Bob Pettit - Dutch

Robert E. Lee "Bob" Pettit (born December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954-1965). He was the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971. He also went by the nickname "Dutch" in college.

In 1954, the Milwaukee Hawks selected Pettit in the first round of the NBA Draft. Many were skeptical about Pettit making the transition from college to the rough-and-tumble NBA. Rookies often struggle adjusting to the pro game, but not Pettit — in 1955 he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. After this season, the Hawks moved to St. Louis.

Pettit was moved to forward as a pro. "In college I played the standing pivot," he said in a April 1957. "My back was to the basket. In the pros, I'm always outside. Everything I do is facing the basket now. That was my chief difficulty in adjusting, the fact that I had never played forward before."

In his second season, Pettit won his first scoring title with a 25.7 average, and led the league in rebounding (1164 for a 16.2 average). He was also named MVP of the NBA All-Star Game after scoring 20 points with 24 rebounds; he would win subsequent MVP All-Star Game honors in 1958, 1959, and 1962. He also won his first of two NBA regular season MVP awards (the other was in 1959).

In 1958, Pettit, Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan led the Hawks to an NBA Championship, defeating the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals (the Hawks had acquired Macauley and Hagan from Boston for the draft rights to Russell). Pettit put an exclamation point on the Hawks' 110-109 game 6 victory by scoring a then-playoff record of 50 points. Both teams would also meet in the 1957, 1960 and 1961 Finals, with Boston winning each time.

Pettit's league leading scoring average of 29.2 points per game in the 1958-59 season was an NBA record at the time, that season he was also named as the Sporting News NBA MVP. In the 1960-61 season, Pettit pulled down 20.3 rebounds per game, making him one of only five players to ever break the 20 rpg barrier. In the following season, he scored a career best 31.1 points per game.

Pettit ended his career in 1965, becoming the first NBA player to eclipse the 20,000 points mark (20,880 for a 26.4 average). His 12,849 rebounds were second most in league history at the time he retired, and his 16.2 rebounds per game career average remains third only to Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

In 1971, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pettit is often credited as revolutionizing the power forward position in the NBA. Because of his scoring and rebounding ability, he is considered the predecessor to Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas, Elvin Hayes, Bob McAdoo, Kevin McHale, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.

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[afceastfan]

Because based on what I have seen of Radja (live and on video) and Pettit (on video only) they appear to have remarkably similar size, skills, etc. "games" if you will. I think Radja would average 20-10 in his sleep if he played in the 50's, and I don't think Pettit would have ever had a 26-16 season in the 90's (let alone a career average) -- do you disagree?

[VeoShock]

Probably not a 26-16 but 20+ n 12. But it was diff times n i understand what u r saying about that. But I still think Pettit would be better than Radja regardless. I seen Radja play as well.

[afceastfan]

Question for the basketball historians here. No disrespect at all intended here, but how much better is this guy, then, say, Dino Radja in his prime? I know it's hard to compare players from different eras but in terms of size, skills, moves, etc., Radja and Pettit look to me like the exact same player.

[VeoShock]

U r kidding me right. Seriously, u r kidding right. Pettit over Radja, any day, any generation, any time. No comparision.

[MCskillz1234]

You've got to be kidding me. You're comparing a guy who came off the bench to a multiple-time MVP and scoring champion. Bob Pettit could stroke it from inside, outside, the free-throw line, anywhere. Dino Radja only stroked it in the bathroom while he read a Soviet victoria's secret, as quietly as possible so his teammates didn't hear anything. Dino Radja wouldn't even be allowed to flush the toilet after Bob Pettit destroyed the bathroom.

[beriflor]

the greatest power forward of all time is bob petit.....he was also a track performer in school, had every shot in the back, unlimited range, incredible jump shot and his off the backboard jumper from the side was much deadlier than tim duncan, great hoot shot with either hand, but check his defense and rebounding stats, and remember he had to go head to head against russell....wilt......bellamy..­.thurmond.....

[MIKESOWELL]

@arosales210 You're an idiot.

[Biswalt]

@afceastfan: Based on my spreadsheet which compares players of different eras adjusting for their yearly differences from the norm, I have Petit's team winning by about 6 points if both he and Radja went head to head with totally average teammates. And it's mostly because Petit was a better rebounder, and committed less fouls.

[Shiz92096]

nate thurmond wasnt really tht good, wilt,mikan, dutch,elgin baylor

[arosales210]

This guy would have been bodyslammed by today's athletes. He is nowhere near GOAT PF status no matter how many points he averaged in a league full of fat slugs (the 60s).

[jimw12]

Bob Pettit is in my opinion one of the most overlooked/under appreciated NBA players of all-time. The guy was probably the greatest player of his era, yet people always think of Bob Cousy and George Mikan.

[FavreianVengeance]

@afceastfan Are you seriously considering Dino Radja to Petit? That's silly. Quit the hero worship and stop disrespecting 50's b-ball b/c they were solid back then. It's a myth that they weren't.

[AdreasTheGreat]

@heartbreakdrakemusic well,imagine that today would be more athletic,strong,higher vertical leap.....due modern training technic and steroids....today would be like dirk,he had great outside shoot and post game and also was much better rebounder than dirk!it's not accidently that only pettit and wilt won those great celtics team,one of the best officiall teams of all time!do u thik lebron or wade would be the same if played in 60's?NOWAY....

[smoothALOE]

I think it's totally unfair to try and compare a guy like Pettit to today's players, but you can see the standard he set for his position at the time and he had a great work ethic. He also has the distinction of being a part of the only team to defeat Bill Russell's Celtics in the Finals. I'll address this "King, Dantley and English" comment as well: they didn't win championships. Sorry!...

[heartbreakdrakemusic]

imagine him playing today, i think d league would destroy them

[chainbladerocks]

he owns the all time playoff pts/rebounds title folks....ALL TIME!!!!!