Pete Maravich - Pistol Pete

Pete Maravich became a national basketball sensation while playing for his father, head coach Press Maravich, at Louisiana State University. His remarkable offensive skills made LSU one of the most entertaining programs in college basketball, even though the Tigers did not win an NCAA championship during his career.

Between 1967 and 1970, Maravich scored 3,667 points in just 83 varsity games, averaging an extraordinary 44.2 points per game. He led the nation in scoring in all three of his varsity seasons, averaging 43.8 points as a sophomore, 44.2 as a junior and 44.5 as a senior.

His scoring accomplishments are even more remarkable considering that college basketball did not use a three-point line during his LSU career. Maravich also played before the introduction of the shot clock, meaning his extraordinary scoring averages were achieved under a very different set of rules.

Maravich's college career made him one of the most recognizable basketball players in the country. His behind-the-back passes, long-range shooting and unconventional ballhandling helped popularize a more expressive style of basketball.

His NCAA Division I men's career scoring record of 3,667 points stood for more than five decades before Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis approached the mark and Detroit Mercy's record chase ended short in 2023. Caitlin Clark surpassed Maravich's overall Division I career point total in women's basketball in 2024, while the men's Division I record remains Maravich's.

The Atlanta Hawks selected Pete Maravich with the third overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft. He joined an established roster featuring Walt Bellamy and Lou Hudson, immediately becoming one of the league's most exciting young guards.

Maravich averaged 23.2 points and 4.4 assists during his rookie season and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. His flashy playing style sometimes divided observers, but his offensive ability was undeniable.

After averaging 19.3 points in 1971-72, Maravich developed into one of the NBA's most productive scorers. He averaged 26.1 points and 6.9 assists in 1972-73, followed by 27.7 points in 1973-74.

Maravich earned All-Star selections in 1973 and 1974 and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1973. His four seasons in Atlanta established him as one of basketball's premier offensive talents.

Following the 1973-74 season, Atlanta traded Maravich to the expansion New Orleans Jazz in exchange for multiple draft picks and other considerations. The transaction gave the new franchise an established star before its inaugural season.

The New Orleans Jazz entered the NBA for the 1974-75 season, and Pete Maravich became the centerpiece of the new franchise. His Louisiana connections and national popularity made him a natural attraction for basketball fans in New Orleans.

During the Jazz's inaugural season, Maravich averaged 21.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 79 games. Although the expansion team struggled to win consistently, his performances helped generate attention for professional basketball in Louisiana.

Maravich averaged 25.9 points during the 1975-76 season and earned All-NBA First Team honors. He followed with the finest scoring season of his professional career in 1976-77, leading the NBA with 31.1 points per game.

On February 25, 1977, Maravich scored a career-high 68 points against the New York Knicks at the Louisiana Superdome. At the time, it was the highest-scoring game by an NBA guard and remains one of the most memorable individual performances in Jazz history.

Maravich continued to produce impressive statistics during the following two seasons, averaging 27.0 points in 1977-78 and 22.6 in 1978-79. However, knee problems increasingly affected his availability and mobility.

The Jazz struggled financially in New Orleans and relocated to Salt Lake City following the 1978-79 season. Maravich had been the most recognizable player during the franchise's entire New Orleans era, and his influence remained an important part of the team's history after the move.

Pete Maravich accompanied the Jazz franchise to Utah for the 1979-80 NBA season. Although his knees were no longer healthy enough to support the same style of play that had made him famous, he remained an important connection between the team's New Orleans beginnings and its new home in Salt Lake City.

Maravich appeared in 17 games for Utah, averaging 17.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists. His time with the relocated franchise was brief, but it made him one of the few players to appear for both the New Orleans and Utah Jazz during the franchise's transition.

After leaving Utah, Maravich signed with the Boston Celtics in January 1980. He appeared in 26 regular-season games for Boston, averaging 11.5 points in 17.0 minutes per game.

Maravich also played in nine postseason games for Boston. The Celtics reached the 1980 Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Maravich retired following the 1979-80 season, ending a 10-year NBA career in which he scored 15,948 points.

The table below includes every NBA season of Pete Maravich's career. His final season is separated into Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics statistics, with a combined 1979-80 total.

GP = games played; MPG = minutes per game; RPG = rebounds per game; APG = assists per game; PPG = points per game. Hover over a row to highlight the season.

Maravich was selected to five NBA All-Star teams but appeared in four All-Star Games. His 1979-80 season total combines 17 games with Utah and 26 with Boston; it is not an additional season.

One of the defining moments of Pete Maravich's NBA career came on February 25, 1977, when he scored 68 points for the New Orleans Jazz in a 124-107 victory over the New York Knicks.

Playing at the Louisiana Superdome, Maravich made 26 field goals and 16 free throws. The performance established a new single-game scoring record for an NBA guard, surpassing the 63 points scored by Jerry West in 1962.

Maravich's 68-point performance was especially impressive because the NBA did not yet have a three-point line. The league would not introduce the three-point field goal until the 1979-80 season, Maravich's final year.

The game remains one of the greatest individual scoring performances in the history of the Jazz franchise and a defining achievement of Maravich's career.

Pete Maravich was far more than a prolific scorer. His ballhandling, imaginative passing and ability to make difficult shots helped change expectations for what a guard could accomplish on a basketball court.

Long before behind-the-back passes, deep jump shots and creative dribbling became common elements of professional basketball, Maravich was entertaining audiences with skills that appeared years ahead of their time. His instructional basketball videos and public appearances also introduced generations of young players to advanced ballhandling techniques.

Maravich was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. His No. 7 jersey was retired by the Jazz franchise, recognizing his role as its first great star. He was also selected to the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.

On January 5, 1988, Maravich collapsed while playing a pickup basketball game at a church gym in Pasadena, California. He died at age 40. An autopsy revealed that he had been born without a left coronary artery, a rare congenital heart condition.

For the Utah Jazz, Maravich represents a vital link to the franchise's earliest years in New Orleans. His remarkable scoring performances, unforgettable playing style and lasting influence on basketball have made him one of the most celebrated figures in the organization's history.

How many points did Pete Maravich score in his NBA career?

Maravich scored 15,948 points in 658 regular-season games, averaging 24.2 points per game.

Did Pete Maravich play for the Utah Jazz?

Yes. Maravich played 17 games for Utah during the franchise's inaugural season in Salt Lake City in 1979-80. He previously spent five seasons with the New Orleans Jazz.

What was Pete Maravich's highest-scoring NBA game?

Maravich scored 68 points against the New York Knicks on February 25, 1977.

How many NBA All-Star selections did Pete Maravich receive?

He was selected to five All-Star teams and appeared in four All-Star Games.

What was Pete Maravich's college scoring average?

He averaged 44.2 points per game during his three varsity seasons at LSU, scoring 3,667 points.

When was Pete Maravich inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame?

Maravich was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.

NBAHoopsOnline welcomes historical basketball information, photographs, newspaper clippings, game programs, box scores, and other material that can help expand our basketball history records.

If you have additional information about Pete Maravich, the New Orleans Jazz or the Utah Jazz, or notice an error, please contact us at nbahoopsonline@gmail.com.

Please include the player, game, season, date and any supporting sources when submitting corrections or additional historical information.