Career snapshot
9seasons
638games
16,337career pts
0.0PER (avg)
Most-played franchise:
Atlanta Hawks
· 638 games · 1954-55–1964-65
Position rank · 1964-65
#2PPG rank
#14PER rank
#14WS rank
Among 24 Forward players (min. 41 games)
Career highs (single season)
PPG
29.2
1958-59 · ATL
RPG
17.4
1957-58 · ATL
APG
3.6
1959-60 · ATL
Draft
1954
Round 1 ·
Pick 2
from Louisiana State
Honors & awards
1×
NBA 75th Anniversary Team
2022
11×
All-NBA Team
1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1955, 1954
11×
All-Star Selection
1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1955, 1954
2×
NBA Most Valuable Player
1958, 1955
1×
NBA Rookie of the Year
1954
Stats by season
| Season | Team | G | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | PER | WS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954-55 | ATL | 72 | 0 | 36.9 | 20.4 | 13.8 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.7 | 0.0 | 75.1 | — | — |
| 1955-56 | ATL | 72 | 0 | 38.8 | 25.7 | 16.2 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 73.6 | — | — |
| 1956-57 | ATL | 71 | 0 | 35.1 | 24.7 | 14.6 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 41.5 | 0.0 | 77.3 | — | — |
| 1957-58 | ATL | 70 | 0 | 36.1 | 24.6 | 17.4 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 41.0 | 0.0 | 74.9 | — | — |
| 1958-59 | ATL | 72 | 0 | 39.9 | 29.2 | 16.4 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 43.8 | 0.0 | 75.9 | — | — |
| 1959-60 | ATL | 72 | 0 | 40.2 | 26.1 | 17.0 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 43.8 | 0.0 | 75.3 | — | — |
| 1962-63 | ATL | 79 | 0 | 39.1 | 28.4 | 15.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 44.6 | 0.0 | 77.4 | — | — |
| 1963-64 | ATL | 80 | 0 | 41.2 | 27.4 | 15.3 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 46.3 | 0.0 | 78.9 | — | — |
| 1964-65 | ATL | 50 | 0 | 35.1 | 22.5 | 12.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 82.0 | — | — |
Elgin Baylor
Forward · Los Angeles Lakers
25.9 career PPG
Paul Arizin
Forward · Golden State Warriors
22.9 career PPG
George Yardley
Forward · Detroit Pistons
19.3 career PPG
Born on December 12
Murray Wier
1926 · Atlanta Hawks
Randy Smith
1948 · Los Angeles Clippers
Greg Lee
1951 · Portland Trail Blazers
Rick Calloway
1966 · Sacramento Kings
Ivano Newbill
1970 · Atlanta Hawks
Ray Owes
1972 · Golden State Warriors
Makhtar N'diaye
1973 · Memphis Grizzlies
John Salmons
1979 · New Orleans Pelicans
About Bob Pettit
Robert Lee Pettit Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954–1965). In 1956, he became the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award and he won the award again in 1959. He also won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award four times. As of the end of 2024–2025 regular season, Pettit is still the only regular season MVP in the history of the Hawks. Pettit is the Hawks' franchise leader for most career rebounds (12,849), and most rebounds per game with 16.2.