How Good Was Pistol Pete Maravich Actually?

Pete Maravich, better known as Pistol Pete - was one of the best NBA players of the 70s, a dribbling magician, outstanding shooter, and arguably the greatest NCAA player ever.
Pete was playing a brand of basketball 40 years ahead of his time - and players today can't even do some of the stuff the Pistol did in the 70s.
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How Good Was Pistol Pete Actually?

[@nonstop]

Don't sleep on Pete! Straight legend.

[@MrBpatri]

Ya bro some people don't even keep in the top 50 that is painful bro

[@seandupree8871]

I want to thank you for keeping these legends alive

[@ynotefil]

The Original White Chocolate 💯

[@elonmartin3294]

He's a street legend in the NBA rip pistol

[@charlescanan7237]

The lsu basketball stadium is named after pistol Pete

[@professorlangford1575]

He was light-years ahead of the NBA and basketball period. Born in the wrong Era. Underappreciated. Man was a true wizard. Only true thing held him back was sometimes it seemed he worried more bout scoring than winning.

[@bol9332]

You use light-years for measuring a distance 😅

[@Ngreaves]

@@bol9332 still could make sense eg. miles ahead

[@apoorvsingh3395]

This guy was playing 2k even before it was invented

[@professorlangford1575]

@@Ngreaves I guess these dudes can't compute a term into a simple concept. 😂

[@Ngreaves]

@@professorlangford1575 😂

[@Chairsium]

Say what you want, but the dude had one of the coolest nicknames in NBA history.

[@monetschannel5773]

Pistol 🔫

[@logon235]

Right along with Shooter McGavin :-D

[@deirdre108]

Probably wouldn't allow that name now because

[@hotrox2112]

@@deirdre108 ...or Chuck " The Rifleman" Pearson

[@rockvilleraven]

@@monetschannel5773 Wore it on the back of his New Orleans Jazz Jersey.

[@red5llaw]

It's still amazing that Pete amassed all those points with NO 3 POINT LINE. That still blows me away. He was a Superman.

[@kennybeans6115]

@m rapacki ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich, the _real_ GOAT!

[@jerryboswell3849]

Because of watching him, he inspired me to work on my basketball shooting and work on my behind the back shot... After a while seems like it was 1 out of 3 percentage wise Made one in a 3 on 3 game... That was fun!!!

[@timclark2952]

@m rapacki all in 3 years..just 87 games

[@tombailey6021]

@@kennybeans6115 Never Won Anything!

[@kennybeans6115]

@@tombailey6021 What’s that have to do with his individual skills? For example, Tom Brady will undoubtedly go down as the GOAT in terms of success and winning rings….but he’s not nearly the greatest qb on an individual level. Not even close. Context matters. Put Brady on the Jets or MJ on the Clippers and it’s a totally different story. What Pistol brought to the game and his abilities as an all-around scorer was once in a lifetime.

[@CodeineAbdulJabbar]

44 ppg in his college career. Still the all time leading scorer in the NCAA without a 3 pt line and only played 3 seasons.

[@CodeineAbdulJabbar]

Also... GEAUX TIGERS

[@drizzyuzumaki8753]

Dude was just different

[@Gnofg]

you realize he took about 90% of the shots for LSU. I watched him and all the players back then. There are a lot of guards I would take before him. Earl the pearl was a much better player, invented the spin move and the most important thing that he did was continued to get better. His spin move is what everyone else copies today and even became a decent defensive player. Pete never really got better.

[@wiseguy617]

@@Gnofg Of COURSE YOU WOULD...hater, Lmfao. Did he beat you up in high school or something. Damn, just give the man props...sheeeeshhh!

[@chrisbertinelli3694]

Never ever gonna be broken EVER

[@professional-citizen]

He's underrated when you think of legends

[@seannborba8416]

Agree, he isn't talked about enough when it comes to great old-school players. His passes would make Jason Williams drop a jaw

[@JoaoCruz-lu2kj]

I mean there are a lot of players with better stats

[@seannborba8416]

@@JoaoCruz-lu2kj his stats would be better if he had good teammates and a 3 point line in his career. He was always on bad teams and had his career cut short due to injurie

[@JoaoCruz-lu2kj]

@@seannborba8416 I agree with you, what I'm saying is that maybe that's the main reason why he is so underrated, most people nowadays only look at ppg

[@professional-citizen]

@@JoaoCruz-lu2kj Yeah definitely underrated, he did things with the ball that people thought impossible.

[@joshct9426]

My grandfather was born in 1929 and saw everything in sports up until 2015. He said Pistol Pete was the best college player ever

[@russs7574]

While I would certainly rate him Top 5, I think that Bird and Magic were better, but not by much.

[@patrikrankov8393]

im sorry, im sure he would have loved watching jokic today.

