NBA player Bob Pettit, the first recipient of the league’s Most Valuable Player award, died on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. He was 93. His alma mater, Louisiana State University (LSU), announced the death the following day but did not provide a cause of death. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame also confirmed the death of the former St. Louis Hawks star.
Pettit was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1932 and played three seasons of varsity basketball at LSU, where he led the Southeastern Conference in scoring each year. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954 and remained with the franchise for his entire 11-season career, which included the team's move to St. Louis. Following his retirement in 1965, Pettit worked in banking and financial consulting in Baton Rouge.
During his professional career, Pettit was named an All-Star in every season he played. He won the inaugural NBA MVP award for the 1955-56 season and earned a second MVP in 1959. In 1958, Pettit led the Hawks to the NBA championship, defeating the Boston Celtics. At the time of his retirement, he was the first player to reach 20,000 career points and held the league record for total points with 20,880.
The scale of Pettit’s impact is reflected in his individual accolades and records. He participated in 11 All-Star games, winning the game’s MVP award four times, a total matched by Kobe Bryant. Upon his 1965 retirement, he was the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 20,880 points and ranked second in career rebounds with 12,849. Pettit's Hawks were the only team to defeat Boston in a Finals series during a 10-year span.
Pettit was the first LSU athlete to have his jersey number retired. He is one of only three LSU players, alongside Pete Maravich and Shaquille O’Neal, to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Public memorials have not yet been reported by his family or the university.