Monday, August 15, 2011

Pete Maravich

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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