[@joshct9426]

@@patrikrankov8393 Jokic would have been his type of player for sure

[@tomjoad8272]

Pete would have been so at home in today's basketball. Running and gunning, putting dudes on skates and slinging threes.

[@Flighter-hy8hx]

I know huh!! He would have been a joy to watch.

[@donaldpriola1807]

One thing to remember was that Pete's ball handling skills came at a time when the league was very strict about palming calls. Give him today's rules, and he would destroy people even more.

[@russs7574]

There are videos here on YT that show the ball-handling drills that Maravich would do. They are narrated by coaching legend Red Auerbach, and the things that Pete does with a basketball (or 2, or 3 at a time) are just off-the-chart ridiculous.

[@Alohanthony]

Rip legend. He changed the game of basketball a lot

[@Gnofg]

Earl the Pearl changed it more. His spin move is what everyone copies today. Go watch Denzel in the movies with ray Allen talk about Earl. Earl was a much better player.

[@morgan10152]

Still the NCAA career scoring leader. A record that has stood for 52 years. Not only was there no three-point shot, he was not eligible to play as a Freshman (no one was). An incredible talent whose career was sadly shortened by injury.

[@georgeorwell4534]

I saw Pete in person several times with the Jazz...and his vision on the floor was incredible. He was a chess player 10 moves ahead of everyone, including his fellow players. His first two years his teammates weren't fond of him, because he would hit them with passes in the head, from directions they wouldn't expect. Edit: Pete's life wasn't a tragedy, it was a gift. He lived beyond a heart problem that should have killed him in his teens. The quote was in the New Orleans States-Item, and I remember what it was about. It was about his desire to keep himself in good physical condition, to live a healthy life. I hate that this quote is somehow a strike against him.

[@vailmcc]

Another thing people forget is that when Pete played you couldn’t carry the ball the way everyone does today. Most players today also walk.. a lot! Pete was the best of his era, and he’d be the best if he played today

[@brianbates1873]

I say that to people all the time. Most of the highlight reels you see on ESPN would have been whistled dead as soon as they carried the ball. If he played by todays rules not to mention no 3 point line, his records would be unattainable. What a phenomenal player Pistol was. My idol when I played high school ball. I tried to emulate everything about him right down to the long hair and floppy socks

[@russs7574]

Could you imagine how lethal he could have been if he'd have been allowed to do the LeBron "Carry and travel" moves to get to the rim?

[@PapasNarvaez-ln4mg]

Sad the NBA doesn't mention the man much. I wonder why

[@stevetamacc]

@@russs7574 I've seen LeBron take 4 steps with the ball in hand! Refs leave him alone because of his star status. They fear if they call him for fowls, the NBA will die.

[@jdgreen214]

A Legend. Much respect. There is a tale about him going to the carnival and winning every prize from shooting the basketball and he made a bet with the carnival guy that if he missed a long shot from almost from the entrance he would give all the prizes back. Let's just say Pete had a lot of gift for the children.

[@bobomaigret5430]

Pete averaged 24 points a game without the three-point-line. He would have averaged 27-29 per game with the three-point-line. That would put Pete right behind Wilt, Michael Jordan and Kareem in the top 5 all-time for average points per game.

[@calebwinfield1403]

Averaged 44 ppg in college without a 3 point line. Nuts.

[@bobomaigret5430]

@@calebwinfield1403 Yep, and according to the coach who tracked the old films, it would have been 52-57 ppg with the 3-pt line.

[@apoorvsingh3395]

He also inspired the no look passes through the years like we saw white chocolate doing those moves or even LeBron did that too

[@Gnofg]

@@calebwinfield1403 and took 90% of the shots for LSU. I watched him and he was a ball hog.

[@apoorvsingh3395]

In today's era of NBA he'd probably avg 60 or 70 in the regular season

[@legendaryblood1937]

Without this Legend .. Legends of the 80s wouldn't be as great as we know today.

[@Gnofg]

so wrong.

[@cycleoflife565]

What?

[@JulienGrynberg]

cuz Magic admitted that he stole Pete’s pass and court vision,and rookie Bird didn’t waste a second of the time he spent near Pistol,Zeke worked his ball handling over and over to come closer of Maravich’s handles and ball control,and….

[@david.tousignant20]

How good was he? A lethal long-range shooter, an incredible efficient scorer and a magician with the ball. To this day, he's still own the highest PPG in a season in NCAA history without a three-point shot!

[@david.tousignant20]

@LoSLakaFan28 I beg to differ. Pete Maravich was a long-range shooter and despite being one of the best scoring guards between 1970 and 1979, the only guard more efficient than him was Tiny Archibald (maybe). And Tiny Archibald was a slasher and wasn't taking any jump shots beyond 19 feet. Of course, taking long bombs like Pistol Pete hinders your efficiency a bit. Most guards during those days wouldn't even dare taking a 24 feet jumper. Pete Maravich was taking almost one per game during those faltering years.

