once. Might have been the most entertaining player of all time, but hardly the best. Didn't make his teammates better, didn't defend, wasn't a leader. Still, a lot of fun to watch.
vantalge 1 year ago
@vantalge You haven't a clue what your talking about
seandeyoung01 1 year ago
@seandeyoung01 What, you're saying he was a great leader, great defender and his teams won championships? Sorry, pal, you're the ignorant one. There are plenty of players who are talented and fun to watch, but aren't "winning" players. Just like there are beautiful women who wouldn't make good wives. Maravich himself would admit to his shortcomings; his teammates certainly did. But his dad created the monster he became. He should have played for another coach who demanded more from him.
vantalge 1 year ago
@vantalge I didn't say any of those things you say I did. Time to get back on your meds pal!
seandeyoung01 1 year ago
@seandeyoung01 I'm afraid you're the one with no clue what he's talking about. I don't need meds, either. You might need something to control your knee-jerk reaction. You said I have no idea what I'm talking about. I just stated facts. Some people don't care for them, though. Hey, pal, we both like Maravich. We'll leave it at that.
vantalge 1 year ago
The Greatest Player of All Time o_o
sarahconner11 1 year ago 12
@sarahconner11 no doubt better than MJ
patriatich 1 year ago
@patriatich MJ you can't take credit from. But I lean toward your conclusions.
seandeyoung01 1 year ago
Pistol Pete's style was well beyond his years...great footage, never seen most of these highlights...good stuff
dasecondhalf 1 year ago
@dasecondhalf Pistol was an Artist on the court. He was basketball!
seandeyoung01 1 year ago
Absolutely AMAZING pass @ 2:22. Gotta give credit where it's due Pistol Pete was a bad ass man. Steve Nash must have picked up his game watching him.
TheMrplayaplaya 1 year ago
absolutely amazing ball handling...
maestrinho10 1 year ago
dang he is good the best ive every seen
MrDeathenergy 2 years ago
man he is the best basketball player in the world to me
MrDeathenergy 2 years ago
best offensive college player ever...44 points per game in his college career, still the record for the NCAA.
masonzstone 2 years ago
A beautiful and unique player. No one like him before, and no like him since. Like so many great athletes of the past, an injury that would be easily treated today shortened his career and diminished his legacy in the memories of many fans. But for those who weren't lucky enough to be around at the time, be assured that Pete was an absolute sensation. His teams were terrible, but Pistol was always worth watching. The Hawks' backcourt of Pistol and Lou Hudson was sure a sweet-shooting duo.
uhmfar 2 years ago
He really made watching roundball fun.
I'd rather watch him and World B. Free than
anybody around today!
MultiDKenny 2 years ago
Now thats a fukin highlight reel.
Emit79 2 years ago
Pistol is the best of all time, great mix
GigiBuffon97 2 years ago
3:49. hes a freakin beast
spanishpro123456 3 years ago
Gonna love his flashy passes. :D
FrostJeremin 3 years ago
my favorite basketball player of all time
ajimmyal 3 years ago
PISTOL is de machine!!!
ganxito9 3 years ago
Many basketball fans either forget or simply don't know how great Pistol was in his prime --
stevevandien 4 years ago 28
@stevevandien As they Say "heroes come and go , but legends are forever"
AznMcchunky 9 months ago
@AznMcchunky ABSOLUTELY.
stevevandien 9 months ago
@stevevandien AMEN.
stevevandien 9 months ago
i just about craped myself when i saw the pass at 24 sec!
cleary88 4 years ago
4:48 is also pretty SICK!
FrostJeremin 3 years ago
Pete was one tough sucker....
UltimatePeteMaravich 4 years ago
The "Pistol" could do anything with a basketball.
UltimatePeteMaravich 4 years ago
PISTOL can make ANYBODY look bad on the court if he feels like it .
ramgarr 4 years ago 22
@ramgarr Amen
seandeyoung01 1 year ago