Pete Maravich was one of my favorite basketball players. This video found on YouTube shows highlights of his fantastic career both in college and the pros. In addition to being an outstanding scorer at both the collegiate and professional levels he was an outstanding passer and one of the all-time most colorful players.
Maravich played three seasons for Louisiana State University ending in 1970, a period in which freshman were not permitted to play on varsity teams, and had a ten year career in the National Basketball Association in which he averaged over 24 points per game and led the league in scoring one season.
The following charts illustrate his dominance as a scorer in college:
Top Five Major College Scorers in a Career (Total Points)
3,667 - Pete Maravich Louisiana St. 1967-1970 44.2 PPG
3,249 - Freeman Williams Portland St. 1974-1978 30.7 PPG
3,217 - Lional Simmons LaSalle 1986-1990 24.6 PPG
3,165 - Alphonso Ford Miss. Val.St. 1989-1993 29.0 PPG
3,066 - Harry Kelly Texas Southern 1979-1983 27.9 PPG
Top Five Major College Scorers in a Season (PPG)
44.5 - Pete Maravich 1969/70 Louisiana St . 1,381 Points
44.2 - Pete Maravich 1968/69 Louisiana St. 1,148 Points
43.8 - Pete Maravich 1967/68 Louisiana St. 1,138 Points
41.7 - Frank Selvy 1953/54 Furman 1,209 Points
40.1 - Johnny Newman 1970/71 Mississippi 923 Points
In January 1988 Pete Maravich collapsed and died after competing in a half-court pickup basketball game. He was just 40 years old. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a rare congenital heart defect; he had been born with a missing left coronary artery. His right coronary artery was grossly enlarged and had been compensating for the defect.
This YouTube video is a tribute to Maravich on CBS television shortly after his death.
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