[@reillyjamessullivan6940]

Actually the most points in NCAA period, not just PPG.

[@scottcooksey5284]

Yes,, he and Issel led the SEC for a while. Great competition.

[@david.tousignant20]

@LoSLakaFan28 Of course his TS% isn't on par with the league average. TS% takes into accounts three-point and two-point shots. 1) Pistol Pete played 1 season with three-point line in the NBA. 2) He was taking long twos (which had been counted as threes if the shot existed). Which maybe indicates you barely understood how advance metrics works. Since we doesn't have advance metrics, it's harder to compare.

[@david.tousignant20]

@LoSLakaFan28 Of course his TS% isn't on par with the league average. TS% takes into accounts three-point and two-point shots. 1) Pistol Pete played 1 season with three-point line in the NBA. 2) He was taking long twos (which had been counted as threes if the shot existed). Which maybe indicates you barely understood how advance metrics works.

[@cloversrss]

Pistol pete sounds like one of the most intimidating nicknames I've ever heard.

[@vivelajonny]

I disagree

[@cobrathecobra3398]

It does have to be one of the best nicknames ever. Who wouldn't want to be called "Pistol" on a basketball court?

[@mandark5789]

What about the prince of darkness?😄

[@stevetamacc]

@@mandark5789 I think Pitchfork Pete would sound more intimidating! 😈

[@keithshowell6688]

I had the great pleasure and opportunity to perform in Mannheim Germany with Pete and Press when I lived in Heidelberg in the mid 70's. He gave me the greatest advice that lead me to become a baseball All-American amd 2nd round pick. I thank God for that meeting and Thank you for creating this bio video. RIP, "Pistol". He was so sincere when he became a Christian and I learned his favorite Bible verse for life. Joshua 1:8.

[@razvigor1985]

“When he became Christian”? And he was what before he became Christian- a Bhudist? 🤣 I hope you undestand that Ortodox Serbs are Christians.

[@louisw4390]

Perform?? Yeah.

[@soulwailer3394]

@@razvigor1985 He may have been raised orthodox, but he became an evangelical Christian later in life.

[@christophersleight19]

@@razvigor1985 the men you speak of are I N O or in name only. What these men did are not disciples of Christ. I understand your comment, and your anger, but the Word talks about people falsely representing faith in Jesus Christ. I can assure you Pete Maravich nor the gentleman speaking of him support anything related to the Serbs.

[@TM-ux8qh]

If you don’t mind. What was his advice? Thanks

[@scottgorski7931]

THE PISTOL !! When I was in high school in the early 70's everyone seemed to be practicing outside hook shots and crazy dribbling and passing drills. He was simply amazing to watch. A true original, everything they do today was done years ago by Pistol. Except dunking, I've read that Pete thought dunking was taking to much of a chance for injury. The original high style dunk master had to be Dr. J.

[@brianadams5996]

He was way underrated. 45 pts avg in college. That's crazy. One season maybe. But they will put their best defender on him every game and still scored 45 pts avg.

[@seantaylor5541]

Im Not old enough to have seen him play. I did see a documentary on him years ago, so I knew of his greatness. Definitely ahead of his time.

[@illiadmcswain3956]

I seen him play, he was amazing, along with Earl Monroe, one of the most entertaining players ever.

[@apoorvsingh3395]

This man was the equivalent of "whatever I do I do with style

[@Gnofg]

ever see Earl the pearl?

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

And he was WHITE 🤣

[@NinjaMaster1]

I did a Utah Jazz camp as a kid. John Stockton was one of the coaches. John said Pistol Pete was his role model and he believed that Pete was the greatest point guard ever.

[@franagustin3094]

Imagine both together with Malone and Lauren

[@TheBent139]

I attended a sports camp where Pete came and gave us clinics on ball handling and shooting in groups of about 10. It was the closest I have probably observed true greatness in my life. This was during his first year with the Hawks. He hung out with us for a couple of days. Very humble guy for someone so talented. Not a bit of ego to him.

[@mikebaker3712]

Best ball handler of all time.

[@Samkonia4728]

​@@mikebaker3712 Relative to the level of talent, yes.

[@mikebaker3712]

@@Samkonia4728 He would be just as good today.

[@minnietrout814]

My all-time favorite basketball player. He was awesome. I cried when I learned he’d died. RIP Pistol 💛💜💛💜💛💜

[@philb.1502]

In terms of basketball skills, Pistol Pete is the one guy that played years ago that could play in the NBA in 2023 and dominate. Had incredible ball handling skills like Kyrie and could shoot the ball like Steph. He was also 6'5 and could play point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. Pistol was box office!!

