American · Baton Rouge, Louisiana · Born 12 December 1932American basketball legend who dominated the 1950s and early 1960s as a prolific scorer and rebounder, becoming the first NBA player to reach 20,000 points.
Robert Lee Pettit Jr. was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1932. Milwaukee Hawks selected him second overall in the 1954 NBA Draft. His 11-season career produced 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game — averages that place him among the greatest power forwards in NBA history. He won two NBA MVP awards (1956, 1959). He was selected to 11 consecutive All-Star games and won the All-Star Game MVP award four times. He was named to the All-NBA First Team 10 consecutive times. He won the NBA championship with the St. Louis Hawks in 1958 — his only title — scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6 against the Boston Celtics, including 19 of the team's final 21 points. He was the first player to score 20,000 career points and held the career scoring record until Wilt Chamberlain. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 and named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996. His combination of scoring, rebounding and the ability to elevate in the biggest moments made him the premier power forward of his era and one of the most decorated players in early NBA history.
First NBA player to score 20,000 career points and dominant power forward of the 1950s
He was named to the All-Star team in every single season he played — 11 out of 11 — the most perfect All-Star selection record in NBA history.
Did You Know?How They Played
Dominant scorer and rebounder with excellent shooting touch and fierce competitiveness
Lasting Impact
NBA legend who revolutionized the power forward position and led Hawks to their only championship
Career Honours
- NBA Champion (1958)
- NBA MVP 2x (1956,1959)
- All-Star 11x
- All-NBA First Team 10x
- Hall of Fame (1971)
- NBA 50th Anniversary Team
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks | 1954–1965 | 792 |
American Athletes