Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete (Paperback)

by Wayne Federman (Author), Marshall Terrill (Author)

Peter Press Maravich (June 22, 1947 – January 5, 1988), nicknamed "Pistol Pete", was an American basketball player. He was born in Pennsylvania. Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University (LSU) and for three NBA teams. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game.[1] He accomplished this without the benefit of a three-point line and despite the fact that NCAA rules prohibited him from playing on the varsity team as a freshman.

NBA
After graduating from LSU in 1970, Maravich was the third selection in the first round of that year's NBA player draft[4] and made league history when he signed a $1.9 million contract — one of the highest salaries at the time — with the Atlanta Hawks. He wasted little time becoming a prime time player by averaging 23.2 points per game his rookie season and being named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. After spending four seasons in Atlanta, Maravich was traded to the New Orleans Jazz for 8 players, where he peaked as an NBA showman and superstar. He made the All-NBA First Team in 1976 and 1977 and the All-NBA Second Team in 1973 and 1978. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1976-77 with 31.1 points per game. Prior to the 1979-80 season, Maravich moved with the team to Utah. He was waived by the Jazz on January 18, 1980 and was quickly picked up by the Boston Celtics where he played the rest of the season alongside Larry Bird.[5] Maravich retired in the fall of 1980.

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The youngest person to be voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, "Pistol" Pete Maravich is recognized by the NBA as one of the all-time top 50 basketball players. More than 30 years after he left Louisiana State University, his NCAA scoring record still stands. He enjoyed fame, wealth, and short of winning an NBA championship, achieved every possible success. But there was a price. Pete brought a childlike exuberance to the court that often masked a tortured and confused adult. Things changed dramatically and permanently, however, when Pete found Christ. At last he experienced peace and a purpose that extended beyond the basketball court. He became an avid student of the Bible and a tireless evangelist. Tragically, at age 40, Pete Maravich died.

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Focus (August 20, 2008)
Language: English

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He was one the greatest basketball players of all time but because he played in Atlanta part of his career, was white, and didn't fit with the Media's liberal propaganda bullshit of the period and now, a lot of young people may not even know who he is. That is a shame because he was among the greatest.