[@russs7574]

Nah, Bird, Magic and Jordan would as well.

[@wessparkmon2395]

Pete died before I was born, but he was my dad's favorite player of all-time, so I grew up always hearing the stories, reading the books, and watching the highlight films that existed. I always loved pushing down my high socks like Maravich when I was playing as a kid. I'm glad y'all talked about his handles too. That is the part of his game that has always been slept on to me.

[@albeedogfitness]

Cause he was good. I thought I was him , cause I was small. But I'm not . He was amazing

[@pmcclaren1]

1970 saw him play Ole Miss in Oxford. He scored 'only' 37 points. But his passes were unreal and will never be done again. Computer analysis reviewed his entire career; determing that on average he shot 13 shots beyond the 3-point line. Add this to 44 and you have 57 points AVERAGE per game; will never be done again.

[@pmcclaren1]

addendum: He was saved in 1982 by the grace of the LORD GOD (Ephesians 2.8-8) and became a born-AGAIN Christian (John 3.3, 33-34). Some years later his father was saved. Pete said all he wanted to be known as is that he is a Christian. He is home today in heaven. This earth is not our home. DO NOT take the 'murder mark' (aka the 'jab') under any circumstances unless you want to spend eternity in hell (Revelation 13). Your ETERNAL HOME (spiritual health) is the only thing that matters.

[@elfasrustusis9671]

@@pmcclaren1 lol wut ?

[@dragicaandrejevic2060]

Pete Maravich IS A GRANDFATHER UNCLE - A Cousin OF NIKOLA JOKICH

[@chikkipop]

@@pmcclaren1 Yeah, he was a confused guy, like so many are. Emotionally needy people are prone to magical beliefs about being "saved". I felt sorry for him.

[@pmcclaren1]

@@chikkipop I will ask you a question: where will you be when you die? We are all created with free will and in the image of our MAKER. There is only 1 decision in life that matters for 'eternity'. Choices are (a) hell (Revelation 6,13) or (b) heaven (John 3.3, 33-34). I too was very confused and needy until I said one night 'LORD if you are who you say you are come get me; can't take this anymore.' I did not open the Bible. HE did. Good luck.

[@sergiolopezgavina2939]

I remember seeing highlights of him and I was so impressed with his no look passing 👍🏽👍🏽🏀🏀🔥🔥💯💯 imagine the stuff that wasn't recorded RIP Pistol 🔫

[@daddycool3angels]

definitely one of the greats to play ball and define the sport of basketball

[@Gnofg]

He hardly defined basketball. There were many guards I would take before him. I saw them all including Pete at LSU. He took almost w every shot for the Tigers. I'll give you one guard I would take in a second over him. Earl the Pearl. I hope you realize the spin move you see today was the v creation of Earl Monroe. What Monroe did Pete never accomplished.. Eral continued to get better his whole career. He even worked on his defense with the Knicks to fit into the best defensive team of their time. Pete never got better.

[@zerog6463]

I love watching these videos cause they remind me that no matter how much I know about players I will never really know how good every idvisual players really is and it makes me realize that you can not ever rank these guys and be right

[@MoeJaxon]

Bingo

[@BasketballJones48021]

Pistol was the ultimate showman when that was frowned upon by hardcore fans, most coaches and even players; he was a great shooter/scorer and would bomb it from anywhere, in a time without a 3pt-line; he had some crazy handles when the league was much stricter with the dribbling rules; he was a killer on the fastbreak when plenty of times they weren’t told to run it… I could go on and on, just to say that he made his tremendous impact felt in a time before his time, let’s call it, because Pete was tailor-made for today’s league! And like you’ve said, he had moves that nobody could even duplicate again, and he did stuff on the regular that is credited to other players… Maravich was doing fake behind-the-back passes, Rondo type fakes, something similar to the Dream-shake, he was pulling off the Smitty, he was crossing people over like Joe Johnson’s iconic crossover on Paul Pierce, we can see him do something close to a shamgod, did all types of Magic style passes, stopping and popping on a dime from deep like Curry, tap passes like Larry Bird, underhanded crazy passes that you’ll see people losing their minds over when Lonzo Ball pulls that off, some spin passes that Jason Williams later recreated, some crazy jumpshots ala Kobe Bryant……. in the 1970’s! Even before that in college!! That’s just crazy to think of, and he should be even more appreciated for that type of influence on the game, because what he did was unmeasurable for basketball. And that man was 6’5’’ w/o shoes on, with good athleticism, PG-like skills, SG scoring capabilities, could also post-up and hit fadeaways and hook-shots. Easily one of the most skilled players ever, an unreal offensive weapon; tremendous scorer, great shooter, crazy ball-handler, one of the most inventive and innovative passers………..

