Atlanta Hawks: Top 5 Shooting Guards of All-Time
Pistol Pete may be famous to young fans due to his legendary nickname, but in his day he was one of the best scorers in basketball. He began his basketball career playing for his father Press Maravich at Louisiana State University.
During his time at LSU Pistol became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history with 3,667 points and an incredible 44.2 points per game. That scoring mark still holds up today. Impressive considering Maravich played during an era when players only played three seasons and there was no three-point shot. Maravich was the first person that could accurately boast that their primary purpose in life was to get buckets.
After his college career, the Atlanta Hawks made Maravich the 3rd overall pick during the first round of the 1970 NBA Draft. Maravich played four seasons for the Hawks, continuing his high scoring ways.
During those four seasons, Maravich averaged 24.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.2 points and 1.5 steals per game on 44.8 percent shooting. Maravich was a flashy playmaker as well as a high volume scorer. During his final two seasons with the Hawks he averaged 22.6 and 23.6 shots per game respectively.
During his time in the NBA, he made behind the back passes and flamboyant play popular. It wasn’t enough for Maravich to score or record an assist, he had to do it in the most exciting way possible. If Maravich had played in an era with the three-point shot, his scoring exploits may have even been more impressive.
He made the All-Rookie team in 1970-1971 and Maravich made five All-Star teams during his career, two with the Hawks. He also made the All-NBA second team in 1973.
After the 1973-1974 season the Hawks traded Maravich to the New Orleans Jazz. Maravich spent the next six seasons with the Jazz, bringing his incendiary scoring touch with him.
Once he turned 30, injuries slowed his career, particularly a balky knee. Maravich would retire at the end of the 1979-1980 season after a ten year NBA career.
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