Bob Pettit
1958 NBA Champion | St. Louis Hawks Player-Coach | Hall of Fame Player
Bob Pettit was born on December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. An LSU standout, he became one of the leading scorers and rebounders of the NBA's early decades.
Pettit spent his entire 11-season NBA playing career with the Hawks franchise, won the first NBA Most Valuable Player award in 1956, earned a second MVP in 1959 and led St. Louis to the 1958 championship.
Late in the 1961-1962 season, Pettit briefly took over the Hawks as a player-coach. He directed six regular-season games, finishing 4-2, before returning to his playing responsibilities.
Pettit entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1971. He passed away on September 23, 2026, at the age of 93.
- Overall Coaching Record: 4-2
Coaching Career
Pettit was appointed head coach on March 9, 1962, following coaching changes involving Paul Seymour and Andrew Levane during a difficult Hawks season.
He guided St. Louis through the final six games of its 1961-1962 schedule and recorded four wins and two losses. The Hawks finished 29-51 and missed the playoffs.
This brief player-coach assignment was Pettit's only NBA head-coaching tenure.
Notable Players Coached
- Cliff Hagan
- Hall of Fame forward; 1958 NBA champion
- Clyde Lovellette
- Hall of Fame center
- Lenny Wilkens
- Hall of Fame guard and future championship coach