[@DKtrek21]

What the hell? 40+ ppg in all of his college years and that was without the 3 pointers. Also, 67% from three? Those stat lines are not human.

[@Gnofg]

He took about 90% of LSU's shots. I watched him. At the time no one thought Pete was the best shooter in the league. He wasn't the best guard in the league. Earl the pearl had one move that everyone copies today. Earl invented the spin. Secondly, everyone would take Earl over Pete any day of the week. Earl did one thing Pete never did. He improved year to year and eventually became a good defensive player because the Knicks demanded it as they were the best defensive team in the league. Pete never got better.

[@wiseguy617]

@@Gnofg Lmfao...you're really trying to get your point across Mr Fong. Stop hating brotha...it makes you sound very condescending. You're posting the exact same thing on several comments. Why don't you do a video on "Earl the Pearl"...this one is about Pistol Pete.

[@mtlava]

@@wiseguy617 Mark is really a fan of the spin move. I learned it from Pete and taught it to my kids. Pistol Pete was absolutely amazing. You look at the old games at LSU and he passed all the time. He gave the ball many times to his teammates to score. I've heard his teammates say this on film. Not a ball hog. He did have a goal of getting an average of a point a minute. That's why you see him acting like he's in a real hurry. 😎

[@EJS-jj8py]

@@mtlava 1 point per minute?? Well shit that explains his 40+ average

[@pizzafrenzyman]

Best line from a teammate of Pete: If he is looking at you, you aren't getting the ball.

[@CodeineAbdulJabbar]

Legitimately WAY ahead of his time

[@glockloverblockhugger23]

I’m 23 & he’s my favorite player ever he was before my time but he was also before his own time

[@Gnofg]

I saw him play all the way back to LDSU. He was a ball hog. He was not considered in any way the best guard at the time. Earl the Pearl was better and today's spin move comes from Earl. He invented it, Earl was considered a much better player than Pistol. Earl improved every year and eventually became a good defensive player as it was required by the Knicks who were the best defensive team in the league. Pete kind of plateaued and never got better.

[@mtlava]

I think so.

[@johntaylor-lo8qx]

Wow. This guy jumps for the dunk at the free throw line. Only other person I've seen get air like this, and to put up these crazy numbers every game, is Jordan. Awesome documentary, I'm so glad I got to watch this. Bravo 👏 to all involved. Finding this old footage, along with the research, is very very rare !!!

[@rollotomasse]

Globetrotters were after him, you just know he was unique...

[@rusty6721]

Globetrotters were a few decades BEFORE.They even had Wilt Chamberlain for one year as a member before he went into the nba which shows how unique Wilt was.

[@voltrondefofunv5708]

@@rusty6721 no offense but globetrotters are cool but u guys really reconize that as real ball i think its an insult i know they do cool things but globetrotters nba ???? I take nba he belongs in nba now wilt was just tall thats globetrotter take away size he aint nobody but Peter dont EVER refer to him like that and i said that in an Italian mob voice coming out of Africa and yeah i got a fifth of jack and smoke but pally thats truth i mafe another edit talking bout some globetrotters dont ever put his name with that abd ill say that sobet pally

[@royhorn2782]

@@voltrondefofunv5708 You do realize, the Globetrotters were a professional team before they went to being an exhibition /show team. At Pete's time of playing they definitely were a show team.

[@chikkipop]

@@rusty6721 Rollo meant they were "after" Pete, in the sense that *they wanted him to join them,* not after him chronologically.

[@rockvilleraven]

@@rusty6721 Wilt had to go to the Globetrotters to play, he left Kansas and back then the NBA only drafted players whose class graduated.

[@multiyapples]

He’s definitely the greatest NCAA scorer ever. He’s ahead of his time. Rest In Peace Pete.

[@andrewthacher8395]

He had a sad life

[@stevearmstrong9554]

Handles of Kyrie, Shooting of Bird, showmanship of White Chocolate but the work ethic of Shaq. Sad he was born a bit earlier. If he is playing in the NBA today, he could have been one of the biggest superstars.

[@skiptowne5724]

I like how succinct this guy is. No fluff, talks fast and gets right to the point.

[@petersuitch3129]

I saw him play at Madison Square Garden, LSU versus Marquette. He got a standing ovation for the passes he threw during the lay up line!

[@edeeytheeagle4363]

Rightly deserve to be in the NBA top 75

[@dwainsellers6453]

Did they call his name for that ?

[@jhall2691]

More like top five to. He's my all time starting point guard with Oscar Robinson, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Connie Hawkins

[@dimitrispapachristos4166]

Top 10 in my book

[@careyjohn0144]

the problem is probably 80-90% of the amazing plays he did were not recorded, so younger generations will never know many of the things he could do. he was also a great dunker/leaper in his early NBA days, according to Dr J

[@joetirado9328]

Pete was and is the TRUE PISTOL... He had NO equal...

