Robert Lee “Bob” Pettit Jr. Obituary, BATON ROUGE, La. — Robert Lee “Bob” Pettit Jr., one of the foundational figures in professional basketball and widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, died on September 24, 2026, at the age of 93. His death marks the passing of one of the sport’s earliest superstars, whose scoring, rebounding and competitive drive helped shape the modern NBA.
Born on December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Pettit’s journey to basketball greatness was not an easy one. He was cut from his high school varsity team as both a freshman and sophomore. During his sophomore year, he played church league basketball and grew five inches in a single year. Encouraged by his father, Pettit dedicated himself to practicing in his backyard and steadily developed into a dominant player.
By his senior season at Baton Rouge High School, Pettit had become a standout player and led the school to a state championship, its first in more than two decades. His performances earned him a selection to play in a North–South all-star game in Murray, Kentucky, further establishing him as one of Louisiana’s promising young basketball talents.
At Louisiana State University, Pettit continued his rapid rise. He earned All-SEC honors three times and All-American honors twice while averaging 27.8 points per game during his varsity career. He led LSU to the 1953 NCAA Final Four, the first appearance in program history. In 1954, LSU retired his No. 50 jersey, making Pettit the first Tiger athlete in any sport to receive that distinction.
Pettit was selected second overall by the Milwaukee Hawks in the 1954 NBA Draft and quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier forwards. He won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1955 after averaging 20.4 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. During an 11-season career with the Milwaukee and St. Louis Hawks, he became an NBA champion in 1958, scoring a then-record 50 points in the title-clinching Game 6.
His professional résumé included two NBA Most Valuable Player awards, in 1956 and 1959, making him the first player to win the honor. He was selected to 11 All-Star Games and earned four All-Star Game MVP awards, while being named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times. Pettit was also the first player in NBA history to surpass 20,000 career points. He finished his career averaging 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game and averaged at least 20 points and 12 rebounds in every season of his career.
Pettit was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970. His legacy continued to be recognized decades after his retirement, and he remains one of only four players named to all four NBA anniversary teams—the 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. His accomplishments established enduring standards for excellence at the power forward position and secured his place among basketball’s most influential early stars.
After retiring from basketball in 1965, Pettit began a successful 23-year career in banking in Baton Rouge and Metairie. He later co-founded the financial consulting firm Equitas Capital Investors and remained involved with the company until his retirement in 2006. Beyond his statistics and championships, his career represented a lasting contribution to the development and history of professional basketball. Pettit is remembered for the consistency, determination and competitiveness that defined his remarkable career. Condolences go to his family, friends and all those who admired his life and contributions, as his memory continues to endure in the history of basketball.
