Top 10 Players In Atlanta Hawks History

2. Bob Pettit

Position: Power Forward/Center

Career statistics: 26.4 PPG, 16.4 RPG, 3.0 APG

Career slash line: 43.6/(no three-point arc)/76.1

Bob Pettit is well-known for being the “savior” of the Milwaukee Bucks prior to drafting him out of LSU in the 1954 NBA Draft.

Signs of the franchise folding were becoming more clear before Pettit arrived, and he responded by delivering an NBA Championship in 1955 after the Hawks were moved to St. Louis.

He followed his Rookie of the Year in 1954-55 by winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1955-56. Pettit won the award again for the 1958-59 season. The 6’9″ big man appeared in 11 All-Star games, winning All-Star Game MVP four times.

Pettit led the Hawks to four finals appearances during his 11 years of starring for the franchise. He is the franchise-leader in total rebounds (12,849), rebounds per game (16.2), player efficiency rating (25.2), and win shares (136.0).

His No. 9 jersey is retired by the Hawks, and will go down as one of the most underrated players to ever play the game.

Pettit was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Next: No. 1