[@bullgtor1]

I was attending UF when Pete came into town and was rudely booed by the student body. Before halftime Pete had everyone cheering him and I consider it truly to be one of the highlights of my life to have seen him play that night. He always won the NBA Horse competition. To this day I consider his untimely death to be one of the great tragedies.

[@JoeMama-hu8nr]

its true i was Pete

[@Thejoeordinary1]

Imho, the greatest ncaa player ever. The all time highest scorer by a mile. Considering he did it in 3 years , no 3 point line, no shot clock. The G.O.A.T. of college basketball !

[@jennifersman7990]

Maravich will forever be one of the greatest “what if…” stories in basketball. IF he’d stood up to his Dad he would’ve been a natural for a coach like John Wooden at UCLA who would’ve known how to make his talents work within the confines of a team. Plus one of the ironies about his college career was that while at LSU he never played in the NCAA Tournament because of its format back then. And if he’d played for Wooden or Dean Smith he’d be better prepared for the NBA and might’ve played his whole career for Boston or the Lakers where he’d have a team that he could work with rather than do ALL the work. He would’ve given Boston or LA at least 3 more NBA Championships

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

He was going to die at 40 regardless of where he was

[@gaoutlaw]

He was so far ahead of his time. His college scoring record is never going to be broken, and even today nobody handles the ball better than Pete.

[@nicolasmeyer282]

damn he really was a unicorn like we have durant nowadays and so much ahead of his time

[@Gnofg]

Go watch Earl the pearl. Better in every way.

[@wiseguy617]

@@Gnofg Damn bruh...you're truly on Earl's nuts aren't you. Give it a break man.

[@user-wb4gi4qd7q]

Earl, a great player, averaged 18 points and 3.9 assists per game for his career. He was not even close to Pistol Pete skillwise.

[@jaydenwassink2038]

Thank you so much for posting this

[@grimftl]

I went to LSU when Shaquille was a student and my older brother was there when Maravich was there. My brother related that he was in a math class with over a hundred students, so they didn't bother with taking attendance. On the first day, the prof said, "I see that Pete Maravich is enrolled in this class. I can assure you that you will never see him here. I can also assure you that he will pass this class."

[@clos6613]

Wow. How did I not know more about this man. I've heard his name before but didn't know much about him. How do great legends like this get forgotten about in today's NBA talking circles

[@myronjackson2899]

While Pete was at LSU, i would stay awake in bed, late at night with my AM transistor radio, hoping for a skip signal that might let me find out how many points Pete scored. I taught myself how to pass behind the back to myself-a Pete original-and do a layup so i could win at "HORSE" in the backyard. And, of course, i had my own floppy socks. RIP Pistol Pete. Thanks for the memories

[@coobay4786]

Living in Baton Rouge and in high school going to watch Pete play at the LSU games is what got me interested in LSU basketball. We've seen a lot of great players pass through LSU since then.

[@jonahhatchett4730]

He also accomplished these feats before the institution of the three point line.

[@jonahhatchett4730]

@m rapacki my man

[@krobin7h]

44 ppg in college career. One of the unbreakable records in sports.

[@romaricogalvez1024]

His dribbling skills were phenomenal.

[@LS1007]

He was a favorite of mine when I was in high school in the early 70’s. Gone too soon.🙏🏼

[@13StJimmy]

It’s honestly a shame that Pete doesn’t get the recognition he deserves just because he wasn’t on stellar teams. He put out a bunch of basketball instructional videos I used to watch as a kid and they definitely made me better highly recommend them to anyone who plays or has young kids who play

[@elijahmcgeorge5198]

Best how good was a player actually video u have done so far pistol is one of my favorite player ever

[@cedricnicholson7446]

wow I never knew this about him. Thanks for sharing this video. I have a new found respect for the legend! RIP PP

[@pattiburgess2666]

He was/is my favorite basketball player of all time. He is a legend who was ahead of his time. RIP Pete

[@ryanstarr8322]

They went back and charted his shots from college and figured he would have averaged around 57ppg with a 3 point line . He averaged 24 in his NBA career ..including one scoring a title and a 68 point game in 1977 vs The Knicks. His NBA average would have been 30-33 ppg with a 3 point line. The 3 point line came into existence in his final NBA season and he made 10-15 or something like that. Dude only played 10 seasons due to injuries and I also believe he got bored with the game… he was a strange dude in a lot of ways. His entire life was basketball…he wanted to attend West Virginia University but his father made him attend LSU because he had been named head coach. Pete worked 8-12 hours every single day of his life on basketball…. He described himself as a basketball Android. He was always searching for meaning in his Life … from veganism to martial arts and then he got into UFOs … always looking for some kind of meaning. He finally found what he considered his calling when he became a Christian… he devoted his life to Christianity. He died young at the age of 40 while playing a pick up game of basketball. He was always my basketball hero since I was a kid. Light years ahead of his time and the definition of devotion to basketball. If he had played longer and with 3 pt line he would be without a doubt one of the top 5 and maybe top 3 scorers ever.

