How Good Was Pistol Pete Maravich Actually? 

Don't sleep on Pete! Straight legend.

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.

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

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

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.

He's underrated when you think of legends

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

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

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

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.

Rip legend. He changed the game of basketball a lot

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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………..

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.

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 🔫

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

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

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

Rightly deserve to be in the NBA top 75

Legitimately WAY ahead of his time

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

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.

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

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 !!!

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!!

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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

His dribbling skills were phenomenal.

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

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.

He was ahead of his time

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.

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

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 !

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

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

Thank you so much for posting this

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.

Pistol pete is such a sick nickname

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.

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

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

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

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

To my eyes, the most individually talented basketball player ever

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

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

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

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!🙂

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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."

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!

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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!!!!!

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"🏀

keep it up great work

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.

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.

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

Pistol Pete Maravich was my basketball idol growing up even though he was retired 6 years before I was even born. I learned about him pretty early on and never forgot. He'll always be a legend to me and my all-time favorite player.

thank you Pete for all your hard work and dedication💯

Great episode.

Pete was phenomenal... cant wait till more light is shined on his career because if he had TEAM he would be in everyones top 5 point gaurd

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.

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

5 words: No travelling, no 3-pt line.

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

Actually he is the very best basketball player who ever played. Some players did not like him because he was so much better than them they could not anticipate his moves and therefore could not play with him. The fact that he is not mentioned in regard to his status is a plain travesty. Outstanding.

I would put him 3rd of all time jazz players behind Stockton and Malone

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.

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