[@jamestolbert907]

They just said all of this in the video 😂😂

[@jerryblair6995]

Pete was a legend as a kid I studied his moves . One of my idles.The Pistol RIP

[@richardedwards5310]

Pete was certainly the greatest I ever saw. Big UK fan here. I've seen a lot of great players. I saw Pete play UK in Lexington, approx. '69. Pete the G.O.A.T.

[@logicaldude3611]

When you watch Pistol Pete's highlights, he looks like they took a guy from the 2000s and transplanted him back into the 1970s.

[@xxxYYZxxx]

For all of Pete's amazing stats, the MOST amazing stat in all of NBA history is precisely: "2", the number of valves in Pete's heart. The words "miracle" or "impossible" don't begin to describe Pete's life and career. Pete was truly one in however many billion may ever come to be.

[@slypperyfox]

Hmmm, did you not hear the coroner’s report? He was born with no left coronary artery. This is important as the LCA branches off the Left Main and is responsible for blood flow to the left ventricle - the most muscular heart chamber responsible for driving blood flow to the entire body via the aorta. The RCA, which delivers to the right side heart chambers, can also feed some blood to the left ventricle via tiny branches called collateral vessels. But collateral vessels can take years to form although there are typically some formed at birth so that one side of the body’s blood supply tries to cover the other side for some level of redundancy. The normal human heart has 4 chambers: left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium and right ventricle. And 4 heart valves: mitral valve, aortic valve, pulmonic valve and a small right atrial valve. You cannot live without the first three. So, no way he could have lasted till 40 missing two valves.

[@clydeb7713]

Where did the time fly? Would be a super-star even in today's game. Was VERY fun to watch. A boyhood star of mine.

[@YogurtSalad]

I commented on your Dr. J that it was pretty much a perfect video and this one is equally as good. Great job!

[@dwainsellers6453]

68 points in a nba game before the 3 point shot , averaged 44+ points per game in collage before the 3 point shot, wow!!!

[@dietpepsivanilla3095]

He was as great as they said. Saw him a few times and he was magic before Magic was magic.

[@dprimeclick6074]

He was ahead of his time

[@terrymcgough4528]

To my eyes, the most individually talented basketball player ever

[@litodat233]

He’s the only player I knew that had his nickname on back of jersey

[@Amick44]

There were a few in the 70's. Pete's teammate on the Hawks', Walt Bellamy, wore "Bells." Ernie DiGregorio had "Ernie D" and Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich "Rudy T."

[@b.w.8909]

Pistol pete is such a sick nickname

[@bullgtor1]

Everyone likes it but you but I suppose you have many problems of your own.

[@juliannguyen6410]

keep it up great work

[@warplanner8852]

As a UCLA student in the heart of Coach John Wooden's run of NCAA titles, I want to say that you make a compelling case for Pistol Pete. Sad that a man with so much talent was denied a chance to win a championship!

[@MannyMensah94]

Dope video. One of the great showmen in NBA History. He had a hard life but had a very good career in the league

[@Gnofg]

not really

[@MannyMensah94]

@@Gnofg please explain

[@chikkipop]

@@MannyMensah94 He was never on a winning team, & was often resented by the other players for all the attention he got.

[@MannyMensah94]

@@chikkipop what about 1980 Celtics when he played and went to the Conference finals?

[@chikkipop]

@@MannyMensah94 He was long past his prime and had little to do with the team's success at that point. The very next year they would win the championship, but he'd retired. If he'd had an important role on that team he wouldn't have walked away from it.

[@alalston4252]

Look up the real history of this legend and where he got and perfected his moves.

[@marcusanderson933]

A true legend and icon! R.I.P Pistol! 🏀

[@majoroz4876]

Saw him in an all star game. He and Dr. J brought the ball down court, together, many times in that game. Amazing illustration of one all-encompassing mind controlling two of the best bodies in the history of sport....SIMULTANEOUSLY. It can never happen again.

[@t4texastom587]

During the 60s, 70s, and 80s, I was a HRockets AND U. of Houston Cougars fan, and got to see many of The Pistol's college games on TV. Then, during his rookie season in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, I was very fortunate to obtain a ticket to a Hawks vs Rockets game in Houston at the Hofeinz Pavilion to see my very favorite basketball player of all-time. Needless to say, he did not disappoint. That is the only NBA game I've ever attended. R. I. P. Peter Press Maravich #44 "Pistol Pete"🏀

[@bigmonmagoomba9634]

40 years ahead of his time. Says it all. So true.

[@FleagleSangria]

What I think Pete's legacy should be as well as Larry Bird is their work ethic and fundementals. They didnt magically become the greatest shooters and passers and thinkers of the game. Something these guys now should take to heart. If they have any for the actual game.

[@williecook810]

Our Era is better than now his style works to this day. I can't be stop 55 next month

[@lr3465]

I saw the pistol play in the Boston Garden in 77 when I was in 8th grade for winning the basketball championship & they took us to a Celtics game, I'll never forget it!🙂

[@gamergamesmanship6448]

thank you Pete for all your hard work and dedication💯

[@chrisaycock6963]

Why he isn't considered the Greatest College Basketball Player of all time is beyond me? He is Without A Doubt The Greatest College Basketball Shooter and Scorer of All Time in Division 1.

[@mdrosario17]

Because of a little old guy named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It's not too much of a competition when you consider that Kareem was basically undefeated in college and won 3 back to back to back titles. No shade to the Pistol, just happened to have a top 3 player of all time for competition. Still immaculate though.

[@jimhenderson9173]

And now in today's age of fawning at everything women basketball players do, Catlin Clark has stolen all of Maravich's thunder.

[@user-wb4gi4qd7q]

@@jimhenderson9173 Uh, not really. Pete averaged 44 points per game in college, with no three point line. I like Caitlin, but she is no Pistol Pete.

[@jimhenderson9173]

​@@user-wb4gi4qd7q Too bad you don't understand the subtleties of the English language.

[@drewwik5351]

My idol. I might’ve been born in 98 but I had all of his VHS tapes on his life and how to play the game different..

[@waldoparsnip1025]

" Pistol Pete " was the greatest ever ! He was so good , sometimes he'd fake himself out !

[@briantneary2248]

He averaged 44 a game at LSU in college. Read the book Pistol. Amazing story. Yeah, he's probably better than he's remembered for

[@Gnofg]

I'll take Earl the pearl any day. Better player more dominant and the spin move you see today is from the pearl. He invented it.

[@briantneary2248]

@@Gnofg lol. No one gives a shit about Earl on a Pistol Pete video. Go find an Earl video and talk about his spin move. Pistol created was more creative in his sleep, than Earl. Lol

[@Gnofg]

go look at the earl the pearl highlights. Karem says he is the greatest street player he ever played against. if u don't know who earl waws you shouldn't comment.

[@ignoblesavage5559]

@@Gnofg what if we DO know about earl monroe and still think PP is better? i mean, kareem knew PP wasn't a "street" player, because he was always in organized ball, even though EVERYTHING he did translated even better to a streetball-informed game. no, pete was better. better scorer, more creative passer. OK, can't say much for his defense overall, but when he put his mind to it he defended like a hellion man-to-man.

[@Gnofg]

@@ignoblesavage5559 Earl's team made the finals with the Bullets and won with the Knicks. Did Maravich ever make it to a finals?

[@johntatum8088]

Pete M was simply Great! With 3 pointers he shot 68%...that is just unreal!

[@dwannbrown2565]

BIG UPS 2 PISTOL PETE💜💜💜 HE WAS A SUPER SUPER SUPERSTAR!! PUT THE BALL IN HIS HANDS, AND HE COULD DO ANYTHING HE WANTED 2 DO!! NO1 COULD STOP HIM!!!!!

[@doctormorbius6430]

Jerry West was asked about Maravich's ability to dribble behind his back. West replied, "Oh I can do that. The only difference is, I only do it when I have to." That pretty much sums up Maravich. A great shooter, but one who valued the flash of scoring over the boring parts, like defense.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

...but that razzlle-dazzle showmanship put butts in seats at a critical time in the history of the NBA when that sports league was beginning to encroach on baseball as the second most popular professional sports league in the U.S. after NFL. The league needed the spectacle of entertaining gameplay to grow its fan-base, and Pistol Pete was one of several top-echelon players (Dr. J being another) of that '70s era who provided that entertainment-value.

[@doctormorbius6430]

@@shruggzdastr8-facedclown "He put butts in the seats." You could say the same thing about Pauly Shore. Does that make him a great actor?

[@scottrayburn5563]

Love this man.

[@humdingerdog6523]

Saw him at Madison Square Gardens against a pretty good knicks team at the time 42 pts later he basically beat the knicks that’s how good he was

[@robertchase2167]

Pete changed basketball in the 70's @ every high school, college and pick up game in America. Moves we never thought of became second nature. Thank you Pistol.

[@maitreyas.4902]

We watched his basketball tutorial videos in P.E. class in 1990. Good teaching videos for young players.